White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Lotus 2, March 15, 2001
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Lotus 2
Dear Friends,
Each one of us is on a unique and
special quest during which we hope to gain appreciation of new and 
beautiful
dimensions of life. Many of us have found a special connection to the world
of aromatic plants and the wonderful essences extracted or distilled from them.
Gradually we are learning that such precious gems of the botanical kingdom are
the result of an intricate web of relationships between environments, plants,
climates, farmers or gatherers, and extractors/distillers. The creative use
of these radiant treasures is in the domain of practicing aromatherapy, massage,
natural perfumery and many other aromatic disciplines. Each and every part of
this world is significant and each person engaged in it has a chance to offer
some special gift which is a manifestation of their own inner beauty and goodness.
As the appreciation for all the parts grows one has the opportunity to gradually
increase the sense of wonder, mystery and awe that bestows on our lives that
special glow which leads to fulfillment and contentment.
In my own journey, I have been drawn to working as closely as possible with the production side of essential oils, absolutes, and attars. It is but one small part of this whole fascinating world of study but as it is the domain in which I have the most practical experience, I may be able to share a few things which will be of interest to others. Repeated trips to India since 1971 created a great longing to understand as much as possible about the numerous aromatic gifts with which the country has been blessed since ancient times.
Even to this day if one goes into the heart of rural India, they will find many precious aromatic plants spreading their intoxicating aromas to the vicinity into which they live. Many are familiar to us and are even grown on a commercial or semi-commercial scale for both domestic and/or international markets. Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemongrass, Basil, Palmarosa, Cardamon, Black Pepper, Citronella, Carrot Seed, Costus, Spikenard, Sandalwoodan Eucalyptus are but a few of the more well known aromatic plants grown or wild harvested for essential oil production. But there are many others which are but little known outside of India. Kewda(Pandanus odoratissimus), Parijata(Nycthantes arbortristis, Gulhina(Lawsonia inermis), Bakul(Mimusops elengi0 and Sona Champa(Michelia champaca) are included in this group.
One more incredible flower, with
which this story is concerned is Lotus or Nelumbo nucifera. Certainly the
name
and image of the Lotus is well known to many, but the fragrance of the flowers
growing naturally in climates which are suited to them may not be familiar to
most folks. When I first began to gain a practical understanding of India's
ancient and modern fragrance industry due to the kind instruction of my fragrance
mentor, Ramakant Harlalka, who took me to many places throughout the country
so I could see cultivation, harvest, distillation/extraction of aromatic plants,
the longing to sponsor the extraction of lotus blossoms began to grow in my
mind. One day while reading through the multivolume work called Wealth of India,
which concerns the countries animal, plant and mineral resources I came across
this small selection.
"The flowers of Nelumbo nucifera are used for ornament and as offerings in temples. Cut flowers stand transportation if picked as buds one or two days before opening. They were once used as a source of perfume, Lotus(Kamal) Perfume, which was highly prized; the present day lotus perfume is a blend of patchouli, benzoin and storax with phenylethyl and cinnamic alcohols. The honey from bees which visit lotus flowers is reported to possess tonic properties and considered useful for affections of the eye. The leaf stalk yields a yellowish white fibre..."
The mention of it being a perfume in bygone days really intrigued me and the seed idea remained with me as something that I should pursue. Then in 1998 I had a chance to visit Rajasthan with Ramakant and the experience that awaited us there seem to confirm that the idea of producing a true lotus absolute was not far removed from reality. Here is a journal extract which explains what we saw:
"Early next morning we were met
by Navneet and we proceeded to a beautiful lotus lake several miles from
the
city. This was an unfrequented spot complete with a 450 year old summer palace(now
in ruins) and a small temple. The cool fresh morning air blew across the lake
lifting the ethereal fragrance of pink lotus for us to inhale and enjoy. The
aroma of lotus is quite intoxicating and it is not hard to understand why the
flower and its fragrance figures so prominently in Eastern religious tradition.
Thousands upon thousands of flowers opened their petals to the light of the
morning sun and this auspicious site seemed an appropriate opening to our explorations
of the fragrant treasures ofRajasthan.
