Discover the Fragrant Puakenikeni Lei: A Guide to History, Care and the Unique Beauty of this Hawaiian Blossom

The puakenikeni lei, known for its unforgettable fragrance and vibrant colors, is one of Hawaii’s most cherished floral creations. As the blossoms mature, they undergo a stunning transformation—starting with a soft white, turning a sunny yellow on the second day, and reaching a warm orange hue by day three. Alongside its evolving color, its scent deepens, filling the air with a uniquely tropical, slightly spicy aroma that is simply intoxicating.

Beyond its beauty, the puakenikeni lei symbolizes affection and appreciation, making it a meaningful choice for honoring someone special. When wearing or gifting a lei, there’s a cultural richness in the experience, embodying the love and respect that Hawaii’s floral traditions hold.

Caring for Your Puakenikeni Lei

To fully enjoy the beauty and fragrance of your puakenikeni lei, proper care is essential. Unlike other lei varieties, this lei should not be refrigerated; cold temperatures can cause the delicate blossoms to brown prematurely. Here are some tips to keep your lei looking fresh and vibrant:

  1. Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Keep your lei away from the refrigerator. Instead, store it in a shaded, cool area of your home to preserve its color and fragrance.
  2. Lightly Mist with Water: To prevent drying, lightly mist the lei with water using a fine spray. Just a light misting is enough to keep the blossoms fresh without oversaturating them.
  3. Handle with Care: The puakenikeni blossoms are soft and can bruise easily, so try not to compress or squeeze the lei. When handling or storing it, treat it gently to maintain its beauty.
  4. Wear Shortly After Purchase: For the best experience, wear your lei within a day or two after purchase. This helps ensure that you enjoy the lei at the peak of its fragrance and color.

Each puakenikeni lei is carefully handcrafted and sourced from small island growers who hand-pick and sew each flower with skill and care. Wearing this lei is like wearing a piece of Hawaiian history. However, whatever stage one wears this lei, it will always be fragrant and beautiful.

 

 

What Flowers are Appropriate for a Funeral

The loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with, and consoling someone over this loss is also a challenge. A great way to show your love and support through this difficult time is through flowers.

Flowers are generally thought to be great gifts for happy occasions, and many people don’t think of them as appropriate for funerals. However, this isn’t true. There are many types of flowers out there that represent mourning the loss of a loved one and comfort those in grief.

This guide will talk about what types of flowers are appropriate at a funeral so you can pay your condolences the right way.

What Flowers To Consider For A Funeral

Every flower has a different meaning, so you must choose the right kind of flowers to give. Ideally, you need to pick flowers that will honor the deceased, show how much you respect them, and portray your love and wishes to their loved ones. This can be a lot to unpack, so let’s look at some of the popular types of funeral flowers.

Popular Types Of Funeral Flowers And Their Meaning

Here’s a list of the best choices for a flower bouquet or arrangement to bring to a funeral.

Orchids

Pink and white orchids are a good choice for funerals as both types represent eternal life and love.

Chrysanthemums

Unlike the last two flowers, these ones are very vibrant and celebrate the life of the deceased. They’re extremely popular in European funerals as they symbolize death. In Asian funerals, white chrysanthemums are popular.

Lilies

These flowers represent the innocence and purity of the departed soul. White lilies are very popular in American and European funerals.

Gladioli

These vibrant flowers are often used to celebrate the life of someone who lived to the fullest. They are tall and convey moral integrity and sincerity. At funerals, they give a message of strength and upliftment.

Carnations

Red, white, and pink carnations are other popular choices. Red carnations express love, white ones express pure love, and pink ones represent memory.

Hyacinths

These flowers can portray your grief at a funeral. When given to the grieving family, it shows that you are praying for them.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a popular choice when you want to represent support for the grieving family. These flowers are usually given as potted plants, and you should be able to get a good arrangement from places like The Picket Fence Florist.

Roses

At the time of a funeral, deep crimson roses represent sorrow and grief. White roses can also be used in arrangements to express respect and admiration for the deceased. Be mindful not to give roses of the wrong color as they hold a different meaning.

What Flowers Are Appropriate At An Asian Funeral?

