9_10............Scent: Narcissus

Narcissus: We know this flower more commonly by the name daffodil and it is highly revered as one of the sweetest smelling flowers that grow.

There is a wide variety of narcissus and most have a trumpet that project from the center of the petal union.

Having an extreme span of color range and combined with the central trumpet, which can be of an opposing color results in some beautiful and dramatic combinations.

Yellow petals and red trumpet or white petals and red trumpet the common colors are yellow, pink, red, green, orange and rose.

Here we are dealing with the plant and not the god that became so wrapped up in his own reflection that he died from staring at himself and admiring his own reflection who is also known as Narcissus.

The plant might look and smell attractive but is poisonous to ingest which keeps animals from eating it out in fields and the bulbs that daffodils grow from have been mistaken for onion bulbs by humans and caused illness and death.

It is noted to have strong narcotic affect, which directly affects the central nervous system and has been noted that by applying it to open wounds has caused a disorientation and heart paralysis.

It has been noted that the flowers and bulb have been successfully used for the treatment of epilepsy and hysteria and used as an antispasmodic.

Used in perfumery for centuries for its fragrant aroma as just mentioned the Narcissus has a very sweet smell and its oils are extracted for use.

The creation of perfume traces back to a woman considered to have been the first known chemist who was named Tapputi and is mentioned on Mesopotamian tablets dating back 4000 years or so.

As far as specific recipes and records that first highly noted chemist was an Arab named Al-Kindi who wrote Book of the Chemistry of Perfume and Distillations in the 9th century.