The hour of the scent

The frangipani does not give its scent all day. It saves it. At dusk and through the night, the perfume deepens, warm, creamy and slightly green, and reaches you well before you see the tree.

The flower offers no nectar: scent is its only invitation. It is meant for the moths that fly at night.

We keep this in mind when we write about scent. A perfume is not a cloud. It is a moment.

Sources

• Missouri Botanical Garden, Plant Finder — Plumeria rubra