At an Asian funeral, your choice of flower should depend upon the grieving family’s local customs. In particular, the color of the flowers is significant in Asian funerals.

For Chinese funerals, any assortment of white flowers is acceptable. White roses, lilies, or chrysanthemums are acceptable choices. If not white, you may bring or send only yellow lilies or chrysanthemums.

In Korean culture, individuals are not expected to bring flowers. Flowers are only sent by businesses, organizations, or groups. At Korean funerals, white chrysanthemums are the most appropriate.

At a Japanese funeral, red flowers are not appropriate at all. White and yellow chrysanthemums are appropriate.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot of consideration that you must give when taking flowers to a funeral. Apart from the type of flower and local customs, you may also want to pay heed to religious customs.

Flower Gift Giving Guide For All Occasions

Flower Gift Giving Guide For All Occasions

Flowers are always a safe go-to option when you need to give a gift. Whether it’s a birthday, an engagement, or even Mother’s Day, a gorgeous bouquet of flowers will always be appreciated.

However, did you actually know that there’s a lot that goes into giving flowers as a gift? You can’t just go to the store and pick out a bouquet that looks the best to you. Every flower has a special meaning, and you have to pick the right one for the occasion.

If you’re a bit clueless about how to give flowers as gifts, don’t worry. Our flower gift-giving guide for all occasions will help you!

What Types Of Occasions Should You Give Flowers On?

Flowers make for great gifts on any occasion! Here’s a list of occasions where flowers will bring a smile to the receiver’s face:

  • Birthday
  • Anniversary
  • Housewarming
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Baby Shower
  • Bridal Shower
  • Get Well Soon
  • Graduation
  • Mother’s Day
  • Thank You
  • Offering Condolences
  • Christmas or Thanksgiving

What Types Of Flowers Are Appropriate For Gift Giving?
Certain types of flowers suit certain occasions. There are two things to note here: type of flower and color. Each holds its own meaning, so you don’t want to end up giving the wrong type of flower for the occasion.

Flower types

Amaryllis
These flowers portray love, so they’re the perfect type to give to your significant other.
Suitable for: weddings, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day.

Calla Lillies

Calla Lilies
Calla lilies are very elegant flowers, making them perfect for formal occasions.
Suitable for: any formal occasion, such as a wedding or engagement.

Lilies
These large flowers are a popular choice in sympathy bouquets. They are often thought to represent the innocence of the departed soul.
Suitable for: funerals.

Gardenias
These popular flowers represent joy and are often found in bouquets.
Suitable for: nearly any occasion, but pair them up with other flowers.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas
These flowers represent pure and heartfelt emotions. They’re perfect for giving out when you want to show someone how much you care about them.
Suitable for: anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, thank you bouquets

Daylilies
This flower type literally represents motherly love.
Suitable for: Mother’s Day

Roses
These flowers mostly speak for themselves. Roses are perhaps the most popular flower choice when it comes to giving gifts. Just pick the right color, but more on that later.
Suitable for: nearly any occasion, just pick the right color.

Camellias
These elegant flowers represent excellence and are great for multiple occasions.
Suitable for: graduation, thank you bouquets, weddings.

Dahlia

Dahlias
Dahlias may not be a popular gift choice, but these flowers represent change and excitement.
Suitable for: housewarming, bridal shower, baby shower.

Geraniums
These popular garden plants also make for an excellent gift! They represent comfort and true friendship.
Suitable for: birthdays and thank you bouquets.

Winter Jasmine
These winter flowers are an excellent choice for winter occasions.
Suitable for: Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Flower Colors
· Red: true love and passion, respect, courage
· White: pure and innocent love, sympathy
· Yellow: friendship, happiness, joy
· Pink: admiration, gentleness, femininity
· Orange: excitement, enthusiasm
· Blue: tranquility, peace
· Purple: success, royalty
· Lavender: grace, elegance, youthfulness
· Green: good health, fortune, rebirth

Final Thoughts
This may seem like a lot of information being thrown at you, and it is, but you really don’t have to worry too much about remembering it. If you go to a good florist, they should recommend the perfect type and color of flower for the occasion.

Types of Wedding Bouquets

 

Every bride’s dream is to have the perfect wedding. It’s your big day and you want to make it memorable.

