A Sniff through the Years of Heady Scents

Products that enhance the feel of skin and the smell of  the body have been highly valued in every culture.  People have used perfume, oils and salve on their bodies for thousands of years in lesser or greater amounts rush on fashion whims.   One of the oldest uses of perfume come from the burning of incense and aromatic herbs. Richly scented plants were incorporated into animal and vegetable oils to anoint the body for ceremony and pleasure. The first form of perfume was incense. It was a part of their religious rituals. They often soaked the fragrant woods and resins in water and oil, and rubbed their bodies with the liquid. They also embalmed the dead with these perfumes.

The Egyptians invented glass and perfume bottles were one of the first common uses for glass as early as 1000 BC. Egypt import many spices and aromatics from India, such as sandalwood, ginger, agar wood and musk. Many plants such as rose and peppermint were used to extract perfumed oil from them. Egyptians also held a prominent position of the world’s jasmine production. They were the first to encompass perfume in their culture. Then, they were followed by the ancient Chinese, Israelites, Arabs, Romans, Greeks and Hindus.

For so many years, the use of perfumes had been strictly limited to the priests who performed the religious ceremonies. It was developed not to attract the opposite sex; they were made to intensify the goodwill of the gods. Greeks and Romans learned about perfumes from Egyptians. The trade between these countries has been very healthy.

It was during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period besides being used in countless therapeutic and medicinal treatments, perfume obtains a new status as it is applied in perfumed collars, rosaries and aromatic “cushions”.

The late 19^th century was the first real era of perfume when new scents were created because of advances in organic chemistry knowledge.  France became the leader in reestablishing the therapeutic uses of fragrance. Synthetic perfume products were used in place of certain hard to find or expensive ingredients. Perfume materials were distilled and blended into an alcohol base. Perfumes come from thousands and even millions of variety. It is made from about 78% to 95% of specially denatured ethyl alcohol and a remainder of essential oils.

It’s interesting to note that perfume has come in full circle today as more of us yearn for high quality aromatherapy perfumed oils. And perfume has been evolving thru the ages. Since then, there has always been a trade in scents. And this year, 2008, perfume had become a $10 billion industry.

An Overview of the Most Common Kinds Orchids

Orchids are one of the most lavish of the flowering species of plants. Each type of orchid has its own personality. Do you know that there are over than 25,000-30,000 diverse types of orchids all throughout the world? There are thousands of varieties in nature with thousands more being created by cross breeding to create new hybrids. Because of their spectacular blooms, many botanist and amateur flower lovers alike have regarded them as living jewels.

They are members of the family Orchidaceae. It has a greater wealth of species than any other plant family in the entire universe: naturally occurring species number around 30,000, and artificially created hybrids in the tens of thousands. Some of the most common kinds of orchids used for their blooms are: Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Oncidium and Vanda.

Dendrobiums are at the top of this list. This species of orchids offer a wide variety of colors, from white to purple to yellow. The most commonly used varieties with their colors are: Lake View (purple), Hawaii (white and purple), Alba (light and pink) and Mutation (yellow). Originally found in most of Asia, Australia, Philippines, New Guinea and Borneo, these plants are in great demand. Although these orchids grow well they do not bloom frequently. And because of their charm, hobbyists have created hybrids for this orchid species.

Cattleya. A popular orchid species that is merely found in parts of South America and Asia. The colors are usually, white, yellow or a deep purple. A fascinating characteristic of the Cattleya is that it gracefully spreads out, rather than grows in a compact pattern. This species has been claimed to be the most beautiful among all the orchids because they are in demand for decorative purposes.

Cymbidium. This is one of the most often seen orchids and is found in bridal bouquets. Cymbidiums are popular among growers with a tendency for easy-care orchids, granted that the plants’ needs can be met. They have an exotic appearance even though they are commonly found; that makes them an affordable and easy choice for florists.

Oncidium. Often referred to as Dancing Lady Orchids, resembling a dancing girl with wide-spread skirts and tiny waist. It has short, thick pseudo bulbs and slender, graceful leaves. Oncidiums, are sun-worshiper’s, they need a great deal of water when growth is being completed and flowering is beginning, but require less after flowering.

Paphiopedilum. These slipper orchids are native to South China, India, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. This is also rather self-explanatory as the blooms look like lady’s slippers. The flowers are unusual even for an orchid, and the plants can be intractable and seemingly slow to grow and flower. Slipper orchids come in 2 varieties, those which tolerate intermediate conditions and those which need warm conditions, all have the same requirements other than temperature.

Phalaenopsis. Can also be called moth orchids. They are named for gently arching, flowering stems with flat flowers which resemble moths in flight. These are the thick-leaved plants with elegant, arching sprays of blooms that can be seen in so many design magazines and sitting on coffee tables across America. They generally bloom only once a year, but the season of bloom varies by species or hybrid.

Vanda. The name Vanda came from Indian language which means that people like these plants by their fragrance, color and the shape of flower. These orchids are usually flat with petals all of the same size. These are some of the world’s most beautiful orchids and contain some of the rare blue orchids seen in cultivation today. Vanda is often used in vase arrangements due to their unique shape and durability.
These are just a few most common kinds of orchids. There are literally thousands of varieties in the world. New orchid species are still being discovered at a rate of between 200 to 300 per year that are mainly from tropical regions. There are so many different kinds of orchids that the nurturing these plants will never become boring.

