The nose
How they smell
A stillroom is a nose as much as a cup. Crush a leaf. These are the scents of this cupboard — petal, hay, camphor, lemon, musk.
Licorice, tarragon, cicely.
3 plants
Anise & seed
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Sweet-peppery, herbaceous, and slightly minty or clove-like. Some leaves add licorice, anise, or a citrus edge.
Anise & seed
Sweet cicely
Myrrhis odorata
Strong, sweet aniseed and licorice — anethole in the leaf. Aromatic and pleasant the moment you crush it.
Anise & seed
Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Distinct anise and licorice (estragole) with a green-herbal, slightly bitter or celery freshness. Sharp and aromatic.
Traditional kitchen and folk use only. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are pregnant, nursing, on medicine, or unwell, ask a clinician before drinking anything as a remedy.