Linden Blossom

What it is

Linden blossom is the fragrant flower of trees in the genus Tilia, called lime trees in Britain and lindens in much of the English-speaking world.

This page uses Tilia cordata, the small-leaved lime, as an important European reference while recognizing that other Tilia species can also supply the scent idea.

What to notice

Linden blossom can suggest:

• honey and nectar
• pale yellow flowers
• leafy greenness
• pollen
• herbal tea
• airy sweetness
• a faint waxy warmth

The characteristic effect is usually softer and more transparent than a heavy honey accord.

Floral complexity

Recent metabolomic work on Tilia cordata flowers identified a large number of volatile compounds and showed that drying method changes the aromatic profile.

That reinforces an important distinction between fresh blossom, dried linden tea and a perfumery reconstruction of the flower.

Lime blossom is not citrus lime

British English calls Tilia trees lime trees, but they are unrelated to the citrus fruit.

For clarity, this library uses Linden Blossom as the page title while keeping “lime blossom” as an alias.