tussiemusie

Tussiemusie is a term used to describe a small bouquet of scented flowers and herbs that was carried or worn to counteract unpleasant odors and to provide a personal fragrance. The word is used in Dutch and Afrikaans texts to refer to the European nosegay known in English as a tussie-mussie, a fashion and etiquette accessory of early modern Europe.

Construction and contents typically included a compact arrangement of fragrant botanicals such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, rose, myrtle, marjoram, and other aromatic flowers and herbs. The bouquet was usually tied with ribbons and could be carried in the hand, worn tied at the bodice, or placed in a posy holder. The size of tussie-mussies varied, but they were generally small enough to be portable and easily concealed from view.

Symbolism played a role in the selection of plants, reflecting the language of flowers popular at the time. Flowers and herbs were chosen to convey sentiments such as love, fidelity, or friendship, in addition to providing a pleasant scent. Beyond scent, nosegays were also used to mask smells in crowded urban environments and during travel.

Historically, tussie-musie appeared most prominently in the 16th to 18th centuries among European courtiers and polite society. In modern times, the concept persists primarily as a historical artifact, appears in period costumes and reenactments, and survives in Dutch and Afrikaans literature as a name for sachets or decorative nosegays used for scenting garments or rooms.