Peony scent: one hundred roses in one flower

The aroma of a peony is one of its most important virtues, appreciated by the ancients. In China, where the peony is one of the most revered plants, they say about it: "one hundred roses in one flower", meaning both the appearance (a large multi-petal flower folded in many varieties like a rose), and the aroma, often reminiscent of old varieties roses. These qualities made the peony the "king of flowers" in China. Experts say that there are no odorless peonies, although the descriptions of varieties sometimes indicate its absence.

Tree peony "Isabel Riviere"

In the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, a legend has been preserved about how peonies were brought to Korea. The Chinese ruler of the Tang Dynasty sent peony seeds to the king of the ancient Korean state Sila, along with a painting depicting red, white and purple peonies. The little daughter of King Seongdok, the future thirty-seventh ruler of Korea, looked at her and said that these flowers are odorless. The seeds were planted, and when the peonies bloomed, to the surprise of the courtiers, the girl was right. She was asked how she guessed, and Seondok replied that there were no bees, no butterflies, or birds in the painting.

This story is about tree peonies(Paeonia suffruticosa), which during the Tang dynasty (618-906) were a luxurious imperial gift - then more than 3 kg of gold were paid for a peony bush. The tree peony really does not smell, but modern varieties, including those improved by hybridization with semi-shrub peony yellow(Paeonia lutea), having a wonderful lemon scent (to some it seems more like lilies), slightly aromatic peony Potanin(Paeonia potaninii), purchased it. More than 20% of tree peony hybrids smell good (eg Alice Harding, Min d'Or).

Ito-hybrid "Bartzella"

Many people have a good scent Ito hybridsobtained from crossing of tree peonies with lacto-flowered peonies (for example, Bartzella, Kellis Memori, Cora Louise, Garden Treasure).

Yet tree peonies are not as fragrant as herbaceous peonies, striking with a huge variety of shades of smell. About 18% of the varieties are at least to some extent fragrant, of which 4% have pleasant sweet or pink notes.

Those peonies are considered fragrant, the aroma of which is felt at a distance. A light, weak smell is considered, which makes you come closer to the peonies, but from such varieties you will no longer get full pleasure in the garden, but rather in a bouquet that will not become intoxicating in the room. The strength of the scent changes during the day and depends on the temperature and humidity of the air, as well as the age of the flower. Freshly blossomed peony, warmed by the morning sun, is at the peak of its fragrance, which weakens by mid-day.

As with roses, in peonies you can find a variety of shades of odors, with an admixture of floral, fruity, citrus, spicy notes. Experienced flower growers-collectors often easily identify the name of the variety by the scent of a cut flower, considering it one of the most important signs. Sometimes it is they, subtle shades of smell that make it possible to distinguish externally similar varieties.

Peony milk-flowered "Mrs. F.D. Roosevelt"

The most fragrant - varieties peony lactobacillus(Paeony lactiflora), a natural species that smells like daffodils. Among them are terry, with white, pink, lilac color (Anne Cousins, Monsieur Jules Ely, Snow Cloud, Boo Te, Clemenceau, Solange, Festival Maxima, Alexander Fleming, Duchesse de Nemours, Doris Cooper, Miss Eckhardt, Princess Margaret, Mrs F.D. Roosevelt, Edulis Superba, Vivid Rose, Atta of Roses). Some varieties have no aroma (Corinne Versant, Buckeye Bell, Karina, Auguste Desser).Some varieties smell unpleasant (for example, Bowl of Cream, Adolph Russo, Modest Jerin, Ren Ortens, Fireball, Bonanza, Shirley Temple, Miss America).