For that, you need a checklist that has to be followed religiously. No wedding checklist is complete without a section dedicated to flowers.On that note, let’s talk about wedding flowers — bouquets to be precise. Ever seen a picture of a bride on her wedding day? The white dress often takes center stage, beautifully complemented by the gorgeous bouquet. To the untrained eye, bouquets are just flowers with colors that match the rest of the wedding decor. However, there’s so much more to them. It’s mind-blowing the amount of detail and effort that goes into this aspect of wedding planning and for good reason. Beyond being one of the bride’s biggest accessories, bouquets are also important for the bridal train and the rest of the wedding decoration.

Choosing the perfect bouquet for your wedding

As a bride, you might want to leave this to the experts! You could look up bouquets on Pinterest, but there’s only so much you can do without help from the pros. The perfect bouquet depends on several factors including your choice of flowers, your wedding dress, and the theme of the wedding. We’ve got some experience in this field, so why don’t we join our tulips (pun fully intended) together and help you figure out what type of bouquet to go for.

Types of Flower Bouquets

Round Bouquets

It’s only appropriate to start with this classic wedding bouquet. Even the gents will likely know this one. This is one of the most popular types of wedding bouquets. It’s been around forever and isn’t fazing away anytime soon. Round bouquets are just as the name implies — round. They feature more actual flowers than greenery. It’s a rather traditional style and often looks better with fewer flower types. Flowers with a round bloom such as roses, peonies, lisianthus, and tulips would look great here. It’s perfect for the formal wedding tone, especially when there’s a ball gown involved.

Posy Bouquets

This is similar to the round bouquet. There are subtle differences that add an extra dimension to them. For starters, they are often smaller and loosely tied with decorative ribbons. Also, they typically have more flower types than the classic round type. That said, they’re essentially round flowers with little greenery all delicately tied together with a ribbon that matches the theme of the wedding. If you’d like something small that’d let your dress shine, then consider going for the delightful posy flower bouquets.

Nosegay Bouquets

Best described as elegant, the nosegay style of wedding bouquets has been around as far back as the Victorian era. It’s one of the more compact bouquet styles. There’s a lot of fresh greenery going on here, with a more subdued flower arrangement, compactly tied with a ribbon for the perfect look. Just like the posy, it’s small enough not to take the spotlight away from the dress. However, there’s a strong focus on greens that delicately complements the look while adding an extra depth of character. Perfect for more intimate wedding settings.

Single Stem Bouquets

It really doesn’t get any more minimalist than this. Single stem bouquets impact such a toned-down yet rich look to the day. It’s hard to think these two things will be possible at once, but this type of wedding bouquet just makes it work. It’s also great because it fits right into whatever theme you have going on for both the bride and the bridal train. Also, they’re often less pricey than the full-on bouquets, although you could still find some very luxurious and expensive single stems out there. It all stems down to your choice. Whatever you do, go for a sculptural stem with an oversized flower. Orchids, blooming roses, lilies, king protea, or even large tropical leaves would look great here.

Cascade Bouquets

Now, this is where flowers truly take the crown in a wedding. Cascade bouquets are all the rage with the modern bride. They add such grace and beauty to the bride while walking down the aisle, so, it’s no surprise they’re one of the most popular wedding bouquets available. To make these work, it’s best to use flowers or plants that are naturally cascading, such as eucalyptus, peonies, hollyhock, layered on top of each other to create the beautiful flowing effect. It goes so well with long-flowing minimalist wedding dresses. Super feminine and charming, let these add a little bit of fairytale glamour to your big day.

Pro-tip — To tie this look together with the rest of the wedding décor, be sure to throw in a lot of vines and greenery in the hall.

Composite Bouquets

This is somewhat similar to single stem flowers, at least in the concept. Often called the Carmen Rose, this is an ingenious collection of a series of flower parts, mostly petals, to create one composite-looking bouquet. Yes, it’s just as tough to create as it sounds. You might want to let the experts handle this one. But when they’re done, you can rest assured of the perfect bloom to add such elegance and beauty to your wedding party. Composite bouquets are particularly suited for the modern bride with a chic wedding.

