The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109550   Message #2291590
Posted By: GUEST,Shimrod
18-Mar-08 - 10:37 AM
Thread Name: BS: Favourite Scented Flowers
Subject: RE: BS: Favourite Scented Flowers
Yes, the Paperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) has a haunting, but slightly sinister, scent. They are from North Africa and their heavy scent brings to mind incense and ancient ruins. On the sinister side I get images of the potions and unguents used to preserve mummies (but, in reality, I have no idea what those smelled like!).

In the autumn I buy a few bulbs of this Narcissus, pot them up and put them on the windowsill. They tend to flower a week or two before Christmas and for a few days I'm transported to an exotic, slightly eldritch land far away and long ago.