Experiments in Perfume - Linden flower, bergamot and wild rose

The multi stem bass tree, called linden in Europe, which sits by my front gate has burst into bloom and is covered with pendulous bracts of fragrant yellow flowers.  Also the dark pink wild roses growing with black raspberries in a bramble pile around a sumac tree in North Pasture 6, are blooming, so I am trying a little experiment in natural homemade perfumery.

The rose is actually not strongly scented, but the petals are a strong pink color, so even if it doesn't contribute much to the smell, maybe it will make a nice color to the final product.  I put a handful of these petals in a pint canning jar.  I added a white yarrow blossom and a few yarrow leaves for a little green underneath. Then I noticed the wild bee balm is starting to bloom, so I picked one of the leaves - a strong bergamont odor, so I put that in too.  Then I plucked enough linden blossoms to fill the jar up half way and covered this up with everclear and put it in a dark place.  I'll pick more linden blossom tomorrow and recharge the jar with fresh blossoms,  and maybe another Monarda leaf or two, and repeat this every day until the linden blossoms stop.  Then I'll let it sit for a few months, and we'll see what evolves.

I  meant to do this with the invasive multiflora rose that infests our pastures. It has a fabulous odor, killer thorns, and the growth habit of metastasizing cancer - it seems to take root just by saying its name somewhere.  This beautiful, nasty plant bloomed a few weeks ago, but I was distracted by pressures at my day job, and it rained every day for two weeks, so there was not a good day to get any of those petals.  Maybe next year.

In any case, the first of October, I will see how my first experiment in local perfumery turns out.  Now that I am reminded of the bee balm, maybe I will try another bottle of  bergamont, more yarrow and wild mint leaves, which should make an approximation of a classic cologne. Maybee a juniper berry or two as well. Or an oakleaf.  Or moss!  Oak moss - I have oak trees, I probably have oak moss!  Cool.