Pomander Bouquets

You’ve probably seen flower girls holding these and looking all cute. As it turns out, they’re not just suited for flower girls. The rest of the bridal train can rock these for a fun twist on the traditional wedding bouquet. It’s simply a ball of flowers expertly tied together and carried like a handbag. They could even be suspended along the aisle and other areas of the wedding hall. Pomanders are versatile. You could use classic colors such as white or ivory or even a combination of bright colors to spruce up the event. Your pick.

 

Hand-tied Bouquets

This gives you the most variety, so that’s a huge plus. Hand-tied bouquets are constructed by taking different flower stems and arranging them in one’s hands. Afterward, they’re tied together, and voila! You have a wedding bouquet made from your favorite flowers. Also, hand-tied bouquets often feel freer than the usual round bridal bouquets. With this, it’s almost like you can let your hair down and play in the rain during the ceremony. It’s perfect for the non-traditional bride, what with its bohemian vibes. Wild and free — all the way!

The Best Flowers for a Wedding Bouquet

From the guide above, you’ve probably seen that there’s no short answer to this. It depends on the bouquet in question. For instance, it makes sense to go for flowers with round blooms for a round bouquet. Large petals will work for composite bouquets while flowing plants make the best fit for cascade bouquets. Some might think all flowers are well, flowers. But there’s so much more to a wedding bouquet.

There are focal flowers that take the spotlight such as garden roses, anemones, and dahlias. Then there are filler flowers like spray roses, wax flowers, and hypericum berries. You’ve also got line flowers. Very important! These define the shape of the arrangement. Orchids, stocks, snapdragons, and bells of Ireland are a few top choices.

Let’s not forget the greenery that makes for the perfect finishing touch to your bouquet. There are so many pleasant options to choose from here. Consider the seeded eucalyptus, lily grass, or tree fern.

That’s a lot of information. But no one ever said planning a wedding was going to be easy.

However, the question of what is the most popular type of wedding bouquet or flowers shouldn’t bother you too much. Popular or not, what matters most is your taste and style. Of course, you will have to let the florist weigh in professionally. Sometimes, season and other factors can affect the final choice. Regardless of the situation, be sure to pick a bouquet that you will love to hold and walk down the aisle on your big day.

So, back to our wedding checklist — Dress (check), flower bouquet (double-check), the perfect wedding day, and happy marriage (triple check)!

Here’s to wishing you a lifetime of love that blooms like the purest flowers!

Tips To Arrange Flowers Like A Pro

Flower arranging requires you to pay attention to every detail. However, that doesn’t mean that only floral experts can arrange flowers. You can do it too! To help you, we have some tips for arranging flowers like a pro.

To arrange flowers like a pro, you should choose a complimintary vase, pick out blooming flowers, and choose a style suited for the occasion you are preparing the flowers for. Following these steps helps create a beautiful bouquet that stands out.

In this article, you will find some great tips on arranging flowers, a list of the tools you need, and the steps you need to follow to arrange flowers.

Pro Tools

Here are the tools that designers use in creating floral arrangments:

Floral Clippers

You need floral clippers to cut the stems, leaves, and heads of flowers. These are necessary to keep the arrangement neat.

Tape

You will want to wrap green or floral tape around your stems to keep your flowers tied firmly together. This gives a neat, professional look to your arrangement.

Floral Picks

Floral picks are a useful tool to strengthen your flowers. You can use them as a replacement for a weak stem.

Flower Frog

You should have flower frogs to keep the flowers in place. All you need to do is place the frog at the bottom of your vase.

Foam

Floral foam is a great tool to keep your flowers hydrated. If you have fresh flowers, you can water the foam thoroughly and use it to keep your flowers properly hydrated.

How To Arrange Flowers In A Vase

There are some steps you need to follow to make a beautiful flower arrangement. These are as follows:

Step 1: Select The Flowers

When choosing flowers, keep in mind your budget, the type of flowers suited for the occasion, and the type of arrangement you have in mind.

Step 2: Choose A Design And A Color Scheme

This will help you have a rough idea of how the arrangement should look before arranging it.

Step 3: Choose A Vase

The size of the vase should depend on the type and size of the flowers you have selected. For example, top-heavy flowers need heavier vases.

