Fabulous Jasmine
My absolute favourite scent!
For me, nothing evokes the feeling of being on holiday than the smell of a Jasmine flower! I planted a small plant about 15 years ago, dug it up when we moved and now, every July it bursts into flower. Its branches scramble through the apple tree, clematis and mock orange blossom with the pretty little clotted cream coloured flowers popping against the dark green leaves and rambling branches. It’s very happy in this spot in partial shade, its survived many a cold winter AND i’ve been able to propagate it! I pinned one of its branches to the ground with a tent peg a couple of years ago, I checked last week and its rooted, with its own stems shooting out.
What is it about Jasminum Officinale that is so intoxicating? Well, when I smell it I am taken right back to Nerja in Andalucia, Spain. We stayed in a hostel and the balcony was covered in Jasmine and its sweet scent filled the room every evening. It’s the sign of summer for me and an absolute essential for my garden. I don’t need to get on a plane to feel like summer has arrived.
Jasmine essential oil is highly prized and very expensive - its blossom is picked by hand, apparently it takes 8,000 blossoms to produce just one gram of essential oil. It is considered one of the most effective products to relieve stress, anxiety and depression - it certainly lifts my mood, when I smell it. Also jasmine oil has stimulatory effects on the function of nervous system and makes you less tired. This was confirmed when I read this research paper on the effect of Jasmine essential oil on the brain during an EEG:
Sadly Jasmine it too expensive for me to use in candle making. I did explore a blend using a third pressing oil (think Olive oil - extra virgin v straight olive oil) but even that was not viable. Enjoying the real thing for a month or so during the UK summer is just fabulous though - I will savour that.