Fragrances and Cultures

Most Christmas stories begin with sleighs and carols, Santa's little helpers and children's gifts, but this is not one of them. In Greece, Christmas and the New Year, years before globalization Americanized some of the traditions, were an affair of the spirit, as much as of the senses, in which smell reigned. Before the pagan-stemming and humble origins of the winter celebrations were irrevocably changed, the aroma of the holidays was palpable in the air, removed from the arti... (more)

    Pear wood is one of the most prized materials in the production of high-end furniture and woodwind instruments. Pear wood is harvested from pear trees, any of several tree species of genus Pyrus , which are typically cultivated for their edible pomaceous fruit. This slow growing tree can take decades to grow before the wood can be harvested, which makes it a relatively expensive type of wood.   The sensual pear wood has a distin... (more)