Step 4: Start Cutting

Before you arrange the flowers, you need to make sure they are even. So, you may need to cut dry leaves and uneven ends. You should cut the stems so that they fit into the vase.

Step 5: Prepare The Vase

This involves adding the floral frog and foam mentioned above. Make sure the vase has a good foundation for the flowers. Then, pour water into it.

Step 6: Put In The Largest Flowers First

This will help make the arrangement even.

Step 7: Add The Rest Of The Flowers

You should put in flowers from the order of largest to smallest.

Step 8: Add Finishing Touches

This includes greenery, baby blooms, berries, or grass.

How To Deal With Uncut Flowers

When you receive a box of uncut flowers, the first thing you should do is cut them. This is because cutting the stem increases the lifespan of your flowers since putting a stemmed flower in a vase increases the rate at which it absorbs water. Cutting the stem will also save your vase from contamination. See here the best way to cut flower stems.

Pro Tips On Design

Here are some professional tips that can help you to design flower arrangement:

  • Have a set color scheme
  • Focus on texture
  • Use tape to support your flowers
  • Hide your stems using big leaves
  • Use the appropriate sized vase
  • Use filler flowers
  • Pay attention to grouping

Flower Care Tips To Keep Your Flowers Healthy

Making sure your flowers stay healthy is important. Here are some ways to care for your flowers:

  • Change the water frequently
  • Keep the vase clean
  • Invest in flower food
  • Remove foliage from below the waterline
  • Trim the stems 2-3 cm from the vase bottom
  • Keep the flowers away from sunlight

Final Words

Arranging flowers like a pro is not an easy task, but by following the right steps and using the tips mentioned, you can create a beautiful arrangement.

Why Flowers Make People Happy

It’s something we know intuitively: flowers make people happy. That’s why we give them as gifts to others when they need cheering or buy an arrangement for our homes when we want to bring a little life and joy to our environments. But is this just a matter of tradition or is there really something special about flowers that makes them especially capable of lifting a person’s spirits?

The truth is that the idea that flowers have a noteworthy ability to make people happy isn’t just a casual observation, it’s actually a theory supported by science. So let’s dive into the research and uncover once and for all why it is that flowers are so uplifting to the human spirit.

The Impact of Flowers
You’ve probably felt it yourself: you’re having a rough day for one reason or another, but then you catch a glance at the bouquet of flowers on your dining room table and immediately feel a little relief, a bit of cheering, and the beginnings of a smile playing on your lips. If this sounds familiar, then you should know that having this experience is actually universal.

According to behavioral research conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction, and affects social behavior in a positive way. According to Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., a Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and the lead researcher on the study, “Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy. Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well being.”

What Exactly are These Effects?

First, flowers can immediately impact people’s happiness, making them smile and express joy and delight when they receive them. But this effect isn’t fleeting. In the long-term, participants of the study reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction. Most interestingly, these positive effects don’t stop at just us; they also reach our friends and families. In the study, the presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.

How It Works
So we can see that the positive effect of having flowers around the house is measurable, but can we understand why it is that flowers are so good at making us happy?

Well, as you can imagine, that’s a bit of a harder question to answer. Though that doesn’t stop us from speculating. Dr. Haviland-Jones and her team at Rutgers have their own hypotheses. She says, “Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room. They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.” Indeed, being able to help people connect with one another could definitely be a possible explanation for flowers’ powerful impact, as close relationships have been shown to be the biggest factor that keeps people happy throughout their lives.

The Rutgers researchers also posited that the happy-making effects of flowers could come down to the sensory stimuli they provide, like pleasant smells and aesthetically beautiful colors, or their universal symbolic meanings, having long been seen as a representation of positive things like love, friendship, and caring. Maybe even, they wonder, it could be that our hunter-gatherer ancestors evolved to associate flowers with fruits, eventually turning them into catalysts of human happiness.

If you believe in color therapy, or the practice of balancing one’s vibrations by exposing them to specific colors, that can be thought of as another possible reason for the mood-boosting impact of flowers. After all, if pink can calm you down, yellow can make you happy, and red can wake you up and make you feel confident, one of the most natural ways you can bring these colors into your environment is through a flower arrangement.

At any rate, for whatever reason it may be the case, there’s no denying that flowers just light up something inside of us that makes us feel happy and alive.

