Mystical Aquatic Flower – Lotus

11/22/08 13:41:52

The scent which is gentle, but feminine, powdery and memorable, must be lotus. It typically appears in three colours in nature – white, pink and blue. What is very interesting is that lotus is one of the rare flowers which grow in aquatic, mostly swampy areas. While its roots are seated deep in the mud, long stems progress towards the light; wide green leaves and opulent flowers blossom on water surface.

This aquatic flower resembles water lily by the looks and size of its blossom. When compared to other plants, there is more similarity with shrubs and trees rather than with flowers, which is most probably due to its wide root and stem with smaller 'branches'. An interesting fact is that lotus blossom opens at day, but closes its petals and sinks into water at night. Flowers can grow up to 20 cm in diameter, lying on giant, 60 cm wide leaves. The plant has thick stems and can grow up to 5 meters in width.

Colours of these beautiful flowers range in pastel nuances: snow-white, yellow, pink, strong purple, and even blue. The flower develops from a seed, and the age of the oldest discovered seed is estimated at 1300 years!

There are two main sorts of lotus and these are:
- Nelumbo nucifera – Blue or Indian lotus, known as the sacred flower of Hinduism and Buddhism. It is also celebrated as the national flower of India and Vietnam, where various dishes of Asian cuisine are prepared of lotus roots and seeds. This sort originates from ancient Egypt, where it was eaten only by members of high class. Drawings with sketches of this flower can be found on old walls and pillars. It used to grow naturally in vast plains of Asia, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, but today it is grown exclusively in artificial aquatic gardens in Asia and Australia;
- Nelumbo lutea – American lotus, widespread thanks to American Indians who consumed it as a source of food. It can be found in the USA, in countries of Central America (Mexico, Honduras), and in the Caribbean today. Traditional colour is white or pale yellow, but numerous other colours developed by hybridization with Indian lotus.

Flower, seed, young leaves and seeds (rhizomes) are edible and often used in tradition cuisine of Asian countries such as China, India, Korea, Japan and Pakistan. They can be eaten raw, but more often as cooked vegetables, soup, herbal tea, dry fruit, even as candies – the most popular being rice pudding! Apart from that, blue lotus contains nuciferine, a hypnotic ingredient, which causes hallucinations when mixed with wine.

Mysterious lotus has rich symbolic, which varies from one culture to another. The most interesting thing is that it is associated with purity: even though lotus grows from mud of a swamp, it pushes through water and reaches light where it shows the most beautiful blossom. In Hindi tradition, lotus is connected with divine beauty and purity, as well as with fertility, wealth, knowledge and enlightment. Spreading of petals reminds of spreading one's soul. Divinities are often represented as sitting on lotus leaf or flower.

There are similarities with Buddhism, where lotus symbolizes purity of body and mind. Buddha is shown as sitting on a giant leaf of flower, or as he walks, and lotuses grow on the very place he puts his foot down. Even Lotus-Temple has been built in New Delhi. Lotus is a symbol of elegance in China, often used in poetry...

This aquatic plant is a symbol of the sun, creation and rebirth in Egypt. In Christian symbolic, a replacement for lotus is white lily, which was brought to Virgin Mary by Angel Gabriel to announce Christ's birth, as a symbol of fertility and purity.

In today's time of modern civilization, lotus can be noticed in jewelry: as pendant of a necklace or a bracelet or as motive on a ring. It is also wanted as a decoration on the body – in shape of a tattoo, whether alone or in a combination with far eastern divinities. There is lotus position in meditative yoga, which is increasing in popularity. The body has a position similar to lotus it was named after. On top of that, lotus and water lily are very popular as decorative plants in contemporary aquatic gardens. They decorate artificial lakes, ponds and fish-ponds with their gorgeous flowers and provide a feeling of tranquility and relax body and soul..

Lotus fragrance is beautiful, pure, gentle, intoxicating and very powdery, with a certain amount of sweetness. It is difficult to preserve the scent, but especially to get lotus extract. When you smell it, you feel like in another world, in the world of tranquility and peace. Your senses are relaxed and you are calmed down in a subtle way….

The perfume which vividly represents white lotus in its full purity is most certainly KenzoKi White Lotus. As the name suggests, it relaxes with its effect. This is actually fragrant water, which is beneficial for your skin and leaves a wonderful, long, very powdery trail. This perfume is very pure and clear, but in the same time as gentle as a lotus petal itself. When it stays on your skin for a while, it seems like the finest baby powder, which nourishes and refreshes the skin.

Lotus in a combination with other aquatic flowers can be found in perfume L'eau d' Issey by Issey Miyake. This perfume is utterly clean, light and as drinkable as water. It has an effect of real refreshment, as if you were washing your face with dewy flowers: lotus, freesia, peony, rose, lily of the valley… A beautiful, floral fragrance, which has a powerful and mighty heart enriched with lotus flower is timeless Eden by Cacharel. Cold, aquatic flower is sweetened with fruit (melon, pineapple), decorated with flowers and strengthened with a woody base.

Name of lotus is found on the new, fruity-floral version of perfume Green Tea Lotus by Elizabeth Arden. This unusual combination of lotus and green tea in the heart will thrill all fans of mild perfumes full of herbal essences. Top notes are sweetened with plum and citruses, while heart is green and refreshing.

Eau de Lotus Bleu by Roger&Gallet takes us to the land of pharaohs, where legend has it that the sun was born from blue lotus floating on the ocean. An oasis of freshness, accompanied with wind introducing golden desert aromas with magic of blue lotus enchants you in a moment. Opulent heart of darker blue lotus is preceded by joyful citrus sparks.

I would like to finish with an interesting thing on mystical blue lotus: it is considered a sacred plant in numerous cultures, where it evokes tranquility through euphoria, since it possesses hallucinogen myristicin among ingredients. Its moist, pure scent gives mystical charm of lotus to perfume compositions.

Sources: Wikipedia , Ka-Gold-Jewelry
Photo credit: aquatic decoration - author: Ina_Mo,
temple, author: Macsurak, Buddha,
blue lotus - author: Tanakawho,
small blue lotus - author: Tanakawho,
pink lotus- author: Tanakawho