White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Rosemary, July 13, 2001
NewsNeNwsNNewsletter Archive ewsl
Rosemary
We watch for the light of the morn to break,
And color the eastern sky
With its blended hues of saffron and lake,
Then say to each other, "Awake! awake!
For our winter's honey is all to make,
And our bread for a long supply!"
Then, off we hie to the hill and the dell,
To the field, the meadow and bower.
In the columbine's horn we love to dwell,
To dip in the lily with snow-white bell,
To search the balm in its odorous cell,
The mint and the rosemary flower.
We seek the bloom of the eglantine,
Of the pointed thistle and brier;
And follow the steps of the wandering vine,
Whether it trail on the earth, supine,
Or round the aspiring tree-top twine,
And reach for a state still higher.
As each, on the good of her sisters bent,
Is busy, and cares for all,
We hope for an evening with hearts content,
For the winter of life without lament
That summer is gone, with its hours misspent,
And the harvest is past recall! Gould, Hannah Flagg, 1789-1865: SONG OF THE
BEES.
"Eh, Aaron, my lad, are you there?" said Silas; "I wasn't aware of you; for
when Eppie's talking o' things, I see nothing but what she's a-saying. Well,
if you could help me with the digging, we might get her a bit o' garden all
the sooner."
"Then, if you think well and good," said Aaron, "I'll come to the Stone-pits
this afternoon, and we'll settle what land's to be taken in, and I'll get up
an hour earlier i' the morning, and begin on it."
"But not if you don't promise me not to work at the hard digging, father," said
Eppie. "For I shouldn't ha' said anything about it," she added, half-bashfully
half-roguishly, "only Mrs Winthrop said as Aaron 'ud be so good, and---
"And you might ha' known it without mother telling you," said Aaron. "And Master
Marner knows too, I hope, as I'm able and willing to do a turn o' work for him,
and he won't do me the unkindness to anyways take it out o' my hands."
"There, now, father, you won't work in it till it's all easy," said Eppie, "and
you and me can mark out the beds, and make holes and plant the roots. It'll
be a deal livelier at the Stone-pits when we've got some flowers, for I always
think the flowers can see us and know what we're talking about. And I'll have
a bit o' rosemary, and bergamot, and thyme, because they're so sweet-smelling;
but there's no lavender only in the gentlefolks'gardens, I think."
"That's no reason why you shouldn't have some," said Aaron, "for I can bring
you slips of anything; I'm forced to cut no end of 'em when I'm gardening, and
throw 'em away mostly. There's a big bed o' lavender at the Red House: the missis
is very fond of it." "Well," said Silas, gravely, "so as you don't make free
for us, or ask for anything as is worth much at the Red House: for Mr Cass's
been so good to us, and built us up the new end o' the cottage, and given us
beds and things, as I couldn't abide to be imposin' for garden-stuff or anything
else."
"No, no, there's no imposin'," said Aaron; "there's never a garden in all the
parish but what there's endless waste in it for want o' somebody as could use
everything up. It's what I think to myself sometimes, as there need nobody run
short o' victuals if the land was made the most on, and there was never a morsel
but what could find its way to a mouth. It sets one thinking o' that---gardening
does. But I must go back now, else mother 'ull be in trouble as I aren't there."
George Eliot 1819-1880: Silas Marner
Etymology
In Latin tongue, the plant was called rosmarinus; most sources interpret it
as ros marinus "dew of the sea"; truly, rosemary often grows at low altitude
and therefore near the sea. It does, however, not typically populate the coast,
where the spray of sea water might motivate the name. Thus, it has been argued
that rosmarinus itself is a product of folk etymology. Possible candidates for
the original name are Greek rho—ps "shrub" and m?ron "balm", which make a good
name for the aromatic plant, but pose more linguistic problems. Lastly, the
Greek name of sumac, rhožs, is sometimes set into relation with rosmarinus.
http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Rosm_off.html
Botanical Source.ÑRosemary is an erect, perennial, evergreen shrub, 2
to 4 feet high, with numerous branches of an ash color, and densely leafy. The
leaves are sessile, opposite, linear, over an inch in length, and about 2 lines
broad, entire, obtuse at the summit, revolute at the margins, of a firm consistence,
dark-green and shining above, and downy and sometimes whitish beneath. The flowers
are few, bright-blue or white, subsessile, and borne in short, opposite, axillary,
and terminal racemes; the bracts are shorter than the calyx; the calyx purplish,
campanulate, and villose; the corolla not ringed in the inside, somewhat inflated
in the throat, with 2 equal lips, the upper of which is erect and emarginate,
the lower trifid, with the middle lobe very large, concave, and hanging down.