Specific Flowers and Their Benefits
If you’re feeling like reaping the benefits of the all-mighty flower, here are some particular species that you might consider picking up and why.

  • Daisies:  Associated with childlike innocence and wonder, the daisy can easily bring a lighthearted warmth and cheer to the home and its inhabitants.
  • Lilies: With their incredibly fragrant blooms and vibrant petals, lilies are a great way to bring a lovely sensation to more than just one of your senses.
  • Tulips: Known for their bright colors, intoxicating scent, and feminine form, tulips stand out in a home as a real statement piece.
    Gladioli: Long, sensuous, and dramatic, gladioli may only be available in the summer, but if you can get them, you’ll certainly want to, as they pack a big punch and can really make an impact.
  • Roses: A timeless classic, roses are so associated with love, friendship, and romance, that having them around is guaranteed to make you feel full of loving feelings.
  • Daffodils: Known as the number one flower for enhancing people’s moods, daffodils’ signature yellow hue is thought by color therapists to be perfect for energizing, relieving depression, and promoting cheerfulness.
  • Hydrangeas: Coming in some of the most stunning colors found in the natural world, hydrangeas have calming properties that make them a perfect choice for people who often find themselves feeling stressed out by work or otherwise.

Now that you know just how much flowers can put a smile on your face and which ones, in particular, are great to have around, check out our flower arrangements to choose the one that will brighten up your day today.

How To Care For Your Lei

Nothing says Aloha like giving or receiving a beautiful lei whether you are a visitor to the islands or kamaaina. It’s a celebratory tradition in Hawaii symbolizing the gifting of some of your ‘mana’ (spirit) to another. The lei can be a simple string of single flowers or can be intricate and fragrant.

Technically, the word ‘lei’ refers to any decorative items strung together into a necklace. However, from the 19th century to the present day, floral lei are more commonly seen. Hawaiian tropical flowers can be especially beautiful, created in an intoxicating array of colors. A similar tradition of floral garlands exists throughout the Indian subcontinent, particularly at weddings, but Hawaiian lei are probably the most iconic.

Made from a wide variety of fragrant and non-fragrant flowers like plumerias, carnations, orchids, and pikake, and sometimes incorporating non-flowering plants, bark and even feathers, these lovely creations are often assumed to be short-lived and disposable. However, if cared for properly, a freshly created lei can last for several days.

If you are ordering them in advance for a luau, graduation, wedding, birthday, or other celebration, it’s important to follow the following tips for keeping them fresh and pristine.

Lei Care

When you receive your lei, spray them lightly all over with a plant mister (unless they are predominantly made from pikake — see below). They should not be dripping wet when this process is complete.

If the cut stems are accessible, you can keep them fresh by dipping the stems in water containing a couple of drops of bleach to prevent bacterial damage. If the design of your lei does not easily permit this, then store them carefully as below.

Carefully place the lei on a layer of paper towels and slide them into a large, aerated bag, which should be left open at one side.

Pikake blossoms need to be kept cool but dry to preserve their fragrance. Create an envelope with wax paper and insert the lei with a small quantity of baking soda. The soda will absorb any excess condensation which forms. Almost completely seal the envelope, leaving just a small opening and place in an airtight container in the coldest part of your fridge.

Store moistened blossoms in a cool but not cold location. A large vegetable bin in a refrigerator with the temperature dialed to its minimal setting would work well. 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.

If you have lei of different varieties requiring different temperatures, you may have to keep them separately for best effect.

Wherever you store them, make sure they are positioned away from direct sunlight or breezes. Lei will begin to turn brown in the wrong environment.

One lei that should never be refrigerated is the puakenikeni to be kept at room temperature or risk browning the flower petals. Sandwich between two damp paper towels and lay flat in a plastic bag or container.

If you look after them well, even three or four days after you receive your lei, they can look as fresh as the day they were created.

 

Top 10 Fragrant Flowers

Everyone loves flowers because of their beautiful colors and pleasant smells, and they are one of the most common gifts around the world as well. A mixed flower bouquet can leave a lasting impression and shows love and well wishes. Whether you give someone a single rose or a fragrant flower bouquet, the receiver will love it. But choosing what type of flowers you should give someone is nothing less than a challenge. That’s why we put together this article on the best flowers that smell good and look beautiful as well.

