What are scented plants? and why do scented plants produce pleasant odors?
There is nothing that is as exhilarating as walking into a room with plants emitting pleasant scents and odors. The natural aroma creates u unique relaxing atmosphere that is perfect for a romantic mood or brings life to a dull room. Scented plants have been used throughout the ages as royal gifts and for alternative healing. The following paragraphs will show you how scented plants grow as well as the best techniques to care for them.
History of scented plants
Scented plants are plants that produce pleasant odors and include plants such as roses, herbs and jasmines. Throughout history scented plants have been associated with mystical healing, refreshing and stimulating effects on the human body. Scented plants were very rare and only belonged to the elite people such as priests, medical professional and royal family. There are numerous documentations about healing roots, leaves and flowering plants found in Asia , Egypt and the Roman Empire . Explores brought scented plants to Europe and made quiet a fortune from marketing them to rich upper class people. Spices and scented plants from Asia were propagated only by the ruling houses of Europe .
After the industrial revolution, scented plants became available to most people because machines improved scented plant production and caused a great reduction in there price. Nowadays the Native Americans tribes use scented plants in religious ceremonies while the Asians use them for Aromatherapy to heal of sort of disease
Processing scented plants
Cold processing was the only method that could be used to extract oils and it would only extract very small qualities. Nowadays there are synthetically manufactured oils that can be used for a warm scented bath.
Perfume manufacturing has become a very big and lucrative business. Noses people who create new perfumes are rewarded quiet well and have great statue in society. Scented plants petals are known to produce very pleasant smelling perfumes. However producing perfumes requires a lot of scented petals and it would be next to impossible to create a perfume from just the scented plants in your garden or patio. It's much more feasible to rather make scented cushions and sachets.
Why do scented plants produce pleasant odors?
Plants need insects and small animals to help them pollinate and one way to attract these pollinators was by producing scents that were liked by the insects. Colourful flowers had no problem attracting insects but the dull green one had and cold only call insects by producing something more unique a pleasant inviting odor.
These are various types of odors some are weak while others are foul-smelling strong stenches. Not all plants produce pleasant smells; other produce foul smelling scents as a way to defend themselves from predators. In tropical rainforests there are plants that produce smells that of decaying meat in order to attract flesh eating flies. The Araceae plants are well known for producing horrible scents.