perfume from africa...

In the Garden | Culinary | Fragrance | Medicinal use

Popular garden varieties

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Scented Pelargoniums became popular when the French perfume industry realized their aromatic potential in 1847. Most pelargoniums originate from the Cape region in South Africa.

Scented Geranium Collection:

• Camphor Geranium,
• Citronella ( P. citronellum ),
• Lady Plymouth ( P. spp ) - Variegated form,
• Nutmeg Geranium ( P. x fragrans ),
• Peppermint Geranium ( P. tomentosum ),
• Rose Geranium ( P.graveolens ),

In the Garden

Growth Characteristics:

• Perennial, Evergreen, Frost tolerant,
• Height: ±80cmm; Spread: ±80cm,

Cultivation:

• Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,
• Plant it along walkways where it is easy to reach and brushed against to release the scent,

Harvesting:

• Pick fresh leaves throughout the year,

Repellant for:

• Citronella: Mosquitoes,

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Culinary use

• Use fresh flowers in salads and for garnishing,
• Place leaves under baked apples or cakes to impart flavour,
• Citronella:
  • Leaves may be infused to make tea, and used fresh to flavour desserts, punch, and vinegar
• Nutmeg:
  • Leaves give flavour to pâté, jellies, desserts, cakes, punches, and coffee,
• Peppermint:
  • Fresh leaves are used to flavour tea, desserts, jellies, and chocolate cakes,

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Fragrance

• Use in potpourris, herb pillows,
• Citronella geranium: Lemon-scented leaves,
• Lady Plymouth: Minty, rose-lemon scent,
• Nutmeg geranium: Aromatic, with a spicy, pine-like scent,
• Peppermint geranium: Strong peppermint scent,
• Infuse leaves as a mild astringent to clean and help circulation of pale, sluggish complexions,
• Add to bathtwater to sooth the skin,

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Medicinal use

Scented Geranium may be beneficial in the following cases:

Preparation and dosage:

• Fresh Leaves.

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