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Scent Trend: Rhubarb

 

rhubarb

There is a tart, fresh scent trend emerging for 2018 and it is likely growing in your garden. Perfumers have discovered the fresh, fruity and slightly-sour ingredient is a perfect replacement for traditional citrus notes such as lemon, bergamot or grapefruit. It is brisk, clean and energizing.

Rhubarb is a perennial plant best known for its long, fleshy stalks that are topped with massive dimpled leaves. The stalks are harvested in late spring where they are cut up and used in pies or stewed on a stove top. The stalks require ample sugar to make them edible as a dessert. And while the plant is technically a vegetable, it is considered a fruit in North America. The leaves themselves are poisonous so only the stalks can be collected and used in foods.

The plant was first cultivated in Turkey and Russia in the 14th century. It is now grown in heated greenhouses throughout the United Kingdom where 95% of the world’s rhubarb is produced. If you listen carefully, you can actually hear the stalks “cracking” and growing from the earth.

You’ll find perfumers use rhubarb notes in fragrances for both men and women. It’s predominantly used in the top notes to give a fresh, brisk first impression.

ferragamo amo

Ferragamo Amo

hermes rhubarbHermes Rhubarbe Ecarlate Eau de Cologne

guerlain hommme intenseGuerlain Homme Intense

Burberry Brit Red

varvatos vintageVarvatos Vintage

guerlain aqua allegoria tutti kiwiGuerlain Aqua Allegoria Tutti Kiwi

 

Come late spring and early summer you will see a number of fragrances debut boasting fresh rhubarb notes. It’s a trend that will likely accelerate through 2018.

20 Comments

  • Reply
    Debbie Beattie
    December 18, 2021 at 1:08 am

    I never would have thought of rhubarb as fragrant but I guess it is

  • Reply
    Roxanne P
    February 21, 2018 at 9:39 am

    Gourmand seems to be the latest wave for spring scents!! Love Amo by Feragamo!

  • Reply
    Rhonda Lushington
    February 2, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    We love Rhubarb. I grow it in our garden. Can’t wait for summer for it to be ready ????

  • Reply
    natalia
    February 2, 2018 at 11:21 am

    Very interesting. It is always good to know information about the composition of fragrances

  • Reply
    Cheryl k
    February 2, 2018 at 5:34 am

    Ooo, this is so exciting! I absolutely love Rhubarb ????

  • Reply
    Danielle Perrault
    February 1, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Last summer i try to grow some rhubarb plant in my garden in countrysite and it didn’t workout! I will try again next summer, hope it work! Just love the taste! I will be upto try a fragrance incluing it!
    @danielleperrau4

  • Reply
    AdeleAWright
    February 1, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    I love rhubarb and I grow it with my flowers so I think I would love anything with rhubarb in it!@AdeleAWright

  • Reply
    jennifer corrigan
    February 1, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    Loving this!! I showed Keith John Varvatos his eyes popped out haha!!! Thanks for sharing Dave!! soooo cool @jenni40

  • Reply
    Pattie Cowan
    February 1, 2018 at 11:15 am

    Rhubarb brings me back to my childhood! We grew it in the backyard. Yum!

  • Reply
    chucky1012
    February 1, 2018 at 9:33 am

    Very interesting and great to learn from you all about this!
    I like rhubarb and yes I would buy one of the pretty flacons… @chucky1012

  • Reply
    Breanna
    February 1, 2018 at 8:55 am

    This is quite interesting ! My mum adores rhubarb and use to make rhubarb stew. I love the pink Amo perfume, I’ll have to try find it in store and try it’s scent !

  • Reply
    Rebecca Stanchfield Meeks
    January 31, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    Definitely will be watching for this. I had no idea. Spent many a day in my childhood sitting in the middle of my grandma’s rhubarb patch! Eat one, pick two, lol! She canned them for strawberry-rhubarb pie…to die for too! Interesting concept to say the least.

  • Reply
    Anna Roszak Robinson
    January 31, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    Wow! Who would have thought. Very interesting. Thanks Dave

  • Reply
    Emily Mitton
    January 31, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    What a cool trend! I love the new and exciting trends like this!

  • Reply
    Linda L
    January 31, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Wow! Rhubarb as a scent is unique. Can’t wait to let the senses experience it! @linlett60

  • Reply
    Denise
    January 31, 2018 at 12:46 pm

    I never thought of rhubarb in fragrance

    @momof3boysj

  • Reply
    September Dee
    January 31, 2018 at 11:33 am

    I’m really looking forward to this! Love my rhubarb patch and the pies I make so this will be very interesting!

  • Reply
    Crystal Ryan
    January 31, 2018 at 10:00 am

    That’s kinda crazy

  • Reply
    Leah Banigan
    January 31, 2018 at 8:00 am

    Very interesting. Will they have notes of strawberry too?

  • Reply
    Bcteagirl
    January 31, 2018 at 7:12 am

    I love rhubarb scents so I am very excited to hear that they are trending! Will check these out!

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