REPLY: [pbs] Fragrances that Surprise--TOW
DaveKarn@aol.com (Wed, 14 Apr 2004 06:53:21 PDT)

In a message dated 13-Apr-04 11:46:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
johngrimshaw@tiscali.co.uk writes:

John ~

Fragrance is a funny thing, to say the least! What is fragrant to one, can
be nauseating to another. Then there are folks who can't smell anything! I
grow a great many lilies (and specialize in L. martagon and hybrids; to my nose,
they have a musky and unpleasant fragrance that others find appealing), and,
while I find most lily fragrance wonderful on a warm afternoon, true, it can
be overwhelming if from a large bouquet in a closed room. I just cut fewer
flowers and often put the vase outside overnight where it is cooler; makes the
flowers last longer along with cutting the fragrance load indoors!

However, I must say that I find your dislike of the fragrance of hyacinth to
be unusually severe. To my nose, the fragrance of hyacinth represents the
very essence of Spring!! I couldn't have a garden without waves of hyacinth. I
will often sit near them just to inhale deeply of that fragrance distilling
itself on the edying currents of air. I do have to say, however, get the
fragrance when the flowers are fresh because, like a good brie when mature, the odor
deterioates to intolerable as the flowers fade.

Many daffodils with jonquilla, tazetta or poeticus heritage can be intensely
fragrant. It's not common to find appealing fragrance in the large hybrids
(to my nose, they often have a sharp and acrid stink!). There is one, however,
that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in this flower: 'Fragrant
Rose.' Like it's namesake, this white with rose-pink corona daffodil has a
light and appealing tea rose fragrance. Many can readily detect the aroma but
for others, alas, they perceive nothing.

Dave Karnstedt
Silverton, Oregon, USA
Cool Mediterranean climate; USDA Zone 7-8