As the sun starts to shine a little brighter and the birds chirp a little louder, you know what time it is - lilac season! The time of year when the air is filled with the sweet, intoxicating scent of these beautiful blooms. It's a time to stop and smell the flowers, quite literally!

Lilac season is a magical time when nature puts on a show, painting the landscape in shades of purple, pink, and white. The vibrant colours and delicate fragrance of lilacs can lift anyone's spirits and bring a smile to their face. It's like a breath of fresh air after a long, dreary winter. 

This is our beautiful purple lilac tree on our property - once in full bloom, it is surrounded by pollinators! You can often times find me sitting under it taking in the sweet, floral aroma - truly one of my favourite scents. Growing up, my grandmother had both purple + pink lilac trees, these flowers remind me of her. 

They are highly sought after by perfumers (especially French perfumers) to use in enfleurage, a method of extracting the delicate scent profile of these blooms through fat. The extraction process for lilacs is different than that of other flowers, which is why you will find lilac based scents/perfumes at a high price point; lots of tedious layering, waiting + repeating is done during this process.

Spiritually, lilacs are known to represent love, romance, rebirth + protection. In herbalism, their scent has been shown to have a calming effect over the entire body. This plant is rich in antioxidants, is a wonderful digestive support, and is a lovely toner for skin + hair.

   HARVESTING LILAC BLOOMS   

One of my favourite ways to honour lilac season is through some of my favourite lilac recipes - Lilac Lemonade + Lilac Simple Syrup. Any lilacs will do, so feel free to use white, pink, or purple blooms... whatever is growing around you! Different colour blooms will also provide your recipe with a different colour, but not to worry, they will all infuse with the same delicious, floral taste. For the recipes below, we will be using Syringa vulgaris flowers, also known as Common Lilac, French Lilac or English Lilac. Be sure you are harvesting the correct variety, feel free to consult Edible Wild Food HERE to help you!

TIP: when harvesting lilac blooms for these recipes, be sure to harvest ones that are free from sprays + pesticides and are not growing directly along roadsides. You want to choose flowers that are opening/already open, are rich in colour and not turning brown for the best flavour!

 

 

Lilac Simple Syrup

The perfect spring sweetener to add to your favourite drinks, cocktails, teas or sparkling water. Delicately floral + sweet, this easy simple syrup recipe.

   INGREDIENTS:   

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup of organic cane sugar (or granulated sugar)
• 1 cup lilac flowers (remove any green bits/stems)

   RECIPE:   

1. Pluck your lilac flowers from the stems, leaving behind any green bits and rinse them thoroughly. You want a rough cup of blooms in total for this recipe.
2. Combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved. Be sure to monitor and stir regularly. You do not want your simple syrup to take on any colour, you want it to remain clear so keep a close eye on your mixture and remove it from the heat immediately once fully dissolved.
3. Allow the mixture to cool to the touch before transferring to a glass jar. Once room temperature, mix in your fresh lilac blossoms. Cover jar tightly with a lid, and place in the fridge to infuse for a few hours.
4. Come back every hour or two to check on the flavour. Depending on your tastebuds, you may want your mixture to infuse for more or less time.
5. Once you have achieved your desired taste, strain the lilac flowers out, pour in to a bottle and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. 

Enjoy a little in your next cup of tea, a cocktail or my personal favourite, over a little bit of sparkling water with a few slices of citrus!

TIP: infusing your lilac flowers in to cold simple syrup keeps the integrity of the flowers and prevents any bitterness from forming, so it is best to wait to add your flowers once the syrup has cooled completely. 

Spring Lilac Lemonade

Looking to add a touch of whimsy to your summer drink lineup? This unique and refreshing lilac lemonade is a floral spin on traditional lemonade, with a gentle touch of sweet spring in every sip.

   INGREDIENTS:   

• a few sprigs of fresh lilac flowers (make sure they are pesticide-free!)
• 2-3 lemons
• 1/2 cup of organic cane sugar (or granulated sugar)
• 2-3 cups of water
• ice 

   RECIPE:   

1. Start by making the simple syrup: combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup of your water in to a saucepan over low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved. Be sure to monitor and stir regularly. Depending on how sweet you like your lemonade, you can always add more or less sugar. Let it cool completely in the fridge.
2. In a pitcher, squeeze the juice of several lemons. For a tarter lemonade, try 3 lemons. You can always adjust the tartness by adding more water later.
3. Add the cooled simple syrup and remaining water to the pitcher and stir well.
4. Pluck each lilac flower from the stem, leaving behind any green bits and rinse them thoroughly. Add your lilac flowers directly to the pitcher. 
5. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for a few hours to allow the flavours to meld together. I would recommend tasting the lemonade every now and then to check on the flavour. Adjust according to your liking if needed! Feel free to strain the lilac flowers out if desired taste is achieved, or leave them in if you are ready to serve - they are beautiful + edible!
6. When you're ready to serve, pour the lilac lemonade over ice and garnish with a few slices of fresh lemon, more lilac flowers or even a few sprigs of mint!

TIP: I love garnishing the glass with a lemon slice, and pre-freezing some ice cubes with lilac flowers. This adds an elegant touch to your drink!

   A FEW OTHER WAYS TO USE THESE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS   

Looking to explore a few other ways to take advantage of the short, but beautiful lilac season? Aside from snipping a few branches to bring inside for a pop of fragrance and scent, try using these flowers:

• Sprinkled in a bath for a relaxing soak
• Make a quick tea with the flowers to use as a hair rinse before the shower - lilacs are especially great for oily hair! The same tea can be used as a DIY toner, also wonderful for oily/acne prone complexions
• Try topping your baked goods, cookies + cakes with fresh blossoms
• Check out our LILAC SEASON PINTEREST BOARD for more inspiration. There are so many beautiful recipes + DIY's that you can do to truly soak up all that this beautiful flower has to offer!

   

If you try any of the recipes we shared, be sure to tag us on Tiktok or Instagram at @sarahssoaps, we would love to see your delicious creations!