- Latin name
- Prunus mume, Prunus domestica
- Family
- Rose family (Rosaceae)
- Origin
- the scent is created in the laboratory
- Parts used
- flowers (as the reference for the scent)
- Raw materials
- delicate floral accords
- Extraction
- synthesis
- Olfactory group
- floral
- Position in the pyramid
- heart
- Synthetic substitutes
- floral bases, benzaldehyde (traces)
Plum blossom is the delicate white and pink flowers that appear on the branches before the leaves, at the end of winter or in early spring. In Asia the plum blossom, mei, is a symbol of resilience, because it opens while cold and snow still linger.
How it smells: tender, fresh and slightly sweet: cool petals, a light almond and honeyed shade, a springlike transparency. Plum blossom sounds subtler and cooler than cherry blossom, with a quiet refinement.
Chinese and Japanese plum blossom smells noticeably stronger than sakura — a delicate sweetish scent that can be sensed even in frost. Perfumers convey it with light floral notes and a faint stone-fruit shade.
What it pairs with: with cherry blossom and white tea — Japanese minimalism, with rose and peony — tender spring bouquets, with almond — powdery sweetness, with plum — “from flower to fruit”, with musk — a transparent tender base.
Good to know: in China the plum blossom is one of the “three friends of winter” together with pine and bamboo: all three withstand the cold and symbolise strength of spirit.
