Apricot, honey and tea: what smells of autumn in Sochi

In the autumn of Sochi, you can learn not only from the mild climate and evergreen plants, but also from unusual aromas. One of them belongs to the Osmantus Fortune - a shrub with small creamy white flowers, the smell of which resembles apricot jam with honey and a light tea tartness.

Unlike the saturated jasmine or sweet lily, the aroma of osmanthus is revealed more thinly. It combines fruity shades of apricot, peach and ripe plum, honey notes and barely noticeable woody nuances. It was this combination that made Osmantus an interesting plant for perfumery.

The flowers of the bush are small and often hidden among thick foliage. However, in warm weather, their smell becomes more noticeable, especially after rain and in the windless evening hours. Then the usual urban landscape seems to acquire an additional aromatic layer.

Osmantus also has cultural significance. In China, it is considered one of the symbols of autumn and is associated with moonlight and the festival of mid-autumn. Flowers are used to flavor tea, make wine and desserts.

The name of the plant is associated with the name of the Scottish explorer and plant collector Robert Fortune, who in the XIX century traveled to China and contributed to the spread of many Asian plants outside it. His name is also well known to Sochi palm tree trachikarpus Fortune.

Osmantus Fortune is a hybrid of Osmantus fragrant and Osmantus multileaf. Its aroma can combine fruity sweetness with green and woody shades. In urban landscaping, such plants are valuable not only in appearance, but also in that they are able to form a special atmosphere of space.

To feel the smell of osmanthus, it is better to approach the flowering bush on a warm evening. Sometimes it is enough to stop for a few seconds to catch notes of ripe fruits, honey and freshly brewed tea in the air.

Earlier it was reported that in Sochi on October 9, the air warmed up to almost 31 degrees.