Culinary botanicals

Using botanicals in cooking is a centuries-old practice, as they bring both intense flavour and medicinal benefits to food. From herbs and spices to the roots, seeds and petals of plants, numerous botanicals are popular ingredients in dishes all over the world.

We love travelling the globe to discover incredible ingredients and botanicals for our luxury fragrances. So many of the exotic scents we discover can also be used in food and drink– and using both fragrance and taste together can create powerful results. By combining the power of the two senses, you can create unique atmospheres and invoke emotional responses from the comfort of your own home.

Using our botanicals in food

Our luxury candles and reed diffusers are made with a blend of key botanicals– and you can use these very same botanicals in your cooking to create complementary dishes.

Combining flavour and scent is a magical way to elevate your dinner parties, relax after work or energise yourself ready for a new day.

Here are a few of our favourite botanicals from CRANBOURN^® fragrances, complete with inspiration on dishes to use them in.

Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum)

Cardamon is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). The perfect blend of sweet and spicy, cardamom is used in an array of different dishes around the globe, right from baked goods to curries. Use this magical spice in your cooking and enhance it with the scent of our Nordic Serenity diffuser.

Citrus

Citrus oils have been used for hundreds of years in ancient medicine and aromatherapy. The fruits gain their fragrance from high concentrations of limonoids and flavonoids, which are known to have strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties. These bright zesty flavours are perfect for sweet dishes, desserts and pastries, and pair perfectly with our Sunset in Ibiza fragrance.

Mint (Mentha)

Popular in teas, cocktails, sweet treats and more, different varieties of mint are a match made in heaven with our fresh cool Nordic Serenity scent. Mint oils have been found to have several medicinal properties, including being antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and aiding with digestion and mood improvement.

Rose (Rosa)

Rose essential oils can be captured by steam distillation of the petals to produce rose essential oil, or by solvent extraction to produce rose concrete and rose absolute. Popular in several cuisines including Persian, Lebanese, Indian and Turkish, rose adds a distinctive floral edge to any dish. You can opt for either rose water, petals, syrup or oil – and our sophisticated English Garden Party fragrance is the perfect partner.

Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)

Many different basil cultivars have been created, including well-known culinary basils like Genovese basil, Thai basil, and Mammoth basil. Elevate your pasta, sauces and salads with this bright, distinctive herb– and light our Escape to Santorini candle to enhance your experience.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)

Studies have found that ginger has several medicinal properties, including being antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and aiding mood improvement. Ginger is an incredibly versatile spice, ideal for adding warmth and depth to teas, curries, sauces and cakes. Create a cosy atmosphere by pairing it with our wintery Nordic Serenity candle.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon)

Light, bright and energising, lemongrass is the perfect addition to aromatic curries, stews or stir frys. Lemongrass is most often associated with Southeast Asian cooking but is also grown in Sri Lanka, Southern India, parts of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. The Escape to Santorini reed diffuser is the perfect accompanying background fragrance.

Bring dinner parties to life or create a zen cooking environment in your kitchen with our unique luxurious candles and reed diffusers.

You can also learn more about individual botanicals’ history, biology and cultural significance in our extensive Botanicals library.