Orange blossoms are the flowers of the orange tree, also known as Citrus sinensis. These incredibly aromatic flowers have had an important cultural significance in many communities around the world for centuries. There are few trees as prolific as the orange; it is one of the rare plants that blooms and bears fruit at the same time, thus becoming symbolic of fruitfulness and motherhood. In the Victorian art of floriography, an orange blossom represents eternal Love.
Orange blossoms possess botanical qualities which give them a unique and enduring place in wedding tradition. Queen Victoria created the vogue for wearing a wreath of orange blossoms in the Victorian-era after she wore them on her on her wedding day in 1840. More recently, Jacqueline Kennedy also wore orange blossoms at her wedding ceremony. This association can be traced as far back as the mythology of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Greek mythology holds that when the goddess Hera married Zeus, the King of Heaven, she was given orange blossoms by Gaea, the goddess of earth and fertility.
Originally created in 1976, Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom was transformed into a luminous honeyed floral by master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour as part of the Anthology collection. Lush with Calabrian orange and bergamot, tempered with Virginian cedar, rose and peach flower. Wearing Orange Blossom is like walking from shade into warm sunshine.
We’ve told you what Orange Blossom means in the language of flowers but can you decode this bouquet below? Leave a comment below telling us what you think it is and one lucky winner will be picked at random to win a bottle of Orange Blossom Eau de Toilette (100ml).
- Laura
*Terms and conditions: There is one prize consisting of a bottle of Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom Eau de Toilette (100ml). The closing date is midnight GMT on 8th May 2012. The winner will be drawn at random on Wed 9th May. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. No purchase necessary. The promoter is Penhaligon’s Ltd, Dragoon House, 37-39 Artillery Lane, London, E1 7LP.
Has a winner been chosen?
Unfortunately it has. The lucky Andrea Palmer was our winner!
HURRAH for Andrea!!!
A perfect, devoted union.
Luck has brought me to you. My love is strong, pure and innocent. My devotion to you is eternal.
Unity & Devotion
Congratulations, you are our winner!
Traditionally lavender means distrust, but red and white roses mean unity.
So this either means united against distrust or united in devotion.
Although your young heart may be mistrusting, my love for you is true.
I’m yet another who will take the devotion rather than distrust interpretation of lavender and suggest that with the red and white roses together the meaning is: united in devotion.
I am certainly willing to be united with and devoted to a lovely bottle of Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom!
Sophistication, elegance, and class.
Devotion and Eternal Love
United in Love and Devotion
Meaning: Unity & Devotion
United devotion!
I think it means – Devotion and Love.
(ps: I’m devoted to wearing Penhaligon’s fragrances because I love them!)
United devoted love
Unity and devotion
Simply sweet and perfect!!
The flowers express an explosion of color, scent, and nature to attract the eye, tantalize the senses and embrace the soul.
Devotion & Endless love..
lavender means ‘distrust’ as according to folklore snakes used to lie under lavender bushes and therefore causing people to not trust the plant.
White roses means purity and spiritual love and red roses are said to have been white roses blushing when Venus was caught bathing by Jupiter. Also Red roses apparently sprung up when Adonis was attacked by a wild boar and spilled his blood. White roses turned red around in sympathy.
However, when red and white roses and given together they mean ‘Unity’.
I’d love to win a bottle of the orange blossom scent, beautiful in nature and fro Penhaligons!
White roses together with Red roses symbolise unity.
French Lavender symbolises devotion
Red and white roses together mean “united”.
Lavender means “devotion”.
Meaning: United in devotion.
United in love and devotion
Sex!!!!!hehe
That’s an easy one: It says: “How can you dare – just flowers. And where is my bottle of Penhaligan’s?”
Pure devotion
According to information on the language of flowers I found, and my personal interpretation, this bouquet expresses a pure, devoted and passionate love.
Devotion, true and eternal love.
)
Admiration and pure love
Loyalty, love and devotion
A perfect union – endless love and devotion
endless love & devotion
Red and white roses together = unity.
Lavender = devotion or distrust.
I’ll choose to believe the lavender is devotion, and say that this is a bouquet representing two lovers who are completely united in devotion.
According to my “The Illuminated Language of Flowers” book illustrated by Kate Greeaway (circa 1976):
Deep Red Roses: Bashful shame
White Roses: I am worthy of you.
Red and White together: Unity
Lavender : Distrust
LOL so it means I’m distrustful and ashamed that I believe I am worthy of you? Or I’m distrustful of our unity? hmmm! I think I need a new dictionary!
Red Rose: “I love you completely”
Lavender “I love you too”
White Rose: “Don’t tell anyone about us”
A secret, deep and requited love