Perfumer's Palette - Poplar Bud

I have a new fascination .

One thing leads to another , as we all know , and learning to recognize a new fragrance note is like getting a new badge in girl scouts ( I was never a girl scout , but still....) . I recieved a sample set of Gobin-Daude fragrances ( thanks to Kathryn ) and the first one I sniffed - Seve Exquise - bowled me right over . I mean eat my arm and cry....

During our e-mail exchanges , Kathryn mentioned it was her favorite too , that it reminded her of the Poplar Trees in her Grandparents yard . What else to do but go investigate the note listed in Seve Exquise - poplar bud .

Yesterday , I was e-mailing Wendy back and forth and we ended up talking about Le Galion fragrances . Which ones she has , which ones I have....you know how one thing leads to another...

After our "talk" I went and kneeled before my Le Galion parfums ( LOL ) , my favorite being Bourrasque . so I applied some to my wrists and inhaled deeply . Ahhhh , the thick , fruity-woody goodness stays close to skin so I sat very still in my reverie .

Life gets in the way of these kinds of strenuous persuits , so I went about the house doing my thing . Sometime later I sniffed my hands and there was the beautiful aroma of poplar buds . Wait a second . Wha-......t ?

I haven't put on Seve Exquise today...it was Bourrasque . Is there poplar bud in the drydown of Bourrasque ? I applied more at bedtime . This morning ? Poplar bud discretely charmingly resinous on my wrists . I'm so pleased !

And it is my new fascination to find fragrances containing poplar bud ( until we can convince Victoire Gobin-Daude to go back into production.....)

Populus balsamifera , Balsam poplar tree , yeilds and oleoresin from the flower buds in late winter/ spring which is steam distilled for the essential oil . Long used by Native Americans and early trappers for it's healing , anti-bacterial , anti-spasmotic properties and for bruises , sore muscles , and skin problems , balsam poplar also has a deeply nourishing and uniquely relaxing effect , is great for wounds and scars .

Known by many names , poplar buds are also known as balm of Gilead , or Mecca Balsam .

Only smelling the variety of poplar essential oils will tell the true story , but the genus-species name Populus balsamifera is supposedly the true balsam/balm of Gilead . Possesing a fresh , green yet resinous , sweet-woody aroma , the buds contain large amounts of sticky red sap when harvested fresh in the early spring .

Chemical constituents :

Salicylic acids and sequesterpenes : b-and y-curcumene , cadinene , a-muurolene , amorphene , trans alpha bergamotene

monoterpenes ( a-pinene , d-limonene )

sequesterpinols a-bisabolol , B-eudesmol , nerolidol

and oxides

" Matter is most spirtual in the perfume of the plant..."

-Rudolph Steiner