Stamens 2; filaments minutely toothed near the base; anthers linear, with 2
divaricating, confluent cells. Upper lobe of style very short. Seeds 4, oblong,
naked at the base of thecalyx (L.ÑW.). http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/kings/rosmarinus.html
Images of Rosemary
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/thome/band4/tafel_066.html
wonderful image of the plant
http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/library/kohler/1761_026.jpg
another superb botanical drawing
---History---
The Ancients were well acquainted with the shrub, which had a reputation for
strengthening the memory. On this account it became the emblem of fidelity for
lovers. It holds a special position among herbs from the symbolism attached
to it. Not only was it used at weddings, but also at funerals, for decking churches
and banqueting halls at festivals, as incense in religious ceremonies, and in
magical spells.
At weddings, it was entwined in the wreath worn by the bride, being first dipped
into scented water. Anne of Cleves, we are told, wore such a wreath at her wedding.
A Rosemary branch, richly gilded and tied with silken ribands of all colours,
was also presented to wedding guests, as a symbol of love and loyalty. Together
with an orange stuck with cloves it was given as a New Year's gift -allusions
to this custom are to be found in Ben Jonson's plays.
Miss Anne Pratt (Flowers and their Associations) says:
'But it was not among the herbalists and apothecaries merely that Rosemary had
its reputation for peculiar virtues. The celebrated Doctor of Divinity, Roger
Hacket, did not disdain to expatiate on its excellencies in the pulpit. In a
sermon which he entitles "A Marriage Present," which was published in 1607,
he says: "Speaking of the powers of rosemary, it overtoppeth all the flowers
in the garden, boasting man's rule. It helpeth the brain, strengtheneth the
memorie, and is very medicinable for the head. Another property of the rosemary
is, it affects the heart. Let this rosmarinus, this flower of men ensigne of
your wisdom, love and loyaltie, be carried not only in your hands, but in your
hearts and heads."
' Sir Thomas More writes: 'As for Rosmarine, I lett it runne all over my garden
walls, not onlie because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred
to remembrance, and, therefore, to friendship; whence a sprig of it hath a dumb
language that maketh it the chosen emblem of our funeral wakes and in our buriall
grounds.' In early times, Rosemary was freely cultivated in kitchen gardens
and came to represent the dominant influence of the house mistress 'Where Rosemary
flourished, the woman ruled.'
The Treasury of Botany says:
'There is a vulgar belief in Gloucestershire and other counties, that Rosemary
will not grow well unless where the mistress is "master"; and so touchy are
some of the lords of creation upon this point, that we have more than once had
reason to suspect them of privately injuring a growing rosemary in order to
destroy this evidence of their want of authority.'
Rosemary was one of the cordial herbs used to flavour ale and wine. It was also
used in Christmas decoration.
'Down with the rosemary and so,
Down with the baies and mistletoe,
Down with the holly, ivie all
Wherewith ye deck the Christmas Hall.' ---HERRICK.
In place of more costly incense, the ancients used Rosemary in their religious
ceremonies. An old French name for it was Incensier. The Spaniards revere it
as one of the bushes that gave shelter to the Virgin Mary in the flight into
Egypt and call it Romero, the Pilgrim's Flower. Both in Spain and Italy, it
has been considered a safeguard from witches and evil influences generally.
The Sicilia believe that young fairies, taking the form of snakes, lie amongst
the branches.
It was an old custom to burn Rosemary in sick chambers, and in French hospitals
it is customary to burn Rosemary with Juniper berries to purify the air and
prevent infection. Like Rue, it was placed in the dock of courts of justice,
as a preventative from the contagion of gaol-fever. A sprig of Rosemary was
carried in the hand at funerals, being distributed to the mourners before they
left the house, to be cast on to the coffin when it had been lowered into the
grave. In many parts of Wales it is still a custom.
One old legend compares the growth of the plant with the height of the Saviour
and declares that after thirty-three years it increases inbreadth, but never
in height.
There is a tradition that Queen Philippa's mother (Countess of Hainault) sent
the first plants of Rosemary to England, and in a copy of an old manuscript
in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the translator, 'danyel bain,'
says that Rosemary was unknown inEngland until this Countess sent some to her
daughter.
