Seamus Hammond
Black locust, or Robinia pseudoacacia, is a tree native to the Southeastern United States. Its flowers have a sweet fragrance, described as a mix of lilac, Concord grape, bubble gum, and orange blossom. The scent holds sentimental value for many, and several perfume companies are creating fragrances with black locust as a key note. To make a perfume with black locust, one can use the flowers to create a sugar syrup or tincture, which can then be added to a carrier oil or alcohol base. Alternatively, one can follow the traditional method of enfleurage, which involves soaking the flowers in oil to extract their fragrance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scent | Mix of lilac, Concord grape, bubble gum, orange blossom, nectarine, honeysuckle, and russian olive |
| Natural perfume longevity | Does not linger on the skin as long as synthetic fragrances, but well-hydrated/moisturized skin helps |
| Natural perfume storage | Keep somewhere cool and away from sunlight |
| Occurrence in perfumes | Often occurs in the heart note of a perfume |
| Black Locust tree origin | Native to the Southeastern United States but can be found in gardens worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
Black Locust flower syrup
Black locust flowers have a unique and delightful fragrance, and their essence can be captured in a syrup to preserve their scent and flavour. Here is a guide to making your own black locust flower syrup:
Collecting the Flowers
The first step is to collect fresh black locust flowers. It is best to pick them early in the morning when the blossoms are most fragrant. Be sure to choose flowers that are fully bloomed and free from any pests or damage. Gently remove the petals from the flowers, taking care not to bruise or damage them.
Preparing the Syrup
The simplest method to create a syrup is to use sugar and water. Start by preparing a simple syrup by combining equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Bring the syrup to a gentle boil for a few minutes to thicken it slightly. Then, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.
Infusing the Flowers
Once your syrup has cooled, it's time to infuse the black locust flowers. Gently place the petals into the syrup, ensuring they are fully submerged. You can use a spoon or spatula to push them down gently. Cover the container and store it in a cool, dark place for several days to a week. During this time, the syrup will take on the fragrance and flavour of the flowers.
Straining and Bottling
After the infusion period, strain the syrup to remove the petals. Use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to ensure that all solid particles are removed. What remains is your beautiful black locust flower syrup! Bottle your syrup in a sterilised glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in a cool, dark place, and your syrup will be ready to use or gift to friends and family.
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Natural perfume care
Natural perfumes are an excellent way to enhance your scent rotation without added synthetics. However, natural perfumes are more delicate than their synthetic counterparts. To make the most of your natural perfume, there are a few care tips to keep in mind.
Firstly, natural perfumes do not linger on the skin as long as synthetic fragrances. To increase their staying power, ensure your skin is well-hydrated. Moisturized skin provides a better foundation for anchoring the perfume molecules. Applying a fragrance-free moisturizer before spraying your perfume can help create a more lasting base for the scent.
Secondly, storage is crucial for preserving your natural perfume. Keep the perfume in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Heat and light can cause the fragrance to degrade more rapidly, so a cool, dark location will help maintain the integrity of the scent.
Additionally, some natural perfumes may come with specific storage instructions. For example, solid perfumes, which are an excellent option for those who find alcohol-based perfumes drying, may have different storage requirements. Always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for specific care instructions.
When using natural perfumes, it is also essential to consider their application. Natural perfumes often contain delicate ingredients, so it is best to apply them to areas where the scent can gently warm and activate, such as the pulse points on your wrists, neck, or behind your ears. Spraying or dabbing the perfume on your clothing can also help extend the wear time, as fabrics can hold scents longer than skin.
Lastly, be mindful of the ingredients in your natural perfume. While natural perfumes are generally considered safer, some people may have sensitivities or allergies to certain natural ingredients. Patch testing on a small area of skin can help identify any potential reactions. Additionally, look for perfumes with transparent ingredient lists to ensure you know exactly what you are putting on your skin.
