Jasmines and gardenias smell so beautiful in a cool, early Miami morning. Heavy with dew, this is little early to harvest them for enfleurage or tincture, because the sun needs to work its magic and burn off the dew and warm up the flowers, so they’ll release their scent.

Jasminum grandiflorum on trellis. Hundreds of rare, beautiful smelling flowers.

Jasminum grandiflorum on trellis. Hundreds of rare, beautiful smelling flowers.

Tahitian gardenias, aka Tiare flowers, are very rare in the United States. A beautiful shrub of this fragrant beauty is on the path to my front door.

Tahitian gardenia flower aka Tiare flower, heavy with morning dew

Tahitian gardenia flower aka Tiare flower, heavy with morning dew

Jasminium azoricum is very, very rare. The flowers smell like jasmine with a hint of vanilla. The vine is very vigorous, and has covered a big hibiscus plant, where they live in harmony. So, I have a hibiscus-jasmine shrub at the end of my driveway, measuring 10′ tall and 15′ wide.

Jasmine azoricum vine covering huge hibiscus shrub. Look closely to see some red hibiscus flowers peeking out.

Jasmine azoricum vine covering huge hibiscus shrub. Look closely to see some red hibiscus flowers peeking out.

Closeup of the delicate jasmine azoricum flowers.

Jasmine azoricum flowers bloom year round! Sweet, gentle scent.

Jasmine azoricum flowers bloom year round! Sweet, gentle perfume scent.

I encourage you to grow flowers and other fragrant plants to make perfume from, it’s a delightful hobby, or, if you’re an artisan perfumer like me,