Miss Rohde gives the following quotation from Banckes' Herbal:
'Take the flowers thereof and make powder thereof and binde it to thy right
arme in a linnen cloath and it shale make thee light and merrie. 'Take the flowers
and put them in thy chest among thy clothes or among thy Bookes and Mothes shall
not destroy them. 'Boyle the leaves in white wine and washe thy face therewith
and thy browes, and thou shalt have a faire face. 'Also put the leaves under
thy bedde and thou shalt be delivered of all evill dreames. 'Take the leaves
and put them into wine and it shall keep the wine from all sourness and evill
savours, and if thou wilt sell thy wine thou shalt have goode speede. 'Also
if thou be feeble boyle the leaves in cleane water and washe thyself and thou
shalt wax shiny. 'Also if thou have lost appetite of eating boyle well these
leaves in cleane water and when the water is colde put thereunto as much of
white wine and then make sops, eat them thereof wel and thou shalt restore thy
appetite againe. 'If thy legges be blowen with gowte, boyle the leaves in water
and binde them in a linnen cloath and winde it about thy legges and it shall
do thee much good. 'If thou have a cough drink the water of the leaves boyld
in white wine and ye shall be whole. 'Take the Timber thereof and burn it to
coales and make powder thereof and rubbe thy teeth thereof and it shall keep
thy teeth from all evils. Smell it oft and it shall keep thee youngly. 'Also
if a man have lost his smellyng of the ayre that he may not draw his breath,
make a fire of the wood, and bake his bread therewith, eate it and it shall
keepe him well. 'Make thee a box of the wood of rosemary and smell to it and
it shall preserve thy youth.'
From the Grete Herbal: 'ROSEMARY. - For weyknesse of ye brayne. Against weyknesse
of the brayne and coldenesse thereof, sethe rosemaria in wyne and lete the pacyent
receye the smoke at his nose and keep his heed warme.' http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/r/rosema17.html
http://www.devonlife.co.uk/magazine/magarticles_folder/cwatch/ rosemary/rosemary.html
more legends and lore
Edible Uses
Young shoots, leaves and flowers - raw or cooked. The leaves have a very strong
flavour that is bitter and somewhat resinous[238], the flowers are somewhat
milder. They are used in small quantities as a flavouring in soups and stews,
with vegetables such as peas and spinach, and with sweet dishes such as biscuits
cakes, jams and jellies[1, 2, 9, 15, 27, 52, 244]. They can be used fresh or
dried[21].The leaves have a tough texture and so should either be used very
finely chopped, or in sprigs that can be removed after cooking[238]. A fragrant
tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[21, 183]. It is said to be especially
nice when mixed with tansy[183].
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Rosmarinus+officinalis
Medicinal Uses
Rosemary is commonly grown in the herb garden as a domestic remedy, used especially
as a tonic and pick-me-up when feeling depressed, mentally tired, nervous etc[238].
Research has shown that the plant is rich in volatile oils, flavanoids and phenolic
acids, which are strongly antiseptic and antiinflammatory[238]. Rosmarinic acid
has potential in the treatment of toxic shock syndrome, whilst the flavanoid
diosmin is reputedly more effective than rutin in reducing capillary fragility[238].
Rosmarol, an extract from the leaves, has shown remarkably high antioxidant
activity[218]. The whole plant is antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent,
cardiac, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, nervine, stimulant,
stomachic and tonic[4, 21, 89, 165, 218]. An infusion of the flowering stems
made in a closed container to prevent the steam from escaping is effective in
treating headaches, colic, colds and nervous diseases[4]. A distilled water
from the flowers is used as an eyewash[7]. The leaves can be harvested in the
spring or summer and used fresh, they can also be dried for later use[7]. This
remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can cause
an abortion[238]. An essential oil distilled from the stems and leaves is often
used medicinally, that distilled from the flowering tops is superior but not
often available[4]. The oil is applied externally as a rubefacient, added to
liniments, rubbed into the temples to treat headaches and used internally as
a stomachic and nervine[4]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword
is 'Stimulant'[210].
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Rosmarinus+officinalis
Other Uses
The growing plant is said to repel insects from neighbouring plants[14, 18,
89, 201]. Branches or sachets of the leaves are often placed in clothes cupboards
to keep moths away[148]. An infusion of the dried plant (both leaves and flowers)
is used in shampoos[4, 14, 201]. When combined with borax and used cold, it
is one of the best hair washes known and is effective against dandruff[4]. An
essential oil is obtained from the leaves and flowering stems[11, 57, 89, 171].
