Origins
Since Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies and claimed them for Spain in 1492, the Spaniards and later the Danes, Dutch, English and French gained great wealth from sugar and tobacco grown in the West Indies and took delight in the native exotic fruits, plants and also spices for their unusual fragrances. The delicate, but powerful fragrance emitted from the leaves, flowers and citrus fruits encouraged their use in a variety of infusions and soon became popular in the Royal Courts of Europe and England.
