Glorious spring has arrived and the air is filled with the sensual delights of spring blossoming fragrances. Right next to my stoep there are several Buddleja salviifolia and Buddleja auriculata trees. As soon as the sun goes down the lilac-like fragrance wafts through the air into the house. [Read more…]
Buchu – Agathosma
Buchu is perhaps the best known Aromatic herb from Southern Africa. I am particularly fond of it since my great grandparents farmed it in the mountains of Piketberg. I have vivid childhood memories of going down to the celler and burying my face in the big bags of dried Buchu leaves to immerse myself in the minty black current scent of Buchu. [Read more…]
The Mysterious Myrrh & Frankincense (via AddisEthiopia Weblog)
Myrrh and Frankincense have had spiritual significance since ancient times and they also were adopted as medicines for physical ailments. When referring to this pair of herbs, many people might immediately think of their historic importance in religion. The herbs are best known through the story of the Three Wise Men (Magi) [Read more…]
Thyia: Tree of Wisdom (via An Ethiopian Journal)
Western Civilization owes its intellectual accomplishments to the achievements of two great cultures. Egyptians are credited with the origin of language and writing, the basis of scholarship, while ancient Greeks lay claim to our understanding of nature, science and reason. But while these two great empires are often blazed in the books of human history [Read more…]
Hyraceum – “Eau de Dassie”
With the wonderful reviews posted on the perfumes submitted for “The Mystery of Musk Project,” I noticed that quite a few of the perfumes contains Hyraceum. So I thought this would be a good opportunity to explore the “mysteries” of Hyraceum. [Read more…]
Visit to Still Pure
It could not have been a more beautiful day for a drive out to Riebeek Kasteel. It has been raining for a couple of days and sky cleared to reveal all sparkling colours of blues and greens, perfect reflection of the blue and green oils I knew I will be smelling. [Read more…]
Omumbiri – Updates
When you follow a passion it will lead you to unexpected pathways. Love is blind”, does not just mean you cannot differentiate between the positive and negative, but also that you cannot foresee where it will lead you. You may fantasize where it will lead you, but it is almost guaranteed to be off the mark. In the heady mists of seduction you can not foresee where it will lead you. [Read more…]
Omumbiri
Africa is perhaps best known through the ages, for its Frankincense and Myrrh, though not many people are aware of how many varieties of Myrrh and Frankincense there are, and how different their scents are. True Frankincense has for an example a lemon/lime citrus scent and Olibanum (Boswellia.serrata), mainly from India, has an orange citrus scent and is generally darker in colour. In Africa Somalia is especially renowned for both Frankincense and Myrrh [Read more…]
Waterblommetjies – Aponogeton Distachyos
I have a pond here filled with waterblommetjiies. Waterblommetjies is as Cape as it can come. I remember as a child that in Winter in Paarl where I grew up, there were people selling bunches of waterblommetjies on most street corners. We had a friend who just moved from England to South Africa. One day he saw the ladies selling the bunches of waterblommetjies and decided to buy a bunch of these lovely flowers for his girlfriend [Read more…]
Eriocephalus africanus
The area where I am now living is Gordon’s Bay. Gordon’s Bay is best suited for the indigenous fynbos that can survive the winds and heat. If something is sensitive to winds it need protection here. Most of the trees here lean into one direction with the wind facing side blasted bare. The Cape Doctor – the south easter reigns supreme here but with the result the air here is always fresh and filled with the scent of the fragrant fynbos. [Read more…]