One kilo of oil is obtained from 200 kilos of flowering stems[4]. The oil is
used in perfumery, soaps, medicinally etc[11, 57, 89, 171]. It is often added
to hair lotions and is said to prevent premature baldness[4]. The leaves are
burnt as an incense, fumigant and disinfectant[61, 244]. The cultivar 'Prostratus'
can be used as a ground cover in a sunny position[188]. This cultivar is the
least hardy form of the species[188]. The plant can be grown as a hedge, it
is fairly resistant to maritime exposure[49, 75], though when this is coupled
with very cold weather the plants can suffer severely[11]. Any trimming is best
carried out after the plant has flowered[188]. The cultivar 'Miss Jessopp's
Upright' is particularly suitable for hedging[188]. 'Fastigiatus' is also very
suitable[K]. A yellow-green dye is obtained from the leaves and flowers[168]. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Rosmarinus+officinalis
medicinal uses http://www.herbmed.org/herbs/rosmarinus.htm
good monograph http://ars-genome.cornell.edu:80/cgi-
bin/WebAce/webace?seme=2&db=ethnobotdb&class=Taxon&object=Rosmarinus%20officinalis
ethnobotanical uses
Rosemary Essential Oil-Camphor chemotype/Spain-EcoCert Organic
Olfactory Description-High, crisp, penetrating camphoraceous-woody-herbaceous
topnote. Quickly recedes into dry slightly minty-forest-herbaceous heartnote.
Very pleasant, clear, refreshing sensation on the olfactory receptors
sample-$2 1 oz-$7 4 oz-$24 8 oz-$45 16 oz-$81 32 oz-$140
Rosemary Essential Oil/Eco Cert Organic(Spain) camphor chemotype GC-Analysis
a-pinene 18.00%
Fresh Sweet Pine Earthy Woody
camphene 8.15
Fresh Herbal Woody Camphor Mint
b-pinene 5.65
Sweet Fresh Pine Woody Hay Green
myrcene 3.10
Fresh Peppery Terpy Spicy Balsam Plastic
1.8-cineole 28.10
Eucalyptus Mint Herbal Rosemary
para cymene 1.45 Fresh Citrus
limonene 3.00
Lemon Citrus Citral Fresh Sweet
camphor 14.60
Camphor Minty Phenolic Woody
borneol 3.55
Pine Woody Camphor
a-terpineol 1.55
Fresh Sweet Lilac Floral
verbenone 1.30
Camphor Menthol Celery
bornyl acetate 1.25
Pine Woody Fresh Pine Needles
b-caryophyllene 2.85
Sweet Woody Spice Clove Dry
Rosemary Essential Oil, Verbenone chemotype
Available end of August
Olfactory description:
soft,slightly sweet herbaceous-resinous topnote. Topnote spectrum is rich and
complex. As topnote fades a fine, fresh green minty/ citrus/herbaceous heartnote
appears. It is a very radiant note. Its complexity matches that of the topnote.
Many nuances can be explored within it and its effect is quite heady. A really
delightful olfactory exploration awaits those who are patient enough to concentrate
on the story unfolding in their nasal passages. Very nice tenacious lengthy
dryout
sample-$3 1/2 oz-$12 1 oz-$19 4 oz-$69 8 oz-$128 16 oz-$233 32 oz-$400
Rosmarinus pyramidalis Essential Oil/Highland Rosemary/France-EcoCert Organic
Available end of August
Olfactory description
Delicate quiet sweet spicy/herbaceous topnote, green resinous/pinaceous notes
begin to emerge shortly into the dryout and intermingle with the herbaceous
qualities of the topnote. The wonderful complex of aromas continues to manifest
deep into the dryout.
sample-$3 1/2 oz-$11 1 oz-$16 4 oz-$61 8 oz-$112 16 oz-$203 32 oz-$350
Rosmarinus officinalis Essential OIl/South Africa-EcoCert Organic
Olfactory description
Fine warm radiant sweet herbaceous topnote, a subdued dry warm powdery slight
cinnamic note unfolds in the heartnote interweaving itself with the sweet herbaceous
note which continues to display its quality as evaporation progresses. The olfactory
receptors journeyed on many colorful olfactory pathways with this oil. Nice
energzing oil as are all the Rosemary oils-The Herb of Remembrance
sample-$2 1 oz-$8 4 oz-$30 8 oz-$56 16 oz-$102 32 oz-$175
Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oil/South India-
Clear slightly fruity herbacous topnote, quickly passes into a simple clear
slightly sweet herbaceous heartnote which also shows touches of fresh pinaceous
resonance A mild minty camphoraceous note is detectable deep into the dryout.
The olfactory receptors enjoy the gentle clear simplicity of this oil
Limited supply sample-$2 1 oz-$7 4 oz-$24
A note for those who love olfactory analysis-
This is a subject which one can never tire of. It is full of many unique surprises.
