Priscilla Wannamaker

In this issue of Weddings of Grace, we explore fragrance—a subtle aspect of wedding celebrations—and some of its romantic and legendary history.

The Fragrance of Love

Brides and fragrant flowers have a long, intertwined relationship: roses, orange blossoms, lilies, and in India, the sensual, heady fragrance of jasmine has been associated with weddings for generations.1 Smell, it seems, is the most ancient and magical sense, acting as a sort of sensual medium between heaven and earth. According to author Christopher Bamford, “A scent or perfume was thought to express the ‘inner essence’ or spiritual nature of a thing.”2 Therefore when we smell a rose, it’s the scent of something truly divine.

No wonder that in preparation for their weddings, brides in cultures throughout antiquity would be given a ritual bath in water mixed with fragrant, essential oils. “Essential oils are the concentrated essences of plants, often referred to the soul of the plant,”3 experts explain. This bathing ritual, prepared by women of her community, would have had a nurturing and purifying effect for the bride. Perfumed herbs would be applied to the bride’s hair as well and their transformative scents would later be captured under her veil, supporting a meditative rite-of-passage.

Full Article.