So, let’s get into it.

10. Jasmine

Hawaiian Name: Pikake

Jasmine is considered one of the most pleasant smelling and most beautiful flowers around the globe. It’s native to all the tropical regions of the world. Many countries also use this flower to make cosmetics and perfumes because of its exceptional fragrance. Regardless of the event type, you can choose a bouquet of this flower as a gift.

9. Gardenia

Hawaiian Name: Kiele

Gardenia is one of the best tropical flowers that are native to tropical regions of Africa, Australia, and South Asia. It’s a waxy-smelling flower and a member of the coffee family. This flower is also used as an herb and to make perfume in many countries. It’s best to use this flower as a wedding gift because of its fragrance, beauty, and color. It offers a calming and relaxing feeling to the recipient.

8. Tuberose

Hawaiian Name: Kupaloke

Tuberose is one of the most Hawaiian flowers that comes with a seductive fragrance that makes you feel you’re on vacation. It also has a very elegant look, and you can choose a bouquet of Tuberose to give someone at a wedding or even at a house opening ceremony.

7. Stargazer Lily

As the name suggests, these flowers appear like they are gazing at the stars at night. They offer a slightly spicy and sensual fragrance as all the lilies are aromatic. But the fact of the matter is that this specific species is the most fragrant one, which is addictive enough for anyone to fall in love with.

6. Peony

Hawaiian Name: Paeonia “Pink Hawaiian Coral”

This beautiful flower comes in all sorts of colors and shapes and has over 33 different species. But the most common and probably the most attractive one is Pink Hawaiian Coral. It’s native to Western North America, Europe, and Asia. It comes with a beautifully sweet and particularly appealing smell, and you can choose to give it to someone on any joyful event.

5. Hyacinth

Choosing this flower is the best option if you only want to add more beauty and character as they come in many different colors such as yellow, pink, orange, white, red, violet, and blue. They have a light floral scent, but they look extravagant and make a perfect gift. Hyacinth is native to the tropical regions of Africa and the Mediterranean.

4. White Ginger

Hawaiian Name: Awapuhi Ke’okoe’o

White Ginger, which is also known as butterfly ginger, offers a honeysuckle-like fragrance. Naturally, it’s native to SouthEast Asia, and it takes a little more time to blossom as compared to other flowers. Its unique shape and fragrance make it one of the best options for leis. That’s why you can find leis of White Ginger in Hawaii as well.

3. Puakenikeni

The literal word meaning of Puakenikeni is “ten-cent flower.” It’s native to pacific islands, especially Hawaii. It has a strong fragrance reminiscent of gardenia and comes in a range of different colors, from rich gold to whitish-yellow. You can easily find Puakenikeni leis that make the best gift.

2. Plumeria

Hawaiian Name: Melia

These fragrant flowers, also known as Frangipani, are found in tropical or subtropical zones. They come with a unique feature that makes them the perfect gift for any nighttime ceremony. That’s because they offer a light fragrance in the daytime that dramatically intensifies at night.

1. Rose

Hawaiian Name: Lokelani

Roses are undoubtedly the most popular and loved fragrant flowers in the whole world. To date, there are more than 100 different species of this mesmerizing flower, and the most common one is the red rose. Naturally, it’s found in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. You can literally find it in any garden around the world. It’s best to give roses to your partner as you would already know that the red rose is by far the most gifted flower on valentine’s day.

Final Word

There you have it. These are the top 10 fragrant flowers, and we hope that this list will help you to choose the best option that the recipient will both admire and love.

How to Keep Your Flowers Fresher Longer

No matter the occasion, a well-appointed floral bouquet instantly brightens and enlivens a space. Unfortunately, these gorgeous tulips, roses, daisies, carnations, and all other types of blooms can fade far too quickly. Thankfully, over the years, florists have discovered a few flower care tips that can help you preserve that precious, fleeting beauty and help your bouquet last longer.

Tending to your flowers as soon as you get them home is vital to extending their life for as long as possible. Follow these proven flower guidelines carefully to ensure that your flowers are able to take in water properly and protect them from bacteria that form in the water. For optimal results, plan to incorporate daily maintenance as well.