Red and coral varieties, desirable for many, obtained by hybridization of the lacto-flowered peony with an absolutely odorless medicinal peony(Paeony officinalis) not so fragrant, from almost complete absence (Robert Outen variety) to repulsive smell, rotten fish for example. A bouquet of such peonies can be difficult to carry in a room. Semi-double varieties are often endowed with a strong unpleasant odor, but this is not the rule (Sable, Burgundy). Interestingly, the harsh, unusual aromas are often credited with medicinal properties. One way or another, an undesirable scent should not be a reason to refuse flowers that are magnificent in shape and color, because foul-smelling pollen dries quickly in the sun, and the smell becomes less distinct. But even in this group of varieties, some have a noble aroma: Diana Parks, Outens Red - light floral; Helene Cowley - edgy floral; Chocolite Soulji, Rose Marie, Topeka - pink; Walter Maines - the scent of freshness; Red Red Rose, Rose Marie - with a pronounced pleasant aroma.

In the descriptions of varieties, the strength of the aroma is more often indicated, and not its shades, since the olfactory perception is very subjective, and is largely associated with a person's life experience. And yet, some varieties show such bright notes that the associations of different people, as a rule, coincide.

• The rich aroma of blooming roses has many varieties of milk-flowered peonies - Monsieur Jules Ely, Anne Cousins, Amabilis Superbissima, Festival Maxima, Emma Klemm, Madame de Verneville, Calveis Glorios, A.E. Candred, Anshantress, Pink Radians, Raspberry Sundays, Florence Bond, Myrtle Gentry, Gismonda, Martha Bulloch, Hazel Kinney, Edulis Superba, Sweet-16.

• Fragrant hybrid peony Diana Parks

  Sweetish - Victory, Valentina Tereshkova, Henry Sass, Innovation, Zura Hayres, Judy Ann, Livingston, Appassionata.
• Fresh aroma of lily of the valley - Excelsa, Duchesse de Nemours, Alyosha Popovich.
• Clove Scent - John Howard Vigel.
• The scent of lilac - Sinbad.
• Apple flavor - JC, Elsa Sass, High Fashion.
• Lemon - Armistis, Norma Walls, Etchil Salmon.
• Jasmine - Doris Cooper, Mirage, Spring, Abundance.
• Floral - Mikado, Pink Champaign, Blue Rose, Henry Sass, Dr. D.H. Neely, Moon of Nippon, Lord Kitchener, The Martian.
• Honey - Weseball-90, Ze Mighty Mo, Star Light.
• Coffee - Rinklez & Crickles, Linnaeus, Odile.
• Blooming linden scent - domestic varieties Moskvich, Varenka, Elegy, Arkady Gaidar, Elegy, Waltz.
• Spicy aroma - Alice, Bowl of Cream, Cherry Red, Phase Top, Westerner, Camellia.
• Astringent aroma - Akron, Keningin Wilhelmina, Pierre Renew, Bach, Surprise, Okinawa, Karina, Louis van Gutte.
• Mint - Pink Glow.
• Musky - Ala Mod.
• Delicate fantasy - Le Sin, Corinne Versant, Solveig, Gardenia, Alice Harding.
• Pungent scent - Miss America, Albert Durer, Elizabeth B. Browning, Bride Janice, Shirley Temple, Earle Daybrick, Marguerite Gerard.

Such a rich palette of aromas could not go unnoticed by perfumers. Peony perfumes were in great fashion during the Victorian era when they were made from natural raw materials. Peony essential oil contains up to 30 components. Today, the perfume industry, which is constantly looking for new compositions, is experiencing another wave of interest in the aromas of peonies. Some manufacturers collaborate with nurseries and produce peony-scented perfumes that are recommended for romantic evenings and for every day.

Peony perfume easy to do at home, with a small assortment of essential oils:

• In a clean, dry glass container, combine 2 cups of distilled water and 3 tablespoons of vodka.
• Add 4 drops of musk essential oil, 8 drops of sandalwood and 12 drops of peony essential oil.
• Fix the scent by adding 4 drops of glycerin.
• Stir and add a few more drops of any essential oil of your choice.
• Pour the perfume into a dark glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Let stand for at least 12 hours before using.

You will get your own unique composition and will be able to surround yourself with a warm wave of peony scent at any time of the year.