The lotus flower and its fragrance are of intense interest to us. Once upon a time a ethereal attar was made from the flower but now that art and craft is no longer practiced. Instead natural and synthetic ingredients are added to sandalwood to produce a similar type of odor to the lotus but not the lotus odor itself. In fact there are a number of different species of the genus Nelumbo each having their own distinct odor and so if, in fact, we can find some way to start producing as true lotus attar or absolute, we will need to be very specific about the species or cultivar used. The fragrance of the lovely pink-tinged lotus we were smelling is difficult to describe in any words. It was in its very essence, ethereal and delicate.Its sweetness is so subtle and profound that it steals into one heart and mind in a most unassuming way, but its effect was immediate and deep. It seems to touch a very high center in the brain and remind one of very noble and good spiritual aspirations. The symbolism of lotus in the East is so vast and deep that several volumes would be required to do the subject justice but one can say that it is primary importance in the religious and spiritual beliefs of the Indian people." http://members.aol.com/somanath/rajasthan2.html
Through a series of circumstances the opportunity to begin this work in earnest manifested in 1998. One of our colleagues in South India who had a nice extracting unit outside of Bangalore, expressed interest in taking on the project if I would provide the financial backing for this work. At that time I was working full time as a gardener hence financial resources were limited, but I thought that no matter what happens one should make an effort to do that work which is closest to the heart. So I assured him that I would produce that amount of money which would allow us to commence the extraction of lotus flowers to produce the concrete from which the absolute is made. Our colleague sent one of his trusted workers to do a complete survey of the area surrounding the extracting facility to discover what white and pink lotus ponds could be found. India is not a place where one finds things on a map, but requires traveling in rural areas where the only way to find something is to ask directions from local people. Gradually his assistant was able to locate ponds of significant size filled with pink and white lotus blossoms. Unfortunately the location of the white lotus ponds was to remote for picking and transporting to the extracting unit but pink lotus ponds proved accessible.
The full story of the lotus adventure can be read on my web site: http://members.aol.com/parijata/lotus.html
What is quite difficult for most of us to grasp is the actual amount of plant materials required to produce even a small amount of absolute or essential oil. When one holds a small vial of oil in thier hands, it is almost inconcievable that it might take hundreds, even thousands of blossoms to make a small amount of oil. In the case of lotus we also did not know in the beginning that the blossoms would yield so little concrete. Gradually we discovered that it would require approximately 25,000 blossoms to make 35 ounces(1 kilo) of concrete. When the concrete was submitted to alcohol washing, filteration, chilling etc to make the absolute it required 4 kilos of concrete to make 1 kilo of absolute.(Hence it requires approximately 2850 lotus blossoms to make 1 ounce of absolute) Generally speaking the yield of absolute from concrete is 1 kilo of absolute to 2-3.5 kilos of concrete but due to the extremely waxy nature of the flowers and the very low essential oil content the yield was much lower. It was therefore required a couple of months for enough concrete to be produced to make the absolute. As the flowers do not bloom all at one time, the blossoms had to be collected as available from many surrounding ponds and brought to the factory for extraction. Perhaps one day 200 blossoms would come, on another day 500, another 700. It was, in short, quite an undertaking to make that first kilo of pink lotus absolute. Finally in November of 1998 the first small consignment of this precious essence was sent and friends and customers had a chance to begin exploring this unique essence.
The problem then and now is to describe
a fragrance which is very different than most we have encountered
. Any absolute
in its pure form is thousands of times more concentrated than the individual
flowers so it is sometimes valuable to decompress the concentrated material
with a dilulent which will not greatly alter the basic profile. One more thing
I came to learn in the initial excitement of doing that first olfactory exploration
of pink lotus absolute was that just as a beautiful blend needs several weeks
or months to mature, so do most absolutes and essential oils. All the aromatic
components have to settle into a balanced relationship with each other and this
does not happen overnight. So one of the keys to a good olfactory exploration
is to first realize that one needs a maturation time. With Pink Lotus I discovered
that the absolute really began to find its character in the 6 month from the
time it was extracted. Once the bouquet has matured then one can decompress
the concentrated essence with something like a pure perfumers alcohol. It is
then much easier to trace the aromatic journey of the absolute as it proceeds
from top to base notes.
Even to this day though I have trouble describing any of the three lotus absolutes that are being extracted(as the project has evolved we have also successfully extracted white lotus from Tamil Nadu and Blue Lotus from Maharastra. The blue lotus is light blue in color and is not to be confused with the blue lotus of Egypt which belongs to the Nymphae genus. But it is very interesting to note that the blue lotus blossoms of Maharastra are much smaller than either pink or white lotus and that the consistency of the oil is much less viscous than the white and pink. It also has a lot blue tinge to it) These are plants of the water and their is something of that element that is incoporated into the bouquet. They also draw their sustenance from muddy earth which is constantly saturated with water and this again plays a part in their aromatic profile. With regards to Pink Lotus there is a definite rich powdery bouquet with a medicinal note appearing at the top. Behind this is a a soft ethereal bouquet which one would not call sweet.. It is almost resinous. I would say that of the three lotus absolutes, the pink is the lotus of the earth. It may be for this reason that Pink Lotus is sacred to Lakshmi Devi the Goddess of wealth. But there is hidden with this essence another dimension of refinement that one must explore themselves.
