Taking note of the scents that inspire us

Move over groundhogs, we’ve got mimosa trees to tell us that winter is ending and Spring is just around the corner! Vibrant canary-yellow bursts dot the gray-green hillsides in February as the floral equivalent of a middle finger to winter.

Puffy, muppet-like yellow pompoms, covering tall trees with its feather shaped leaves, swaying in the coastal breeze coaxes us out of a winter slumber. The mimosa (aka Acacia decurrens var. dealbata) is native to Tasmania but was introduced to Europe in the late 1700s where it now grows spontaneously throughout the Mediterranean.

In Italy, since the mid-1900s, the mimosa flower has become a symbol of strength, sensibility, sensitivity for Women’s Day. On March 8th, in fact, women and men in Italy traditionally give mimosa flowers in a show of appreciation for the strong women in their lives.

The mimosas is a visual joy and even a symbolic gesture of strength but… we’re here we talk about scent, right?

There’s nothing frivolous about the fragrance they emit. No matter how whimsical their appearance, the scent is very sophisticated and a precious perfume ingredient.

Like all florals, there are layers to the scent. You immediately get radiant, warm, powdery notes that are deepened with a sweet honey almond facet that’s almost addictive. Green, leafy notes add a bit of freshness as a bonus to an already wonderfully complex scent. Its complexity is what makes mimosa a coveted ingredient in perfumery. It blends well and offers even more nuance and depth to other florals like violets or to fruit and spice notes.

So, if you’re lucky enough to get up close to a mimosa tree, take a deep breath and enjoy the scent of the change of season.