In poetry and literature, myrtle (Myrtus communis – the name means ‘perfumed essence’) is often spoken of as divine or related to the gods in different ways, so it’s no surprise that the qualities of this special plant are praised since ever.
Myths and legends
According to middle eastern tradition, myrtle was the first fragrant flower ever. And the reason is its complex, multifaceted smell, woody, green, fresh, slightly bitter and herbaceous, but also somehow floral, sweet and spicy. This is why Myrtle honey is very aromatic (to find it, it’s better to plan a trip to Sardinia).
There’s another legend in which a myrtle bush is even thought to carry the actual scent of the Garden of Eden.
Another myth tells that Venus, having left the waters of the sea, took refuge in a myrtle forest and covered herself with its branches.
No wonder it’s traditionally associated to Love: there is a tale that tells about Dionysus’ mother, she was held prisoner by Zeus in Hades, the underworld, and that the god, in order to free her, had to leave a myrtle plant in exchange. Since then, myrtle is said to grow there in abundance.
It also symbolizes erotic poetry, for which it was customary to surround the poets’ heads with crowns of Myrtle, especially if they wrote amorous verses: symbol of grace and love, its perfume is said to recall Heaven and is pleasing to the angels. Maybe this was the origin of the ‘angels’ water’, a cosmetic formula that was created back in the Middle Ages, obtained from its flowers through distillation and used as a face toner to keep skin soft and young.
In aromatherapy, myrtle essential oil is used and appreciated for its ability to cleanse the emotions, balance the mind and help soothe negative thoughts and anger, eventually lifting the mood.
Now: where and how
This extraordinary plant loves sunny weather so it grows spontaneously and wild in the Mediterranean maquis. Its leaves are tiny, tapered, glossy, of a deep green shade. Since it is an evergreen shrub, myrtle can live very, very long. Depending on the region in which it grows, myrtle essential oil can take on different olfactory nuances: in Italy myrtle grows mainly in Sardinia (where people know how to handle its berries in an interesting way), then it can be found in Corsica, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey and on island of Cyprus. A well trained nose can detect the differences, for example, a note that reminds of eucalyptus is typical of the French production.
Myrtle oil belongs to the top note raw materials, and gives freshness, strength and a balsamic, herbaceous touch. It combines well with citruses, lavender, rosemary, but also with aquatic and woody notes. The combination with some aldehydes is also interesting, this why it is used in colognes and predominantly in male compositions.
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