Perhaps others with a better grasp of olfactory description will assist in the description One thing amidst these vague olfactory wanderings that should be stated is that sometimes an image may be in our mind of what something should smell like and when we are actually presented with the genuine article as opposed to the creations from a perfumers palette(this is also a wonderful thing-just different) we may feel surprised. And this is particularly true when very little authentic material has ever appeared. There have been countless synthetic lotus essences created in perfume laboratories but once you come in contact with the authentic material one may wonder what the basis of those creations might have been. It may even be that some people would prefer the human created product. There is nothing wrong with that, but if one wishes to explore the natural essence one may have to surrender their previous impressions of what that essence should be like. The white is in my opinion the lotus of the sky. It opening note has a rich soft powdery note with very little medicinal accent. Behind this note is one which is even more ethereal than the one found in pink lotus, its resinous character is slightly sweeter. It has a very warm gentle radiance. It is sacred to Saraswati Devi the Goddess of Learning and Wisdom The blue lotus is in my opinion the lotus of the ether. It is so different than white or pink that one cannot make analogies between them. There is a hint of a very rich precious wood notes that one sometimes finds in true agarwood. It also has some of the character of a non-musty high ethereal notes of patchouli. But beyond that is a range of notes that are very clear and penetrating. It is a very potent, heady absolute.
Well so much for my ability to describe such things. It is a lot of fun to try but is probably as individual as the person smelling the oil. I hope this has been interesting for those of you who enjoy reading about aromatic plants.
Your friend, Christopher
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed; Stem.
Edible Uses: Coffee.
Root - cooked as a vegetable[1, 46, 61, 272]. It is also a source of starch or arrowroot[2, 61]. Much used and relished in Chinese cooking, the root has a mild flavour[178] and a crisp texture[206]. It can be cooked with other vegetables, soaked in syrup or pickled in vinegar[264]. The root contains about 1.7% protein, 0.1% fat, 9.7% carbohydrate, 1.1% ash[179]. Young leaves - cooked or raw[46, 61, 117, 183]. Used as a vegetable[272]. The leaves can also be used to wrap small parcels of food before cooking them[264]. Stems - cooked. A taste somewhat like beet[2, 105]. They are usually peeled before use[193]. Seed - raw or cooked[1, 46, 51, 183, 272]. A delicate flavour[2]. The seed can be popped like popcorn, ground into a powder and used in making bread or eaten dry[183]. The bitter tasting embryo is often removed[116, 117]. The seed contains about 15.9% protein, 2.8% fat, 70% carbohydrate, 3.9% ash[179]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[183]. Petals can be floated in soups or used as a garnish[183]. The stamens are used to flavour tea[183].
Medicinal Uses
Astringent; Cancer; Cardiotonic; Febrifuge; Hypotensive; Miscellany; Resolvent; Stomachic; Styptic; Tonic; Vasodilator.
The Sacred water lotus has been used in the Orient as a medicinal herb for well over 1,500 years[238]. All parts of the plant are used, they are astringent, cardiotonic, febrifuge, hypotensive, resolvent, stomachic, styptic, tonic and vasodilator[116, 147, 152, 176, 238, 240]. The leaf juice is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and is decocted with liquorice (Glycyrrhiza spp) for the treatment of sunstroke[218]. A decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of premature ejaculation[218]. The flowers are recommended as a cardiac tonic[240]. A decoction of the floral receptacle is used in the treatment of abdominal cramps, bloody discharges etc[218]. The flower stalk is haemostatic[176]. It is used in treating bleeding gastric ulcers, excessive menstruation, post-partum haemorrhage[238]. The stamens are used in treating urinary frequency, premature ejaculation, haemolysis, epistasis and uterine bleeding[176, 238]. A decoction of the fruit is used in the treatment of agitation, fever, heart complaints etc[218]. The seed contains several medically active constituents, including alkaloids and flavonoids[279]. It is hypotensive, sedative and vasodilator[176, 279]. The seed has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and to relax the smooth muscle of the uterus[279]. It is used in the treatment of poor digestion, enteritis, chronic diarrhoea, spermatorrhoea, leukorrhoea, insomnia, palpitations etc[176, 218, 238, 279]. The plumule and radicle are used to treat thirst in high febrile disease, hypertension, insomnia and restlessness[176, 238]. The root is tonic[218]. The root starch is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery etc, a paste is applied to ringworm and other skin ailments[218]. It is also taken internally in the treatment of haemorrhages, excessive menstruation and nosebleeds[238]. The roots are harvested in autumn or winter and dried for later use[238]. The root nodes are used in the treatment of nasal bleeding, haemoptysis, haematuria and functional bleeding of the uterus[176]. The plant has a folk history in the treatment of cancer, modern research has isolated certain compounds from the plant that show anticancer activity[218].
