Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-12
SCIENCE or BOUQUET MAKING.
Flowers Should Be Grouped According
to Their Odors,

That there are scientific laws that regu-
let" Tie combination OF odOrs. as there.
are those that must be followed in as
S"nhlinE cOlOrs or musical tones, is
maintained. 1t is held that it is possible
10 formulate relies for the proper group
In" Of flowers according to their odors
and ii is believed that those who con-
suit the eye Only in making a bouquet
are artistic hcrctics
4 honGuet is sympathy of doors and
u has its conventional rules Of compuSi-
ton just as a musical symphony has.
To choose flowers with skill, 10 group
them tremendously. t. blend their colorS
and to bring ont pleasing effect from
the infinite variety Of their shades Is an
affair Of art AMI personal taste for which
it is impossible" I" formulate precise
rule or any exact directions. But to cs-
tal'liSh Il scale of scent that shall not
contain one false notc-to make the gen.
cral Oior of bouquet something line.
smooth ard delicate is not an art, but Il
real ::oirrcr. ara | desire to try to ex-
press its laws.
The precise nsmometris measurements
that have been made in various 'abora-
tories haze established the relative IN
tcnsity of perfumes and the experiments
OF specialists have done the rest. so that
it is to-day well known in what relative
nroportionS tie elementary odCrs must
he combined In o. der to obtain an agree
able whole. BY such knowledge five great
prrfEnerS prove their creative skill, and;
their clcvcrness is often only the appli-
cation Of precise and definite data.
We may divide odor;s into two great
classes. the strong ana the weak: each
when used by itself has very apparent
defects: the problem for solution is 10
unite then in proper proportions.
In the first place a foundation odor
must be selected to give the general
tone. This choice is free. and there is
nothing to determine it outside of the
personal preferences of the maker of the
houquet. or. better the one for whom
it is destined. Some prefer n violent and
strong base. such as acacia. heiiotropn
or lilac: others like n weaker and less
energetic one. sIch ms lily of the valley.
jlSr1ne or white rose. 1t is simply a
question of taste.
The foundation odor must be placed in
the center and only 4 small number of
flowers must he used for it: then thes..
should he surrounded with an ndor shat
will complete il without effacinE it.
Around a bunch of acacia. for instance.
may he placed n few blossoms OF honey
snckle; around heliotrope. lily of the val
lev. around tubo:oSc, iacinth around &c
ranium. roses Then. the complementary
olor having ono" hccn fixed uron TIER,
must be added different Odors. intended to
give to the basic Odor what we may call
character-liv"ly odorG on the one hand
and soft o'orS OF the other: in n bouquet
Of heliotropc ana lily Of the valley il IS
good to pl"cc tie violence Of tie iacnth
the warn sweetness Of the orange the
penetrating delicaCY of the micnonette or
the violet and something of the strength
c~hale,l by the uillyflOWer or the Carna-
ton. Finally. We finish ~ placing at the
edges reminder Of the basic oior.
~ first sight th"sa rules appear some
what artificial and conventional: this is
true in a certain degree. Int conforuitv
with them is none the less useful. \
houonot is = sympathy Of odors. and
should We. not grant that in making it
we must follow rrlC. rs rigid IS those
Of harmony. 1t is n hcresv to hold that
fovcrs should h. grouped Will, view
solely to the pleasure of the ove since
they have perfume: and # the theory
nf IA, In