Life in the village is often influenced by the harvest of local fruits and vegetables. Many years ago, I helped the family groundskeeper, Theo Thanasi, harvest the fruit off the lemon trees in our perifoli. As we opened the weathered wooden gate, the trees proudly bowed low, waiting patiently to be relieved of the heavy weight of their bounty. We worked hard picking the lemons, and hauled the greenish-yellow fruit off to be stored in the cool, wood-lined, apokreatos. They were majestically placed next to the century old pithars, that stored the freshly pressed olive oil from the family's olive grove, Verthonos. A week later, I opened the door to fetch a lemon and was overwhelmed by an intoxicating, yet woody blend of aromatic tart lemons, kissed with the soft whisper of old seasoned cedar boards. You can’t begin to imagine what a harmonious scent combination these two natural aromas created, stimulating emotional and physical responses of joy and relaxation.
Every time I lather up with this soap, my mind relives the day Mother Nature graced Theo Thanasi and I by naturally creating this enchanting scent from the combination of the fruits of our labor.
Lemon Orchards