Other Uses
Miscellany.
The leaves are used as plates for eating food off[272].
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Nelumbo+nucifera
Uses
The flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food. The rhizome (called ÂX in Chinese; pinyin: ?u) is a common soup or stir-fry ingredient and is the part most commonly consumed. Petals, leaves, and rhizome can also all be eaten raw, though transmission of parasites should be a concern (e.g. Fasciolopsis buski).
Eating Lotus seeds
The stamens can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal tea. The lotus seeds or nuts are quite versatile, and can be eaten raw or dried and popped like popcorn. They can also be boiled down until soft and made into a paste. Combined with sugar, lotus seed paste is a common ingredient in pastries such as mooncakes, daifuku and rice flour pudding.
Various parts of the sacred lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine.
The distinctive 'dried seed heads' resemble watering-cans, are widely sold throughout the world for decorative purposes and for 'dried flower' arranging.
[edit]
Lotus - plant profile
Names
Lotus, sacred lotus, Indian lotus, Chinese water lily, Egyptian bean (English)
Kanwal, kamal (Hindi)
Ambuja, padma, pankaja, kamala (Sanskrit)
Padma (Bengal)
Suriyakamal (Gujarat)
Ambal, thamarai (Tamil)
Botanical name: Nelumbo nucifera
Family: Nelumbonaceae. Nelumbo is the only genus in this family.
The plant
Lotus is a water plant growing in the mud of shallow ponds, lagoons, marshes and flooded fields. It is native to parts of the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Guinea. It can grow to a height of up to 6 m depending on the depth of water. It is found throughout India.
Find out more
Image: The lotus is grown in Kew Gardens.
Rhizomes - firmly anchored in the mud beneath the water surface, the lotus plant has long stems to which the leaves and flowers are attached. The crisp rhizomes are eaten in a variety of savoury dishes in India. The rhizomes are pocketed with air tunnels so that, when sliced, each disc looks like a piece of Swiss cheese or a snowflake.
Leaves - disc-shaped and up to 90 cm wide. They either float on or protrude above the surface of the water. They have long leaf stalks that are scattered with small bumps. Both leaves and leaf stalks are eaten as vegetables in India.
Find out more
Flowers - large and attractive with lots of petals. They tend to be rosy-pink or white coloured. They are sacred in Buddhist and Hindu religions and are frequently represented in South Asian art and literature. They are sometimes eaten as a vegetable in India.
Seeds - hard and dark brown. They can vary in shape from round or oval to oblong. They are sometimes eaten in India. Lotus seeds are also the oldest viable seeds ever recorded.
http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/lotus_plant_profile.html
Lotus - history
Lotus is native to the Midle East, Asia, New Guinea and Australia. It is the most commonly featured flower in South Asian mythology and has featured in many South Asian religions through the ages.
Origins
Lotus is native to Iran, India, China, Vietnam to Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea and Australia. It has been held sacred in Asia and the Middle East for over 5,000 years.
It has been cultivated since early times, for religious and ornamental purposes. In India it is commonly grown in ponds and tanks for its elegant, sweet-smelling flowers.
Find out more
An historical picture showing a Bari leaf worker creating utensils from leaves.
History
Lotus flowers have been used throughout history in South Asia and have been featured in Buddhist and Hindu art, 
architecture and literature. It was even a symbolically important plant before the religions at the time of the the Indus Valley civilisation.
The flowers became symbolic of immortality and resurrection because people observed that they would grow from the bottom of dried up pools after the monsoon rains.
Despite its early use, it was Buddhism which first brought the lotus symbol to widespread use. Lotus medallions are prominent on the Buddhist places of worship at Sanchi in Madhaya Pradesh and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh dating from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD.
