The Role of Fragrance in Floral Design
Fragrance is a powerful, often underutilized element in floral design. While visual appeal is paramount, scent engages another sense entirely, creating a more immersive and memorable experience. For florists, fragrant flowers can define the atmosphere of a space, from the intimate romance of a wedding ceremony to the comforting solemnity of a sympathy tribute. Selecting and handling these blooms requires specific knowledge, as their potent oils and delicate structures influence their care, vase life, and placement in an arrangement.
Commonly Used Fragrant Flowers in the Trade
Florists regularly work with a core group of reliably fragrant flowers, valued for their strong scent profiles and availability through wholesale channels. It is important to note that seasonal variations, growing conditions, and specific cultivars can affect scent intensity.
Roses: Many garden-style and heirloom varieties, such as 'David Austin' roses, are prized for their rich, classic fragrance. The scent can range from fruity to spicy to myrrh-like. Modern hybrid tea roses bred for longevity sometimes have less fragrance, so florists often seek out specialty growers for the most aromatic stems.
Lilies: Oriental lilies, like 'Stargazer' and 'Casablanca', are renowned for their intense, sweet perfume that can fill a room. Their scent is a defining characteristic, though it can be overpowering for some individuals or in confined spaces.
Freesia: A favorite for spring arrangements and wedding work, freesia offers a fresh, citrusy scent. Its zigzagging stem makes it a dynamic design element, and its fragrance is widely considered pleasant and not overwhelming.
Sweet Pea: Epitomizing spring, sweet peas have a delicate, honey-like fragrance. They are a staple in garden-style bouquets but have a relatively short vase life, requiring careful conditioning.
Gardenias: While challenging to work with due to bruising and short longevity, gardenias are the pinnacle of luxurious fragrance-creamy, heady, and unmistakable. They are often used as a premium accent or in corsage work.
Hyacinth: With a potent, sweet-spicy fragrance, hyacinths are a bold choice for early spring designs. They are typically sold as forced bulbs in pots, but cut stems are sometimes available and require special handling due to their sappy bases.
Lily of the Valley: Tiny and elegant, these bells pack a powerfully sweet scent. They are a classic choice for bridal bouquets but are expensive and highly seasonal, typically available in late spring.
Stock: Also known as gillyflower, stock has a scent reminiscent of cloves and spice. It is a hardy, reliable flower for adding both fragrance and fullness to arrangements, available in many colors.
Jasmine: Often used as a trailing element or in garlands, jasmine vines offer an exotic, intensely sweet fragrance that is most potent in the evening.
Narcissus (Paperwhites): These bulbs force easily and produce a strong, distinctive fragrance that many associate with the winter holidays. Some find the scent delightful, while others consider it overly pungent.
Maximizing and Preserving Fragrance in Arrangements
The scent of cut flowers is not static; it peaks and fades. Florists use specific techniques to ensure clients enjoy the fragrance for as long as possible.
Proper Conditioning is Critical: Fragrant flowers often have delicate cellular structures. Always cut stems under water with a sharp knife or shears to prevent air embolisms and ensure immediate hydration. Remove any foliage that will fall below the waterline.
Mind the Water Temperature: For most blooms, using lukewarm water (about 100°F or 38°C) facilitates uptake, as it contains less oxygen than cold water and moves more easily up the stem. This is especially helpful for woody-stemmed fragrant flowers like lilac.
Consider Placement: Heat and direct sunlight accelerate transpiration and scent release, causing flowers to wilt and lose fragrance quickly. Display arrangements in cool, draft-free areas away from direct sun, heating vents, or fruit bowls (ethylene gas from ripening fruit speeds decay).
The Cooler Strategy: While refrigeration extends vase life, very cold temperatures can dull the volatile compounds that produce scent. For events, consider allowing fragrant arrangements to acclimate at room temperature for an hour or two before presentation to allow their natural perfume to bloom.
Design Considerations and Client Communication
Using fragrant flowers requires thoughtful design and clear client consultation.
Scent Layering: Combine multiple fragrant flowers with complementary notes to create a complex olfactory experience. For example, pair spicy stock with citrusy freesia and sweet roses.
Avoid Overpowering Mixes: Be cautious when combining several very strong scents, like lilies and hyacinths, as they can compete and become cloying in an enclosed space.
Client Awareness is Essential: Always inform clients, particularly for events like weddings or in sympathy work, when an arrangement contains strongly fragrant flowers. Some guests may have allergies or scent sensitivities. Offering a low-scent or scent-free alternative is a professional courtesy.
Vase Life Realism: Clients should understand that some of the most fragrant flowers, such as sweet peas, gardenias, and lily of the valley, have shorter vase lives than less aromatic varieties. This is a natural trade-off for their exceptional perfume.
By understanding the characteristics and care requirements of these fragrant staples, florists can confidently incorporate scent as a deliberate and powerful tool in their design work, creating arrangements that delight more than just the eye.