As natural perfume makers we are naturally obsessed by fragrance and scent and can’t spend enough time in nature, observing colour and texture - the pink of a rose, the orange of a sky, the rough bark, the softness of petals. Jones & Modha is all about harnessing the power of plants and recreating the scents we find in nature - they are so emotive and uplifting. From the smell of freshly cut grass or olfactory warmth of Autumnal leaves on the ground to a wood full of bluebells or fallen apples in Autumn.

The scent of rain

You may have heard of the word Petrichor, which was coined to describe the scent of rain hitting the ground after a warm smell by two Australian scientists in the 1960s. It is created by a combination of naturally occurring oils and chemicals. The oils come from plants during a dry spell, signalling the halting of growth, whilst the oil comes from bacteria and their reactions. A case of natural plant alchemy indeed!

The smell is released as the rain drops, the bubbles hitting the ground and bursting, releasing tiny sprays and droplets which, mixed with the chemicals and oils create the unmistakeable fragrance.

The Scent of the sea

Another unmistakeable scent is that of the sea. As soon as you get near to the damp sand and shallow waves, it hits you. How many of us simply can’t get enough of it and just know what it’s like - just by closing our eyes and taking ourselves there in our imagination. Why is there no word to describe this enchanting, uplifting scent? Perhaps we need to create one ourselves!

On further research into this glorious scent, we found the following explanation from Luis Villazon of why the sea smells as it does:

“Saltwater by itself doesn’t have any smell, but the things that live in it certainly do. The rather stale, sulphury smell is dimethyl sulphide, produced by bacteria as they digest dead phytoplankton. At low tide, you’ll also smell chemicals called dictyopterenes, which are sex pheromones produced by seaweed eggs to attract the sperm. And on top of all this is the ‘iodine’ smell of the sea, which is actually the bromophenols produced by marine worms and algae.”

Isn’t that amazing?

Another aroma which comes to mind when we think of nature is the smell of a meadow on a Summer’s day - the earthy, mineral smell of soil contrasting with green grass and wild flowers. A scent which can transport you back to picnics and river swimming instantly. What would you call this?

Do you have a favourite fragrance in nature?