Caramel alarm!
Yesterday, before spaghetti dinner and after boxing some air, I wanted to get a first trial on Linden blossom done, with the goal: create an homage, a fragrance that does justice to Linden blossom. You know: before I go for my biking trip. I sure need to repeat this experiment, as I fell into an old, actually well known trap, that lures nevertheless again and again. Ethylmaltol, Caramel sticking to everything, this is THE caramel molecule, and whenever you think just a hint of sweet powder, then you already added too much.
This stuff is sooooo powerful. Think angel dust, suffocating everything.
But as I was not pleased with the entire chord, I will redo it again, using my Linden blossom CO2 extract (I got the linden blossom from Ecomaat, in Bulgary) but this time more on the happy side with lots of citrus. .. hmm: Lemon zest. I guess…. . Maybe with a bit of rose, with lots of citronellol as it might add a lift to the rather rough and harsh linden blossom extract, but not the Carbon dioxide extract, nor the Swiss Alp rose (see picture of today) but rather the absolute from Bulgary.
And I feel like pushing the amber and iris root button. But this will all happen on the side, as I need to get some stock ready before I hit the bike towards mid of this week.
Don’t ditch your trial!
Just call it Floral Eau De Fruit and send it to Givaudan. I’m sure they’ll find a use for it…
Linden blossom sounds very interesting. I haven’t smelled or tasted it for dozens of years, and remember it only as a medicine to relieve sore throat and the like. But in fact I like little hints of medical smells like camphor or Aoud notes. But maybe your Linden blossom will a lovely caressing composition inviting us to sit and talk under such a tree.
Persolaise: I am afraid it might not fit Givaudan’s standards. but then: There is plenty of room in the graveyard of failed trials.
You have to come to Zurich in June next year, Stephan: The perfume of linden blossom is everywhere in town and you would love it. when smelled in the Bahnhofstreet, linden blossom gets this expensive, exclusive touch
Yes, it’s Linden blossom time as you can smell it almost everywhere in the city for a while! So, you want to extend the blossoming time… I’ve never smelled the linden absolute, but I am curious how close does it smell to the blossoms (by the way, the link doesn’t work as all links to the “old” part of the blog). Lilial smells much like thin undressed unsweetened linden blossom to me – sounds to be a nice start point.
) Sounds like ionones – you dilute it more and more and it seems not to loose its power at all!
Ethyl maltol – angeldust or a sweet sugar devil?
Wish you luck with your linden experiments!
Yes, iris, iris, iris!!!
Dear Max
thanks for telling me about the link: I corrected the Ecomaat link. The other archive links seem to me to work, though….
Hi Andy, I like linden tea but have never seen the real thing (as far as I know). It’s a rather sharp smelling/tasting tea–is the flower the same?
Good evening Jen
actually, I find the flower much sweeter, rounder and less sharp. It is -in a sense- a green flower, that’s maybe why Lilial maybe a remind us in it. There is a lemony quality to it and it has -in full bloom – a radiance and a powdery elegance to it that makes it quite unique. When smelled directly it is a wearker than you’d think.
About the CO2 extract: It is somewhere in the middle between the tea we all know and the real flower….
All the listed ingredients sound like not only a good start, but half way to the finish line!! Like Jen, all I`ve known of Linden is tea and holistic skincare items, both a loooong time ago. Might Chamomile smooth the rough edges? It did in tea form… Music note – Mick Jagger is 67 today, so vent your angst by cranking up some Stones full blast!!
sounds exciting! feel excited, what is it like with amber in??? the flower has lovely colour, i dont think we see them much here ? they must smell great .
Andy, I am so excited to read that you are working on a Linden perfume. I was walking around a lake here in Seattle and for some time, was smelling something wonderful and finally found the tree and with research discovered it is the Silver Linden. What a beautiful, rich fragrance of the natural flowers –nothing like what is usually done with Linden scent in products, which is light and pretty and unremarkable. I cannot wait to smell your tribute to this flower. This is a floral, besides the rose, that I would wear, if it was done faithfully. By the way, I miss seeing your smilling face behind your lavender as on your old blog. Have a great trip. R
Linden!!!!!!! Oh, yes.
“create an homage, a fragrance that does justice to Linden blossom”: that’s a noble-hearted intent !
Hi Andy. As I wrote some time ago on your blog I love linden trees’ scent and I’m eager for a perfume that could, as you wrote, really does justice to it.
Please don’t give up your goal!! Linden is, in my opinion, one of the most luring smell barely frequented with success by noses; and at present I think there are only two or three noses able to deal greatly with it: one of them is you Andy, I think.
May I ask you if you thought about Linden and incense? Or associated with a smooth leather note? Something like a sort of daim accord?
Have a nice evening my dear!
dear Robin
I think I remember that we had a quick exchange once. To be honest, I was thinking a lot while biking on the linden extract and a perfume that builds on it.
Incense was not part of it at all. But I figured that Linden and foin coupé (hay) might work, … and indeed I figured that maybe a hint of tobacco would add depth to it, without killing the linden scent that is very delicate!
You will read more on this theme, promised!
Thanks Andy!!! Tobacco… wow!
Dear Andy,
.. did you think of a micro-dose of “honey” instead of caramel? To me linden blossom is a green, fresh, bitterish, but “honeyed”, when in the full bloom.
P.S. Did you try a linden honey?..