The scents that cannot be captured: Natures perfume.
discovering plants in season and literally sniffing them.
I have become a hiking fanatic. Once uni ended for the summer I knew I was not going to bed rot and just mindlessly scroll on tiktok - I wanted to get out and at least do 10K steps a day. I practically begged my siblings to join me on my new found vision and they agreed!? But you know the saying “everything happens for a reason”? it’s so true, because if I hadn’t started hiking I would not have discovered the AMAZE-ness of smelling plants and fragrance in its raw form.
Image: me trying to sniff the rhododendrons (I think?)
me at helvellyn in the Lake District. The incline was too much it was like the stair master final boss and it ended me so I gave up…..LOL
I first came across this phenomenon when I had hiked bamford edge with my friend, it was a cold, misty, grey, metallic and twilight-esque day and you best believe I was like, we NEEEED to go for a hike for the twilight vibes
So we went and THIS forest..OML😩😩😩😩 I wish smell-o-vision existed because the way I was sniffing this was actually crazy. We had just finished the hike and making our way back to the car park and this scary-ass, twilight misty forest just appeared from no where. The misty fine damp that looked like an aerosol can had erupted in the area, condensed as I was walking through the forest - on my jacket and it gave rise to a aquatic, sweet and damp scent that so so comforting.
The beautiful moss:
Smelt like a green, earthy shed. I know your thinking “shed?’’.. YUPP. I don’t really know how to describe it but walking into a shed hits your nose with several different accords and notes like damp, dust, wood and a slight twang of nostlagia. I LIVED for sniffing the moss as it was literally like a memory foam pillow.
My second hike was Hebden bridge and surprisingly… the British weather didn’t let me down this day. It was sunny and life was good. Until I realised WE HAD MISSED THE BUS TO THE HIKING PLACE 😡😭 we had to walk 50+ minutes uphill, but I guess it wasn’t so bad because I discovered something FABULOUS
This iconic purple flower that if looks could kill would be this. Purple Wisteria- every old man’s nightmare (they don’t want it to ruin their home). This plant had bumble bees that were buzzing and slurping that nectar and pollen UPPP.
The place was full of wisteria- a powdery, fruity, and like chiffon fabric. There was a slight green stemmy element too it but it was perfect to cut the overly sweet musky scent. The air was absolutely beautiful and I wish I could’ve bottled the smell.
It’s so strange as immediately after u had taken a sniff I wanted to find more to smell and this is where the sniffing adventures escalated. I forgot to mention to, activities like this are extremely good for your mental and physical well-being. I feel better after spending time outdoors and I honestly do feel as if my nostril palette has beeen reset and energised. ALSO, I have learnt the name and species of so many plants from sniffing outside.
Whilst there have been some sniffing successes I have come across some plants that are…..interesting to say the least. I went walking around my Uni’s village just at the end of spring and I was fortunate enough to come across these unsuspecting plants:
This STANK. Omg it was so musty and actually foul. Nah this was actually so bad I can still smell the ruminants of it in my nostrils. If I could describe the smell it was like someone got fruit pastille sweets and smothered canned tuna juice all over it 😭🙏🏼 I had to find out what this plant was and it was Hawthorne. It’s a seasonal plant that erupts on the British countryside hedges every late spring and summer. The chemistry behind the smell is actually really interesting, and the reason why it smells fishy is due to the triethylamine compound!! It’s a amine based compound and anything with amines typically has a fishy smell.
Whilst I have got a load of plants to talk about that I sniffed I don’t want to make this too long (I will make another post on this topic) and you having to read my flop mess. I’m going to finish off the tale on a good note and speak about…. Elderflower!!
Image: circular trail around cavedale in castleton
Image: the hedges where a lot of naturally fragrances plants are contained. Hedges are encouraged and emphasised for their environments of bio-diversity for both plants and animals.
Elderflower has a distinct smell that is hard to miss, I think I kinda have PTSD from it as my mum used to give me elderflower cordial everyday in the summer when I was in year 6 and obsessed with it.
This delicate coquette Lana deal rey vibe flower had a sweet honey accord with a slight bitter facet. It smells really nice from afar but upclose it’s too polarising. Everything in moderation. I was so tempted to forage some but I didn’t want to look like a strange on the bus carrying a load of bushes 😭
I really have had a great time discovering the great British outdoors and seeing what fragrance things it has to offer - the best thing about this is, that it’s absolutely free and so educational.
I have so much to speak about on this so I think I’m gonna do a part 2. BYEEEE