Wildly Beautiful Flower

Orchid is a symbol of luxury, with a sense of magnificence and artful grandeur, representing rare and delicate beauty. Their graceful appearance draws immediate attention and their reputation as an exotic and unusual flower evokes a sense of refinement and innocence.

Historically, the meanings of orchids have incorporated with wealth, love, and beauty. To the ancient Greeks, it suggested virility. Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child ate large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl. After the rise of popularity in Victorian England, its meaning moved towards being symbolic of luxury. Orchids have been believed to carry various healing and protective properties, allowing them to repel disease. The Aztecs were said to drink a mixture of the vanilla orchid and chocolate to give them power and strength, and the Chinese believe orchids can help cure lung illnesses and coughs.

These stunning, exotic and alluringly beautiful flowers grow naturally in most parts of the world. Many of its varieties can be found naturally only in the tropical rain forests of Latin America, Africa and Asia. There are such a vast number of orchids scattered throughout the earth that they may be one of the most evolved and numerous of the plant families. In nature, they are usually aerial plants, so their roots grow in the air or attached to tree trunks, rocks, or other vegetation. These are very attractive and distinctive plants, with impressive flowers that come in amazing color combinations, and add an exotic identity to any location. With 25,000-30,000 different types of orchids known throughout the world, the variety of flowers that bloom on these plants run the scope. The array of orchids is truly immense. Botanists have evidence that orchids have been in existence for at least several hundred years, making them one of the longest growing plants found on the earth. One of its fascinating characteristics is the fact that they are distinguished from other orders of flowering plants by a combination of floral characteristics rather than just by a single characteristic that would be unique just to them.

Orchids are the most admired hothouse plants. And the most exciting things about orchids are how striking they are. They captured the imagination of people by their beauty and class. As the largest group of plants in the world, they are not a rare and delicate species. Many varieties of the orchid can be grown fairly easily in a common ridge. Others require a good deal of humidity to grow properly. It is not true that one needs a greenhouse to grow orchids. Many orchid collectors report great success in developing them. One may even find a selection in one of a local park. While they do require out-and-out care, many species will even grow well without a greenhouse given proper light and water.

Almost like no other plants, the beauty of orchids is both mesmerizing and breathtaking. They are greatly appreciated all over the world. Learning them can be irresistible. It’s not surprising that orchids are the bona fide choice for corsages by beautiful women and powerful men or for any important person during a very special event.

Banana Appeal

Who says that an apple a day keeps the doctor away?  Well, it’s not as it should be after a series of studies about bananas.  Some of the vitamins in the bananas are two and three times more than in the apple fruit. This elongated, edible fruit, having a thick yellowish to reddish skin and white, aromatic, seedless pulp is known for promoting healthy digestion and help build sound and regenerated tissues.  Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy.

Bananas are originally from Malaysia. Bananas are the fruit of a plant of the genus Musa (family Musaceae), which are cultivated primarily for food, and secondarily for the production of fibers that are used, for example, in the textile industry.  They were then brought to India around the 6th century. Banana plantations were set up in southern China by 200 A.D and were considered to be exotic fruits during these times. Many said that when Alexander the Great visited India during his campaign in 327 A.D., he began to love bananas and took them to the western world.

This amazing fruit comes in yellow, green, and red varieties and has been proven to have a number of medicinal benefits.

A source of Potassium. Because of their impressive potassium content, bananas are highly recommended by doctors for patients whose potassium is low. A 9-inch banana packs 602 mg of potassium and only carries 140 calories. That same large banana even has 2 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.  Higher levels of potassium in the body can reduce the possibility of a stroke.  Studies show that potassium can help in improving a person’s alertness. However, it should be noted that excessive quantities of potassium cause decreased heart muscle activity.

Major source of vitamins and minerals. Bananas are high in iron, and bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.  Large-size bananas have high amounts of vitamin A in them. This is essential for the development of specialized tissue in the eyes. It is also important for the growth of the skin and soft skeletal tissue. Vitamin B is also present in the form of Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Folic acid.  These help in calming the nervous system. Bananas also have a small amount of Vitamin C in them.

Instant relief from insect bites. The inside of a banana skin can help ease the itchiness of an insect bite.  Before reaching for an insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with it.  It helps reduce the swelling and the irritation.

Dietary food against intestinal disorders.  Banana is very helpful for people, who are suffering from stomach ulcers and diarrhea.  It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.  Because this fruit is high in fiber, it can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

An ideal dietary supplement. Bananas may be one of the best fruits to eat when trying to lose weight.  This wonderful fruit is full of nutrients for increased energy and vitality.  They are also low in calories and fat.

Nicotine withdrawal. The combination of Vitamin C, A1, B6, and B12, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, helps the body to recover from the result of nicotine withdrawal.

If an apple a day has become a part of your normal diet, why not shift to bananas?  After all, it must be the reason why monkeys are so happy all the time.