Taking note of the scents that inspire us

Sweet and spicy nespole (Eriobotrya japonica) flower is another frenzy-inducing scent for hungry bees before they fall into a winter slumber. The strong scent throw of the flower clusters is enough to put humans into a similar swoon!

To be quite honest, I had never seen, nor smelled, the loquat tree’s flowers or fruit before coming to Italy. Yet here, along the Tuscan coast it’s pervasive. And so good! The tall fruit tree was introduced into Italy in the late 1800s from Asia and became a favorite for household gardens as it was said to ward off witches and bad luck.

Not sure about the “warding off” part but the white flower clusters are bewitching. They form the pinnacle of large, pointed, leathery leaves. The underside of which have a red-brown fuzz that makes the leaves look dusty. The flowers’ spicy (nutmeg, clove, allspice) scent has a complementary sweet, heady, carnal facet. It’s part of the rose family so maybe it’s the indole that adds an animalic quality and subconsciously seductive?

Another peculiar trait of the nespole/loquat tree is that the fruit slowly develops over the winter and ripens in the spring which is why it gifts us with the overwhelmingly enjoyable scent late into the year. The fruit itself is a cross between an apricot and plum with fleshy, fibrous pulp that is sweet with some floral overtones. But, for us fragrance lovers, this popular flowering tree is all about the intoxicating scent that giddily leads us into winter months.