Night Blooming Jasmine Perfume
As a perfume and garden flower, the deep fruity fragrance of the night blooming jasmine is one of the most quickly recognized scents in the world. Originating in India, the jasmine flower spread throughout China and Egypt 3,000 years ago, long before civilization took root in Europe and the New World. This cultural context and history is why the scent has long been considered exotic and even sultry. Does this Spark an idea?
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Perfume and Body Fragrance
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Jasmine flower The night blooming jasmine has been used as a perfume and body fragrance for thousands of years. Today, the multibillion dollar perfume industry has capitalized on this popular scent. Night blooming jasmine perfumes can be mass produced organically from essential oils, from synthetic fragrances or from a combination of the two. It is also possible to make natural night blooming jasmine perfume at home with a few basic ingredients.
Creating Fragrances
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The most complex perfume bouquets consist of a melange of several different essential oils. It is rare that any perfume is made from one single essential oil, or one synthetic scent. Combinations of scents allows for more complex aromas while purely synthetic fragrances can create a recognizably chemical odor. Essential oils can be produced through the distillation process or through chemical solvents, which can sometimes linger in the final fragrance. However, both of these processes often destroy the more volatile, or fragile odors, leaving a less-defined scent for the perfumer to work with.
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A Versatile Scent
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Jasmine is comonly used in bath and body products. The scent of the night blooming jasmine is readily found in soaps, moisturizers and shampoos, not to mention in household deodorizers and car fresheners. Historians note that the flower was often planted near outhouses and latrines before running water was available. In New Orleans, for example, where the plant thrives, the fragrant flower was planted all over the city to disguise the smell of sewage.
Symbols of the Jasmine
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The jasmine flower is a significant symbol to many cultures around the world. In Persian, jasmine means "Gift from God," while in India it is described as the "Queen of Night" because its fragrance is released after sunset. In China, the scent of the jasmine is associated with happiness and elegance as well as the feminine qualities of sweetness and beauty. While it is often considered sensual in Eastern cultures, in Victorian England it was tied to shyness and modesty as well as grace and elegance.
Aromatherapy and Medicine
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The Jasmine flower has aromatherapeutic uses as well as medicinal ones. While the night blooming jasmine is largely known as a pleasant fragrant flower, it has been used throughout history in both aromatherapy and traditional medicine. Ayurvedic medicine uses jasmine essential oils to treat PMS nerve tension, as well as to help with uterine cramps. Its astringent properties make it applicable to the treatment of inflamed skin, sore throats and mouth ulcers. Its aroma is known to calm the emotions, restore confidence and optimism and may serve as an aphrodisiac.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit she smells the jasmine flowers image by Alexandra Gnatush-Kostenko from Fotolia.com Jasmin image by Ralf Wende from Fotolia.com perfume woman image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com soap image by Tom Davison from Fotolia.com senteur d"asie image by Anthony CALVO from Fotolia.com aromatherapy image by joanna wnuk from Fotolia.com
