What does bog myrtle smell like?

What does bog myrtle smell like?

It’s a complex scent which could accurately be described as smelling like nothing but itself but if you haven’t met the plant to find out for yourself, the following descriptions have been offered by staff here in the office – citrusy, warming, peppery, resinous, a bit like rosemary, sweet, soft – and sharp, oily.

Is Myrtle and bog myrtle the same?

Myrica gale is a species of flowering plant in the family Myricaceae, native to parts of Japan, North Korea, Russia, mainland Europe, the British Isles and parts of northern North America, in Canada and the United States. Common names include bog-myrtle, sweet willow, Dutch myrtle, and sweetgale.

Does bog myrtle repel midges?

Bog myrtle, which is also known as ‘Scotch Gale’, is a deciduous perennial shrub in the Myricaceae family. The smell of bog myrtle is distinctive, and anglers often wear a sprig of the botanical on their garments to keep midges away. Bog myrtle is also used as an insect repelling ingredient in some Highland-made soaps.

Where to get bog myrtle?

Bog myrtle is distributed throughout western and northern Europe, from Portugal, Spain, Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands to Scandinavia. It also occurs in France, Germany, Poland and across the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into eastern Russia.

What is Bog Myrtle used for?

It has been used to flavour Ale (beer), and the beautifully fragrant leaves used to keep away midges. A sprig of Bog Myrtle would be tucked behind the ear or in a hat as a repellant to keep the midges at bay.

What is bog myrtle used for?

How do you plant Bog Myrtle seeds?

The seeds naturally have a waxy surface – the wax should be washed off with detergent and the seeds should be rinsed with clear water. Bog is a frost germinator. As a result, sow them either in autumn or stratify for 3 months at cold temperatures (also possible in the refrigerator) and sow them then.