Oftentimes we tend to base our evaluation of an oil on its topnote but to really
get to know an oil one has to go deeper and become friends with them. A well
distilled oil will reveal many intricate complexities that surprise one at every
stage. It is often hard to say where a topnote ends, a middle note begins, a
middle note ends and a base note begins. I have often seen that notes appear
and disappear throughout the process of evaporation. There seems to me to be
a total emanation of an oil which is much more than its individual parts and
when doing any analysis one is trying to put into words something which is forever
changing in its olfactory landscape. Indeed from second to second subtle nuances
appear and disappear(or so it seems to me) In short, concentrated attention
on any one oil can lead to intriguing olfactory discoveries within the course
of an hour or longer Right now I am sitting smelling the so-called base notes
of three different rosemary's and each while having a distinct personality continues
to reveal very complex attributes even after over an hour of study. Indeed,
I would suggest that many oils are beautiful perfumes in themselves if one is
willing to go deep into their personalities.
Chemotypes of Rosemary-
Main Biochemical Constituents Rosmarinus officinalis has several chemotypes:
HIGHLAND ROSEMARY EXTRA Rosmarinus Officinalis Pyramidalis Type
Main Biochemical Constituents:
Monoterpenes - a-Pinene (3-24 %), b-Pinene (1-8 %),
Camphene Alcohols - Borneol Ketones - Camphor Oxides - 1,8-Cineole (7-60 %)
ROSEMARY BORNEONE Rosmarinus Officinalis Camphor Type (Chemotype I)
Chemical Type: Ketone Oxide Aldehyde
Main Biochemical Constituents:
Monoterpenes - a-Pinene (12 %), b-Pinene, Camphene (22 %), a-Myrcene, b- Myrcene,
Phellandrene, Limonene Alcohols - a-v-Terpenin-4-ol, Borneol (4 %), Iso-Borneol,
Cis-Thujanol-4, Trans-Thujanol-4, P-Cymene-8-ol Esters - (-) Borneol Acetate,
a-Fenchyl Acetate Oxides - 1,8-Cineole (up to 30 %), Caryophyllene Oxide, Humulene
Epoxides (I and II) Ketones - 3-Hexanone, Methyl Heptanone, Camphor (up to 30
%), (+) - Verbenone, Carvone
ROSEMARY CINEOLE: Rosmarinus Officinalis Cineole Type (Chemotype II)
Chemical Type: Oxide
Main Biochemical Constituents: Monoterpenes - a-Pinene, b-Pinene, Camphene Sesquiterpenes
- b-Caryophyllene, Alcohol - Borneol Esters - Borneol Acetate Oxides - 1,8-Cineole
Ketones - Camphor
ROSEMARY VERBENONE: Rosmarinus Offcinalis Verbenone Type (Chemotype III)
Chemical Type: Ketone (Borneone-Acetate Verbenone) Main Biochemical Constituents:
Monoterpenes - a-Pinene (22 %). b-Pinene, Camphene, Myrcene, Limonene, a-Terpinene,
Terpinolene Sesquiterpenes - b-Caryophyllene Alcohols - Borneol (up to 7 %),
a-Terpineol, Terpinene-4-ol Esters - Borneol Acetate Ketones - Verbenone (up
to 37 %), Camphor (up to 15 %) Oxides - 1,8-Cineole (up to 19 %) http://www.essentialbotanicals.com/oldfeature3.html
http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/Constituents/Rosmarinus_officinalis.txt constituents
of Rosemary officinalis
http://www.csl.gov.uk/ienica/Seminars/SPEC%20CHEMS/svoboda.pdf
very fine comprehensive report on essential oils
As they were travelling between Marseilles and Toulon they entered a road bounded
on each side by mountainous rocks, which sometimes receding, left between them
small but richly cultivated vallies; and in other parts so nearly met each other,
as to leave little more room than sufficed for the carriage to pass; while the
turnings of the road were so angular and abrupt, that it seemed every moment
to be carrying them into the bosom of the rock. Thro' this defile, as it was
quite shady, they agreed to walk.
In some places huge masses impended over them, of varied form and colour, without
any vegetation but scattered mosses; in others, aromatic plants and low shrubs;
the lavender, the thyme, the rosemary, the mountain sage, fringed the steep
craggs, while a neighbouring aclivity was shaded with the taller growth of holly,
phillyrea, and ever-green oak; and the next covered perhaps with the glowing
purple of the Mediterranean heath. The summits of almost all, crowned with groves
of fir, larch, and pine.
Emmeline in silent admiration beheld this beautiful and singular scene; and
with the pleasure it gave her, a soft and melancholly sensation was mingled.
She wanted to be alone in this delightful place, or with some one who could
share, who could understand the satisfaction she felt. She knew nobody but Godolphin
who had taste and enthusiasm enough to enjoy it.
Emmeline, the Orphan of the Castle. By Charlotte Smith.1749-1806