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.
Clean, sharp, the stillroom jar.
5 plants
Camphor & pine
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Fresh pine, wood, and camphor, herbaceous, with a mild citrus or minty undertone. Clean, invigorating, resinous — the needle by the door.
Camphor & pine
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Earthy, minty-herbaceous, slightly spicy or peppery, a little camphor. Clean, resinous — the Mediterranean garden in a pinch.
Camphor & pine
Sage
Salvia officinalis
Earthy, warm-herbaceous, slightly minty or camphorous, with a musky or woody note. Pungent and grounding — the leaf of the roast and the gargle.
Camphor & pine
Bay
Laurus nobilis
Camphoraceous and a little medicinal — eucalyptus, pine, wood, a quiet pepper. Stronger when crushed or heated in the pot.
Camphor & pine
Lad's love
Artemisia abrotanum
Sharp camphor, lemon-camphor, sometimes tangerine. Pungent and clean in moderation; a heavy handful can fill a room.
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.