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Multiflora enfleurage
To create this black locust multiflora enfleurage, the process begins in May when the Russian Olive and Black Locust flowers are harvested daily, with approximately 80% Russian Olive and 20% Black Locust. The blooms are then laid on an enfleurage chassis for eight hours. After 30 charges of flowers, the floral pommade is scraped into glass jars and covered with organic sugar cane alcohol. The mixture is shaken every day for over a year, allowing the flower's fragrance to jump from the fat and wax into the alcohol.
Finally, the fragrant extrait is poured off the pommade into evaporation trays to remove the alcohol. This leaves a tiny amount of enfleurage absolute, capturing the pure smell of the flowers in a way that cannot be replicated. This multi-flor of Russian Olive and Black Locust is a unique offering, as only a few perfumeries utilise this traditional method.
The black locust enfleurage absolute can be purchased in a 1/3 dram bottle, approximately 1.25 ml in size. This concentrated perfume contains the essence of thousands of flowers, making it a precious and rare fragrance. The natural perfume may not linger on the skin as long as synthetic fragrances, but well-hydrated skin can help provide a better foundation for these complex molecules to anchor.
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Black Locust fragrance notes
The black locust tree is native to the southeastern United States, but it can now be found in many gardens across the world. The flowers of the black locust tree have a sweet fragrance with notes of lilac, Concord grape, bubble gum, orange blossom, and nectarine. The scent is described as powdery-sweet with hints of methyl anthranilate, resembling the scent of sweet pea flowers mingled with orange blossom.
Black Locust is a heart note in perfumes, adding a soft and alluring aroma. One example of a perfume that features Black Locust is "In Pace, In Fiori" by Stereoplasm, which includes notes of black locust, bougainvillea, wisteria, and orange blossom honey.
To create a black locust perfume, the flowers can be used to make a sugar syrup or tincture, which can then be added to a carrier oil or alcohol base to create a fragrance. The entire flower clusters can also be dipped in batter and deep-fried, similar to how rose and violet petals are used to make fritters.
When creating a natural perfume with black locust, it is important to note that these perfumes do not linger on the skin as long as synthetic fragrances. Storing the perfume in a cool, dark place and applying it to well-hydrated skin can help extend the wear time.
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Black Locust tree facts
The scientific name for the Black Locust tree is Robinia pseudoacacia. It is a medium-sized hardwood deciduous tree that belongs to the tribe Robinieae of the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to a few small areas of the United States, including Pennsylvania, the Appalachians, northern Georgia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. However, it has been widely planted and naturalised in temperate regions of North America, Europe, Southern Africa, and Asia. The black locust tree was first identified in 1607 by British colonists at Jamestown, who named it for its resemblance to the Old World Locust and used its timber to build houses. It was introduced to Britain in 1636 and can be found in Denmark today.
The black locust tree typically grows to a height of 12-30 metres (40-100 feet) with a diameter of 0.61-1.22 metres (2-4 feet). The bark on older trees is thick and deeply furrowed, while the twigs are generally smooth or finely hairy and often have pairs of sharp spines at each leaf or leaf scar. The leaves are divided into ovate to oblong leaflets, up to 2 inches long and 1 inch wide, with smooth margins. The foliage is blue-green and feathery, contrasting with the dark bark of the tree.
The black locust tree flowers in late April to early June, depending on its location. The flowers are fragrant, white, and pea-like, hanging in pendulous clusters. The flowers are pollinated by insects, primarily Hymenopteran insects. The tree reproduces both sexually via flowers and asexually via root suckers. The seeds are produced in good crops every year or every other year, and the seedlings grow rapidly. However, the black locust tree has a high seed production and prolific root sprouts, which can make it invasive in some areas.
The wood of the black locust tree is tough, and it has been used for various purposes, including firewood, fence posts, and erosion control. The Virginia Indians also made bows from the wood. However, the tree's branches are brittle and prone to breaking in high winds, and its thorns can be a surprise to anyone working near the tree.
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