“Simbelmÿne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see that last days of my house…No parent should have to bury their child.”

Theoden, The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien

One of the most moving scenes in the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy comes from The Two Towers, the scene where Theoden buries Theodred. There are so many moments in LOTR that stick with me, but this one is always at the forefront of my mind.

Theoden plucks a small white flower called Simbelmÿne which blankets the burial plots of the Kings of Rohan. Although it was inspired by wood anemones, it has always reminded me of snowdrops, delicate tear-shaped flowers whose heads seem to hang in empathy of Theoden’s loss. In Middle Earth, Simbelmÿne is ever-blooming. The Elves called it Alfirin a word meaning “not mortal”, it’s ever-blooming nature symbolic of immortality.

The fragrance of Simbelmÿne is not described by Tolkien, though I believe it would smell something of lilacs in the snow – cool, crisp and lightly floral, possibly with a slight earthy undertone. It would be a delicate fragrance, soothing and uplifting almost as if the plant itself is sentient and wishes to comfort those in loss.

Look for Simbelmÿne in candle form and other products coming soon to the Swords & Soapery shop.

Until the next adventure….

Stephanie