Robert de Brie, a Crusader, is sometimes said to have brought the Damask
rose from Syria to Europe sometime
between 1254 and 1276. The name refers to a
major city in Syria called Damascus. This plant became popular in the European
gardens of noblemen and wealthy merchants, and for centuries, this rose has also
been considered a symbol of beauty and love.
Roses are often thought of as having a nice scent as
well. Rose petals were used for their
fragrance to make an expensive essential oil called altar of roses which was
used in perfume. It would take one and a
half tons of fresh petals to make one pound of the oil! They were also used to make rose water, in
which the process for
extracting rose water from rose petals in the early 11th century was invented
by a Persian scientist, Avicenna. These roses are also ideal for making
potpourri, because they hold their fragrance so well when they are dried.
Not only were roses used for making perfume for Victorians,
perhaps bought and worn by the settlers here in Elgin County, but they also
loved the scent of violets. Not only would they carry the scent of the
violet on their skin, but they
also ate violets, candied in cakes and pastries, and women would pin them to
their dresses while men tucked them in their hat brims or wore them on their
lapels. Queen Victoria herself however, was ‘not amused’ by plenty of things,
including the over-lavish use of fragrance. Interesting how her people were not phased by their ruler’s distaste.
Have a great week ahead,
Catie Welch
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