scent families: citrus
“Ahhh” is the sound I imagine a citrus peel to make as its oils are expressed into the air, demanding an invigorating presence. Citrus fruits come with an abundance of varieties and (to my suprise) an abundance of history with a lil’ drama as well. Yes, you read that right … it appears that our sweet & sour friends were at the center of some significant cultural & scientific developments. Let’s start at the beginning: citrus fruits evolved originally from small, edible berries over one million years ago. Most of the citrus grown today are descendants of four types of fruits, the pomelo (Malaysia), the mandarin (China), the citron (northern India), and the papeda (eastern Indonesia). As they were introduced to other parts of the world, a hybridizing of our citrus ancestors took place and birthed the varieties we now use for all of our culinary creations & wellness practices.
Citrus farming exploded as early as the 1700’s, which ignited a collective curiosity about how to properly grow the fruits, prevent diseases, identify different varieties, etc. Italy decided to designate a space where people could go and learn more about citrus; this concept allegedly inspired the blueprint of what we now know to be modern museums.Towards the mid-18th century, Sicily became a huge export of citrus, specifically lemons, and the highly prized lemon trees needed protection from thieves and salesmen with no-good intentions. The citrus farmers hired “security guards” and these guards had certain contracts that the farmers had to abide by; this led to the creation of the Sicilian mafia. Contrary to how we understand mafias now, the Sicilian Mafia was initially there to prevent crime. But as Italy gained control over the island, the mafia began to lose their involvement. This pushed the mafia to take more extreme measures, eventually evolving into an underground operation using violence to maintain business.
Lemons were also essential in the prevention of scurvy. Scurvy is an illness that develops when the body lacks vitamin C. Sailors were highly susceptible to the disease as they did not have access to fresh produce during their long excursions at sea. Researchers discovered that lemons and oranges provided more vitamin C than any other supplemental alternative. Scurvy, museums, and the mafia all having ties to citrus? If you ask me, the citrus fruit is the real gangster here.
On to the more light hearted stuff … citrus and scent! Citrus oils can bring us into a state of zen, clarity, and inspiration. At Detroit Rose, we’ve formulated some of our house favorites with notes of bergamot, yuzu, and grapefruit to reinvigorate your space and grant you that “ahhh” feeling after a long day.
Bergamot citrus is a crossbreed between a citron and a sour orange. It contains large oil glands under its thick peel, making the oil highly sought after by fragrance companies and one of the most valuable citrus fruits in the world. Spiritualists say that bergamot represents empowerment, serving a reminder that you and only you are the authority in your life. We’ve just relaunched our Bergamot scent with this ethos + you in mind. This new and improved scent energizes with bright notes of bergamot and lemon, has gentle floral whispers of jasmine and violet, and is grounded by comforting cypress trees and smoke.
The sour mandarin and papeda citrus got together and created the Yuzu hybrid. Yuzu is believed to have originated from China before making its way to Japan and Korea nearly 1300 years ago. In Japanese culture, the yuzu citrus represents prosperity and good luck and is used in hot bath rituals during the winter solstice. This bathing ritual is also said to increase blood flow and moisturize the skin. We’ve shaken up fresh notes of yuzu with green, vegetal cucumber and basil dashed with subtle notes of oak moss to bring it all together producing a cocktail of a bright, herbal, & alluring fragrance. Our Y fragrance is one of three fragrances in our SAVOR collection; a delicious aromatic menu inspired by all of the sensational experiences involving food.
The grapefruit originated in Barbados during the 18th century and is a hybrid of the sweet orange and pomelo. Grapefruits are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants and are used in traditional Chinese medicine to generate “yin” or feminine energy. In Ayurvedic medicine, inhaling grapefruit oil is thought to cleanse the mind and aura, boost energy, and improve mental strength. Our Grapefruit and Jasmine scent is bound to standout amongst our fragrant crowd. A classic combo of bright, pithy grapefruit and delicate, jasmine florals provides a perfect companion to those slower days when your spirit and space are in need of gentle reset.
Whether it’s perfectly sliced satsumas on a bed a shaved fennel or a sharp, pithy citrus candle burning in the center of your living room, we hope after reading this you take an extra moment to appreciate how this versatile fruit made it to the vessel in front of you.