A Cat Tale of Two Scents: Valerian and Spikenard

I love cats because I love my home, and after a while they become its visible soul. - Jean Cocteau

A while back, I brought home a bottle of valerian capsules. Valerian is reputed to be a sleep aid, and I thought it might help me relax and get a better night's sleep. Have you ever sniffed valerian root? It's quite an odor. A complex brew of dirty gym socks, sweet urine, and whiskey-soaked wood. I wouldn't call it bad, but I know some would. It's one of those scents you can find interesting, once you've gotten over the initial shock. If you're into smelling things the way I am, that is.

My cat, George, found it enchanting. As soon as I opened the bottle, he nudged his nose into it. I tried to pull it away but he wouldn't let me. His eyes dilated and he got wilder than he ever has sniffing catnip. He went a little crazy actually, batting at me for access to the bottle. But in a nice way. There's not a mean cell in George, even when he's tipsy. His brother, Peter, was far less impressed by the valerian. Ho-hum, said he.

Then a few weeks ago, I ordered a bottle of spikenard (nardostachys jatamansi) from my favorite essential oil provider, Gritman Essential Oils. I was curious to know how it smelled, especially since spikenard was in the precious ointment Mary Magdelene used to wash Jesus's feet. I'm not at all certain that this is the "nard" in the Bible, but it could be. Perhaps a Biblical scholar can let me know.

I also ordered several other essential oils along with the spikenard. As soon as I got the box in the door, George pounced on it and tried to open it. He had to get at whatever was inside. I didn't know which essential oil he was after, so I hurriedly opened the box to find out. The bottles were all sealed with plastic and none had leaked. Yet one of them was calling out to George.

I presented the bottles to George, who dutifully sniffed each one in turn, and it was obvious that it was the spikenard that had attracted him. He grabbed it and drooled on it. Of course, all of this excitement attracted Peter, who, it turned out, also likes spikenard. I unsealed the bottle and put a drop of spikenard inside the cardboard box, so they could sniff it. The photos reveal what happened next. Notice the slobber and bite marks on the box.

Spikenard is not a classically pretty scent. It is like the most medicinal patchouli you've ever smelled mixed with camphor, wood smoke and earth. Not pretty but extremely compelling. It smells like something straight out of antiquity. I can easily imagine it being used in an ointment in Biblical times.

And what I find especially interesting is that valerian and spikenard are closely related. The two aromas George went bonkers for are connected. If I'd read the information about the spikenard I would've known that the two plants were related, too. But George knew it before I did, in his cat way. I think that's cool.

There is, incidentally, no way of talking about cats that enables one to come off as a sane person. - Dan Greenberg

Comments

[JAG]

Your babies are beautiful, and that little George is something else. Can't leave Peter out, though; maybe the valerian just didn't do it for him. Three of my little boys, who happen to be brothers, have a penchant for licking my perfume off my wrists when I get in bed. Someone suggested that maybe they are trying to get rid of the yuck that is masking my true scent. Sounds reasonable, but who knows. They also like to groom my hair if I'm wearing a light spray -- going at it like they are on a mission. Since a steady diet of perfume and hairspray might be harmful, I have to hide my wrists under the pillow and cover my head until they settle down.

I would love to know what is going on in those regal little heads!!!

[scent signals]

hi, JAG, nice to hear from you again. yes, george is something else, so is peter. the three of us are like puzzle pieces that fit snugly and happily together. it's such a joy to know them.

your babies sound like a delight! i would bet they are trying to get you back to "normal" with their licking. of course, some cats like to groom you, regardless. one our cats used to lick my father's closely shaved head like crazy - we thought maybe he liked the salt in his perspiration. do they lick your wrists when you aren't wearing scent? give them a hug for me.

[Morticia Addams]

Oh, Scent Signals, I was delighted that you've posted the quote from Cocteau who was a unique artist as well as a lover of cats.

Because of insomnia I've tried just about everything, including valerian tea. Blech. LOL

[scentsignals]

hi, tish - thank you for visiting! cocteau seems like he would've been fun and interesting to know. i don't know, cat lovers always seem to know how to get along with one another- we work it out somehow, they way they do.

have you tried valerian capsules? they seem to work for me - i sleep more soundly when i take them. could be placebo, but i think not. and you only get the yick when you open the jar. hope you find something that works.

[Otto]

I was looking up spikenard and came across your entry. Really cool. Cheers!