As Buddhism spread from India to Central Asia and China in the first few centuries AD, lotus flowers were used to represent Buddha. They featured on rosettes, scrolls, motifs and iconography.
The giant leaves of lotus plants were used as plates in ancient India, and its seeds and roots are still considered a delicacy. 11th and 12th century texts noted lotus dishes and feasts in which lotus leaves were consumed.
The lotus became a common feature woven into South Asia's culture. This continued with the advent of Islam in the 12th century AD. Lotus flowers had ancient connections with Persian culture, so they were already popular motifs on Islamic carpets, textiles and architecture. They feature in intricate patterns on perforated screens, tiles and ceramics.
http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/lotus_history.html
Lotus - traditional medicine
The use of lotus in traditional Asian medicine dates back many centuries and continues largely unchanged even today. One of the most remarkable aspects of the lotus plant is that no fewer than seven different parts of the plant can be used medicinally, often for different purposes. Many of these uses are supported by scientific research.
Lotus remedies
Due to its astringent qualities, lotus has been widely used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and piles. Many traditional ancient medical texts also report its use for skin conditions, notably ringworm, and leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis as well as for lowering fevers, fighting fungal infections and supporting a weak heart. The milky latex found in the stems, leaves and flowers is used to fight bacterial infections.
Find out more
Image: Lotus flowers are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions.
Roots and rhizomes have been used for treating smallpox, throat conditions, loss of skin pigmentation, coughs, diarrhoea and dysentery. One preparation involves mixing boiled rhizomes with sesame oil and rubbing it on the head to cool all parts of the head including the eyes. Leaves and stems have been prepared in a variety of ways to treat piles, leprosy, parasites and vomiting. Various parts of the flower including the petals have treated diarrhoea, cholera, fever, liver conditions, bronchitis, skin eruptions, snake bites and scorpion stings. To treat coughs, syrup is made using the dried flowers. Fruits and seeds have been used to soothe inflamed mucous membranes, lower fever and get rid of bad breath. Some sources state that the seeds, taken orally with a rice wash for 7 days, can increase female fertility.
Folk medicine
The main use for lotus in folk medicine is associated with the astringent properties of its flowers. It is frequently used in the treatment of diarrhoea and cholera. In India, honey made by bees visiting lotus flowers is said to be a tonic called 'padmamadjhu' or 'makaranda' and is used for eye disorders. The large leaves are sometimes used as 'cold bed-sheets' to treat high fever and burning of the skin.
This information is provided for general interest only. It is not intended as guidance for medicinal use. Further information on using herbal medicines is available.
http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/lotus_traditional_medicine.html
Lotus - food
Lotus is a wholly edible species and is cultivated as a food plant in China, Japan, Hawaii, India and Korea. It is prized mainly for its crisp rhizomes and seeds, though the flowers and leaves are also eaten in some areas.
How it is eaten
Find out more
In South Asia, lotus leaves are eaten like vegetables.
In India, the rhizomes, seeds, leaves and flowers are eaten to some extent. The rhizomes are roasted or dried and sliced. They are used in curry, soups or fried as chips. They are also pickled or can be frozen and used as an ingredient in pre-cooked foods, and a kind of thickening powder may be prepared from the fleshy rhizomes.
The fruits are sold in Indian markets for the edible seeds embedded in it. The seeds are removed of their outer covering and embryo, which is intensely bitter. They are sweet and tasty and may be eaten raw, roasted, boiled, candied or ground into flour.
Young leaves, leaf stalks and flowers of lotus are eaten as vegetables in India. Its seeds are roasted to make puffs called 'makhanas'.
http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/lotus_history.html
Lotus - Crafts
Because of its symbolic importance, the lotus plant has featured extensively in literature and art in South Asia. It has been used to make objects such as beads, clothing and lamps, and features in architecture.
Lotus and religious craftwork
Find out more
Lotus seeds are used to make rosaries for those who hold the plant sacred. These rosaries are from Kew's Economic Botany Collection.
As a sacred plant to Buddhists, Hindus and Jains, the lotus is important in South Asian craftwork which tends to use natural objects as symbols. Lotus seeds are strung together to make rosaries for these faiths, while lotus leaf stalks are used to make wicks for temple lamps. In Myanmar, fibre is harvested from the stems of the lotus plant and spun into thread. This is then woven to produce valuable lotus fabric, which might be used as an altar cloth or for religious robes. A simplified shape of a lotus is used to decorate many craft objects such as carvings on houses, folk paintings and fabrics
http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/lotus_crafts.html.