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- Potpourri
Or "Rotten Pot"
by Bob G Johnson
Today many of us enjoy having
the fresh fragrances of potpourri in our homes and work places
to enhance our overall enjoyment but did you know that originally
it was a necessity?
Castles were responsible for
the creation and evolution of potpourri. Castles were designed
with narrow slit windows to prevent fire balls, arrows, stones
etc from entering the castle and as a result the castle itself
tended to be damp, dark and have a very undesirable musky smell
throughout.
The rooms in the castle were
often strewn with herbs so the inhabitants would have a delightful
aroma in each room as they walked. If not the rooms were very
nasty smelling with that dusky smell which was offensive to most.
The herbs had to be swept up often as once the essential oils
had evaporated then the herbs themselves starting decaying and
became part of the problem.
Generally in the bottom of the
castle was a room called the "rotten pot room". In
this room were very large, up to 7 feet, jars or pots. Inside
the pots/jars the potmaster would put in herbs/spices and several
cups of brandy or other spirits and craft fragrances in the rotten
pot room. Some of these fragrances were crafted for seasonal
use such as more flowers for spring, more spices for fall etc.
Some pots sat and fermented for literally years before the correct
fragrance evolved for the potmaster who was setting the history
for perfumery.
Once the pots had achieved the
correct fragrance then they would be transported to the different
rooms in the castle to stay there and add a delightful aroma
to that room thus overcoming the natural smells that evolved
in the castle. It was not unusual for these wet potpourris to
last for 10 years or more with occasional refreshing with spirits
to aid the evaporation and wafting of the aroma in the room.
The pots would be capped at night or during different times of
the day to preserve the aromas.
Now you know a little more about
that glorious term we use called potpourri but henceforth between
us we'll keep the secret it's really nothing but a "rotten
pot"!! (:)
Herbanite Bob0
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About The
Author
Herbanite Bob is cofounder along
with his wife of Herbfest. The 10 day festival is held in Wake
Forest, N.C. each spring and attracts over 20,000 attendees.
A free herbal lore and legend etips email is sent weekly with
interesting trivia about herbal lore and legend.
The free service is available
on the web site, http://www.herbfest.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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