The orchid and its fragrance

The plant that symbolises love, for delicate and mild soaps

 

Valentine’s Day is the holiday of lovers, however the entire month of February is dedicated to celebrating love and affection in all its forms. There are many flowers that symbolise love and the most popular choices on this occasion, as well as for other celebrations that typically call for floral gifts, are roses and orchids.

Of course orchid soap is an unmissable product of the Alchimia Soap collection: if you can say it with a flower, then you can say it with a soap.

 

Orchid: the plant and its cultivation

Phalaenopsis is the most widespread orchid at our latitude, the one we are used to seeing, buying and gifting. However, it is one of dozens of types, not to mention subfamilies, which all belong to the Orchidaceae family; the Phalenopsis alone counts numerous species and hybrids. Orchid plants grow spontaneously throughout the world, indeed many are wild orchids that anchor onto tree trunks; despite preferring tropical climates, they also adjust well in temperate or cooler areas. Their characteristic appearance stems from the winged structure of flowers, making them the perfect ornamental plant. Each has three upper sepals (leaves) and three lower petals, with a labellum that is different from others in terms of shape and colour, and aerial roots (in tropical species), or bulbs.

Phalaenopsis orchids require special care and attention, as anyone who ever tended to orchids at home knows too well. This type of plant requires copious yet indirect light. North east facing or south west-facing sills are good spots, since prolonged exposure to sunlight is avoided. They also thrive in mild temperatures (even at night, orchids should never be kept at temperatures below 15-16°). Orchids don’t care for too much water: watering them every 5-7 days is enough, even better if with rainwater.

Due to the care it requires, as well as its grace and colour, the orchid flower has come to symbolise faithful love that stands the test of time.

 

Meanings and the fragrance of orchids

The sheer variety of orchid colours is simply striking. Orchids come in many colours, each with its own meaning: pink alludes to femininity and is traditionally gifted to spouses on occasion of their 14th wedding anniversary, while the yellow orchid, symbolising joy, is reserved for the 28th anniversary; white evokes the purity of sentiments, red alludes to a more intense and passionate love; blue is the colour of hope and is the flower of choice for anyone looking to declare their feelings.

The fragrance of orchids is perhaps the least well-known aspect of these plants. Fragrance is a distinguishing characteristic of many flowers, however the scent of these plants is elusive to say the least. The reason is simple: orchid flowers only ever give off a scent in the presence of potential pollinators, like bees or butterflies, at specific times of the day or night, when these animals are active and may, in theory, be attracted by this olfactory signal. What makes orchids so special is that each type gives off a scent at different times and in different ways. This means that orchids have many different fragrances, all typically characterised by a pleasant underlying sweetness.

 

Alchimia Soap orchid soaps

Research into natural ingredients for the production of high quality artisan soaps constantly inspires Alchimia Soap to explore the fragrances of flowers and plants from all over the world, capturing their purest essence for its products. Solid orchid soap is the result of a meticulous selection and research process, culminating in a vegetable soap that respects delicate skin, even with its fragrance, embellished by refined packaging and the wooden ladybug that distinguishes all products of the Classic Ladybug line by Alchimia Soap.

This year, instead of an orchid, gift an orchid soap: discover the orchid vegetable bars of soap by Alchimia Soap