Tansy

Tansy has woven itself into human scent culture for centuries. Ancient Greeks recorded its use as a fragrant herb in ceremonial baths, while Romans valued it for its bitter aroma and insect‑repelling properties. Medieval European households hung bundles of dried tansy to deter flies, a practice noted in 16th‑century herbals. By the 19th century, French perfumers began experimenting with tansy oil, using it to add a sharp green accent to fougère and chypre compositions. The herb's reputation shifted in the early 1900s when thujone, a component of tansy, linked the plant to the controversial spirit absinthe, prompting stricter controls. Today, niche fragrance houses revisit tansy to evoke a historic, herbaceous character while respecting modern safety standards.