Flower Care Tips

How to trim your stems

First, you’ll want to cut the stems by ½” to 1” from the bottom with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors. Avoid using a dull instrument that might crush or damage the flower’s ability to take up water. Cut the stems at an angle so that they don’t remain flat along the bottom of the vase so your flowers will have the best chance at survival. Ideally, this will not be a one-and-done deal. You should trim a bit more from the stems every few days.

Prune any leaves that will rest below the water line to avoid spreading bacteria. For example, Roses have guard petals that are the two or three outermost petals of the flower. They won’t open up fully until those petals are removed. Proper pruning will help your flowers look better and last longer. To maintain your bouquet for maximum health, check for dead or loose leaves each day to avoid bacterial rot.

Prep the water in the vase

The water in your flower vase serves two primary purposes: to nourish your flowers and prevent the spread of bacteria. There are several common ways to make this happen.

Other tips and Tricks

Here are some other simple ways that you can keep your flowers fresh and healthy:

Vodka: While adding a few drops of vodka to your vase may sound odd, the science behind it is sound. Alcohol helps to slow down the wilting process by inhibiting the production of ethylene. Ethylene is the gas that causes fruits, vegetables, and plants to ripen and mature. It makes sense, then, that keeping that at bay slows down the aging process for your flowers.

Soda: Carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, promote cell metabolism and feed your flowers. Adding ¼ cup of soda, like Sprite, can help your flowers stay perky and vibrant. Though adding darker beverages like Coke or Pepsi will also add sugar to the water, those aren’t recommended since they’ll color your water and turn it cloudy.

Aspirin: Dissolving a single crushed aspirin from your medicine cabinet in your vase water can do wonders for your flowers. Adding it to the water affects the acidity, lowering the pH, which facilitates water intake. Since water can travel through the stem faster, aspirin can help your flowers stay fresher, longer.

Pennies: Like adding crushed aspirin, adding coins, preferably pennies, to your water can affect the acidity of your water. Those acidic properties help to keep bacteria from growing in your water and will help your tulips flourish. Experts suggest adding one penny to the bottom of your vase in tandem with aspirin as described above for the optimal pH and maximum water intake.

ACV, Sugar, and Bleach: This is an alternative recipe for flower food that consists of 2 tablespoons of sugar, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and ½ teaspoon of bleach added to 1 quart of water. Although this method isn’t as tried and tested as the sugar, bleach, and lemon or lime juice recipe, there are still plenty of people who would agree that it accomplishes the same things as flower food.

Bleach: Pouring just ¼ of a teaspoon into 1 quart of water in your vase will kill bacteria that may be found on your flower stems, your vase, or your water, helping to preserve them. Be careful, though. Too much bleach will harm your flowers and ultimately kill them. Using a small amount of bleach in conjunction with soda or vinegar will also increase water intake.

Refrigeration: Each night, remember to place your flowers in the refrigerator, just like florists do, to keep your flowers fresher for longer. If that’s not an option, try to keep your flowers away from drafts or extreme heat to allow them to thrive.

Flower Food

Flowers purchased from the grocery store or a florist usually come with a packet of flower food that should be dissolved into the water that you add to the vase. This optimal blend of ingredients will be the best way to protect flowers from bacteria and feed them to keep them vibrant and healthy.

Each packet generally contains a combination of these three ingredients: carbohydrates (in the form of sugars to promote growth), biocides (cleansing agents to ward off bacteria), and acidifiers (to adjust the pH and encourage water uptake). Follow the instructions on the label to properly dissolve and dilute the solution in the appropriate concentration. Ideally, you may want to grab a few extra packets when you can since you’ll need to replenish these ingredients whenever you change the water, which should be about once every two to three days, or when it becomes cloudy.

In a pinch, several everyday household items will serve as excellent substitutes for traditional flower food. Simply add one teaspoon of sugar, one teaspoon of bleach, and two teaspoons of lemon or lime juice to 1 quart of water. Replenish this mixture every time that you change the water.

Conclusion

These tips will help you to maximize your enjoyment of any floral bouquet. A little initial effort and routine follow-up care, even using just a few things that most people have lying around the house, will give you several extra days of blossoming beauty.