Desire that arrives before you know it’s hit you. In the first episode of Flowerotica, we follow jasmine from Cleopatra's barge on the Cydnus river, through the sacred bridal rituals of South Asia, into the chemistry of a molecule that speaks a language the body already knows. Some invitations can only be felt.

Executive Producer, Writer & Host: Nina Ozier

Co-host and Episode Cover Artist: Jake Kaplan

Audio Producer & Sound Mixer: Elliot Terzian

Theme Music: Paul Oliphant

Episode References:

1. The Perfume Society: "Jasmine — Mythology, History & Scents" — perfumesociety.org
2. The Perfume Society: "Cleopatra's Fragrance: Finally Recreated?" — perfumesociety.org
3. Histoires de Parfums: "A Brief History of Jasmine" — histoiresdeparfums.com
4. Bon Parfumeur: "Jasmine in Perfumery" — bonparfumeur.com
5. Natural Niche Perfume: "Jasmine Perfume — Properties, Distillation, and History" — naturalnicheperfume.com
6. Perfumer & Flavorist, Vol. 34, October 2009: "Jasmine: The Flower of Flowers" by Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Givaudan — the trade publication source for the Grasse harvest figures and indole chemistry detail
7. Blue Tree Aroma: "The Enigmatic Journey of Jasmine" — bluetreearoma.com
8. Insight Intelligence Group: "Cleopatra's Enigma: The Art of Seduction and Power" — insightintelligence.com.au
9. The Siasat Daily: "Cleopatra's Perfume That Lured Julius Caesar, Mark Antony Recreated" — siasat.com
10. Plutarch, Life of Antony — the original source for the barge scene
11. Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, Act II Scene II — "the winds were lovesick with those sails"
12. Rabindranath Tagore, The Gardener
13. Wikipedia: "Gajra"
14. Garland Magazine: "Mala: The Floral Garlands of India"
15. Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book 42