Ylang Ylang
Description
Native to the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, Cananga odorata, a relative of the Magnolia tree, is an extremely fast growing tree growing as much as 16 feet per year until it reaches an average height of 100 feet. Its lacy, fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers that can be smelled as much as 30 feet away cover the tree year-round. This tree has smooth bark and waxy, pointed, oval, waxy leaves that are evergreen. This fragrant tree is native to rainforests preferring acidic soil and full or partial sun.
History
In Tagalog, a native Philippine language, the name Ylang Ylang literally means “Flower of Flowers”. Since ancient times, Philippine girls have used these beautiful flowers to decorate themselves. Aside from its myriad of indigenous medicinal uses, Ylang Ylang was most sought after by the perfume industry for its alluring, sensual fragrance until less expensive synthetics became available. Arguably the most popular perfume to includeYlang Ylang in its formula is Chanel #5.
Sage
Description
Clary Sage, like all other varieties of sage, is a member if the mint family. This lovely biennial/ perennial grows to a height of 3 feet flowering July – August. With its square-shape stem, large downy leaves and dragon-like pinkish-lilac colored flowers, this plant is as lovely to look at as it is to smell. Due to these varied uses, Clary Sage is revered for its ability to thrive in a multitude of environments. This biennial/perennial has been widely distributed to many countries.
History
Believed to be native to France, Italy and Switzerland, Clary Sage had a long history of varied uses. Its Latin name sclarea comes from the word clarus which means clear.
Pepermint
Description
Peppermint is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia and is naturalized to North America. This fragrant, lush plant grows wild in moist, temperate areas reaching a height of 2 – 3 feet, producing flowers July through August.
History
Although first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, Peppermint is known to have been used for medicinal purposes before 2,000 BCE. Throughout the ages, Peppermint has been used in cookery, to soothe digestive issues, diminish nausea, elevate headaches and migraines, loosen tight/sore muscles, ease joint pain, and stimulate mental clarity.
Cornmint
Description
Mentha arvensis is a perennial herb that flourishes in fields and moist ground growing to about 24 inches in height. It is a branched, downy plant with paired, freely toothed leaves. Cornmint also has light purple flowers whirled at the leaf bases with roots that freely creep.
History
This herbal plant has been used by humans for approximately 2000 years. It is believed to first have been cultivated in Europe during ancient times. However, Japan started cultivating this mint plant for commercial purposes in the late nineteenth century. Countries like China and Japan used it for various medicinal purposes. Later, cornmint was introduced to India where it is still known as Pudina.
Spearmint
Description
Growing in thick clumps, this hardy perennial easily spreads via underground runners becoming invasive if not well corralled. Like all mints Mentha viridis has square stems with simple, opposite leaves. Its leaves are lance (spear) shape and wrinkled.
History
Native to the Mediterranean, Spearmint has been known as the herb of hospitality since ancient times. Mints were brought to Britain by the Romans. Centuries later the English extended the same favor to the new world when English colonists planted mints in their settlements in North America.
Lavender is a plant found in gardens around the world. While there are a multitude of varieties, most are short-lived herbaceous perennials or shrub-like perennials with silver-green, needle-like foliage. The whorled flowers are borne on spikes above the foliage.
Lavender
Description
Lavender is a plant found in gardens around the world. While there are a multitude of varieties, most are short-lived herbaceous perennials or shrub-like perennials with silver-green, needle-like foliage. The whorled flowers are borne on spikes above the foliage.
History
Lavender is believed to be native to the Old World; Africa, Asia, Europe and Mediterranean. A member of the mint family, Lavender has a long illustrious history. The use of this exceptional plant can be traced back more than 3,000 years having been employed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks, by Cleopatra, in biblical, medieval, Victorian, as well as modern times.
Frankincense
Description
Boswellia serratais native to Arabia and India. Today, this moderate-to-large deciduous tree grows in the dry mountainous regions of India, Northern Africa and Middle East.
The bark is very thin and has a chlorophyll layer under the outer layer which peels off in papery flakes. The leaves having toothed margins are alternate crowding towards the branch ends. The fruit which is triangular in cross-section forms and are the shape of a heart with three valves.
The resin, from which the essential oil is distilled from, is harvested by tapping the trunk of the tree with incisions.
History
Frankincense is an ancient tree highly prized for its resin or “tears”. Arguably the best known reference to frankincense is as a gift given more than 2,000 years ago.