Sweet woodruff aerial part powder – Asperula odorata

Harvested in shady forests before its full bloom, woodruff is then dried and ground into a fine powder. This processing concentrates its fragrant ingredients, particularly coumarin, without altering its aromatic properties.

Description

A pale green to light brown plant powder with a light texture and a typically sweet fragrance. It is easy to mix with other plants and is also used in dry cosmetics or traditional gentle fumigation.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Sweet woodruff, sweet woodruff, sweet bedstraw
• Latin name: Asperula odorata
• Family: Rubiaceae
• Part used: Aerial part
• Form: Powder
• Origin: Temperate Europe
• English name: Sweet woodruff powder
• Name in German: Waldmeisterpulver
• Name in Spanish: Polvo de asperilla olorosa
• Name in Italian: Polvere di asperula odorosa
• Name in Arabic: مسحوق الغاليت العطريّة (Mas'houq al-Ghaylit al-ʿItriyya)

Main virtues

Thanks to its powdery form, woodruff is ideal for making masks, bath salts, or homemade infusions. It can also be used to subtly scent fabric sachets, candles, or dry cosmetics.

Main constituents

Coumarins (including odorin), flavonoids, tannins, volatile essential oils, phenolic acids.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1/2 teaspoon per cup, infuse for 5 to 8 minutes covered.
• Cosmetic: as a mask or plant bath, mixed with clay or sea salt.
• Scented sachets: integrated into dry mixes for wardrobes or linens.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Naturally contains coumarin: avoid prolonged use.
• Do not consume in large doses or continuously.
• Not recommended in case of anticoagulant treatment.

History and origin

Sweet woodruff, a plant widely used in Germanic and Celtic traditions, was used to scent homes, May drinks, and celebratory sachets. Its powdered form extends these uses by facilitating the creation of modern scented blends.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: opaque glass jar or closed kraft bag, away from humidity.
• Packaging: bag, metal box, bulk in resealable jar.
• Appearance: Fine pale green to light brown powder.
• Smell: sweet, vanilla, reminiscent of fresh hay.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• European ethnobotanical corpus
• Liqueur Recipes and Floral Traditions of Central Europe
• Family herbalism and traditional manuals

🔎 Information

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