The grape hyacinth, muscari racemosum, is supposed to have a similarly starchy smell although, in the Fragrant Path, Louise Beebe Wilder calls it "plumlike." And "muscari" actually derives from the Greek for "musk."
The feather hyacinth, muscari comosum, has a soaplike substance, known as comisic acid, in its bulb. Although also poisonous, comosum was occasionally used as a diuretic and stimulant.
Our modern hyacinths are descendants of hyacinthus orientalis, which probably originated in Turkey. Their unforgettable scent is, of course, their main claim to fame. Carl Sandberg wrote that poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits-meaning, no doubt, a combination of the beautiful and the mundane. (Of course, the look and taste of fresh biscuits can be pretty darn heavenly too.)
At any rate, after the dreariness of winter, the sight and scent of hyacinths is as welcome as equally vivid Easter eggs!
Note: Muscari comosum image is from Otto Wilhelm Thome's Flora von Deutschland Osterreich und der Schweiz, courtesy of the Texas Vascular Plant Image Gallery at http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/gallery . Other photos are by author, all rights reserved, and may not be copied or reproduced without permission.
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