All posts tagged flower symbolism

floral scents, floral perfumes, Chanel No. 5

The Secret Language of Floral Perfumes

My dear reader, today we shall explore the secret language of floral perfumes. Much like flowers themselves, floral scents have held symbolic meanings and cultural significance throughout history. Perfumes are not only used to enhance one’s personal fragrance but also to convey hidden messages. Let us dive into the fascinating world of floral perfumes.

Throughout history, various floral scents have been associated with different meanings and emotions. For instance, lavender has been used for centuries to calm the mind and body, and its scent is often associated with tranquility and relaxation. Similarly, rose has been associated with love and passion, and jasmine with sensuality and romance.

In ancient times, floral perfumes were used as offerings to the gods in various cultures, including the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. These scents were believed to have spiritual and mystical properties and were used to honor the deities during religious ceremonies.

During the Middle Ages, floral perfumes were used to mask unpleasant odors and to protect against diseases. People would often carry small sachets of perfumed herbs to ward off illness and disease. These scents were also used to mask the smells of the streets and were particularly popular among the aristocracy.

In the Victorian era, the language of flowers was popularized, and floral scents were used to convey secret messages. A woman could convey her feelings to her suitor by wearing a particular scent or gifting him a perfume with a hidden message. For instance, violet was associated with modesty and lilac with youthful innocence. A gift of violet or lilac perfume would convey the message of the giver’s pure intentions.

Today, floral perfumes continue to hold significance and are used to evoke emotions and memories. Perfumers create complex scents using a combination of different flowers and other ingredients to create unique and meaningful fragrances.

For example, Chanel No. 5 is a classic floral perfume that has been popular for nearly a century. The scent is composed of jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang, among other ingredients, and is known for its elegant and timeless fragrance.

In conclusion, floral perfumes have held symbolic meanings and cultural significance throughout history. They have been used in various cultures and traditions, and have evolved over time to become a way of conveying hidden messages and evoking emotions. The next time you wear a floral perfume, take a moment to appreciate the rich history and significance behind its scent.

alstromeria

Alstroemeria Sends a Message of Friendship and Devotion

alstroemeria, flower meaning, flower symbolism, meaning of flowers

Alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas (and sometimes Ulster Mary, a perhaps deliberate mispronunciation) is a delightful shape, resembling a small lily, and comes in a wide variety of colors, ranging from white and yellow, through a golden orange and bronze, to pink and red, including lavender and purple. Bicolored blooms are also available. Native to South America, they’ve been cultivated internationally since the middle of the 18th Century, when they were named after Baron Claus von Alstromer, a Swedish friend of the distinguished botanist and classifier, Carl Linnaeus.

alstroemeria, meaning of flowers, flower meaning friendship

With about 50 species, and around 200 hybrids and cultivars, alstroemeria is today a very popular flower in bouquets and arrangements, available year round. With the flower meaning of friendship and devotion, you will want to include alstroemeria in a floral gift to someone close to you, to show them the strength of the bond between you both.

altroemeria, meaning of flowers, flower symbolizing friendship

Delicate blooms sit atop long slender stems, with the foliage displaying an unusual feature (unusual in the botanical sense): the leaves twist from the base, so that what we see and believe to be the upper leaf surface is in fact the lower surface. This is referred to as resupination (think supine, or facing upwards.) If you’re arranging your own bouquet, you should strip most of the foliage, since it tends to yellow before the flowers fade. Speaking of which, alstroemeria will last for between one and two weeks if you follow the instructions in our article on how to keep cut flowers alive longer.

So, having read this far, you may be thinking of someone to whom you want to send a floral gift, to let them know you are thinking of them and how much their friendship means to you. Our favorite online florist, FlowersFast, offers several arrangements that include alstroemeria; our particular favorite is the Speak Softly bouquet, which includes white alstroemeria among roses and lisianthus.

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