Perfume Begins in the Soil: A Biodynamic Method to Grow Healthier, Happier Plants

What if protecting your roses from aphids was about rhythm, not remedies? Biodynamics offers a gentle, potent alternative — and if you read to the end, there are free printable guides waiting for you.

Preface: A Natural Perfumery Perspective

For natural perfumers, our work begins not in the bottle, but in the soil. Whether we grow our own roses or source our lavender from a trusted distiller, the quality, vitality, and integrity of our materials come directly from the earth. In an age when even the "natural" label is becoming diluted, many of us are looking for ways to engage more deeply with how our ingredients are grown—ethically, sustainably, and in harmony with nature.

Biodynamic gardening offers one such path. It isn’t simply a technique, but a worldview—one that treats plants as living beings in dialogue with the cosmos, and the garden as a self-sustaining organism. For natural perfumers who grow aromatic plants or medicinal herbs, biodynamic principles can provide practical methods for cultivating vibrant, resilient botanicals without relying on chemical sprays or monoculture methods that exhaust the land.

Take something as simple as aphids on your roses. In conventional gardening, you'd reach for a pesticide or a neem spray. But in biodynamics, you might reach for your hoe at dawn. The idea is that, by lightly disturbing the soil around a plant during the Earth’s natural “out-breath”—that rising energy of the morning—you can help the plant restore balance and push out the infestation. This morning hoeing method, once learned from an old biodynamics book and confirmed by experience, may seem too subtle to be real. But when tried with care and consistency, it works.

Likewise, rather than planting rows of the same crop (which often invites disease and pests), biodynamics encourages plant diversity. For a small-batch perfumer growing their own materials, this might look like planting marigolds near roses to deter aphids, or adding sweet alyssum to draw in pollinators and predatory insects. These practices aren't just good for the plants—they're good for the soil, the insects, the perfume, and the planet.

This report explores one lesser-known technique from the biodynamic tradition—the practice of morning soil cultivation to reduce pest pressure—and places it in the broader context of biodynamic plant rhythms, soil vitality, and ecological balance. We've included both traditional insights from Rudolf Steiner and modern scientific perspectives, so that artisan growers and distillers can make informed, intuitive choices.

For natural perfumers who long to be in right relationship with the land, this is more than gardening—it’s stewardship. Every petal we distil, every leaf we tincture, carries the story of how it was grown. Let that story be one of wisdom, reverence, and care.

Daily Rhythms in Biodynamic Gardening (Steiner’s Theory)

Biodynamic agriculture, founded by Rudolf Steiner in 1924, views the farm as a living organism influenced by cosmic and earthly rhythms. One key concept is the daily “breathing” rhythm of the Earth: in the morning hours the Earth “breathes out,” sending energies upward, while after noon it “breathes in,” drawing forces back down. In practical terms, this means sap flow and life forces in plants rise during the morning and peak around midday, then ebb in the afternoon and evening as forces return to the soil. Steiner and subsequent biodynamic practitioners believe these daily energy cycles affect plant growth, pest activity, and the efficacy of garden work. For example, morning’s outward, expansive energy is thought to favor leaf and blossom growth, whereas afternoon’s inward energy favors root processes.

Steiner taught that plants connect the cosmic and earthly realms – their roots draw in earth forces and their leaves/flowers receive cosmic (sunlight, astral) forces. An imbalance in these forces can invite pests. In one lecture, Steiner described how a root pest (nematode) infestation occurs when cosmic “above-ground” forces get pulled too far into the soil, creating conditions that allow the pest to thrive. This reflects a core biodynamic idea: pests and diseases are often symptoms of an energetic or ecological imbalance. Rather than seeing pests as mere enemies to kill, biodynamics asks “Why is this pest here? What imbalance is it signaling?”. A healthy plant in a balanced environment will be much less attractive to pests. Steiner’s approach to pest control, therefore, included restoring balance via timing, soil health, and even “cosmic” remedies. He famously suggested “peppering” – burning the pest or weed pests’ remains at certain astrological times to disperse repellent forces – but also gave more straightforward advice for working with natural rhythms.

The Morning Cultivation Technique for Pest Reduction

One practical recommendation that arises from these principles is cultivating or hoeing the soil around plants in the morning to combat pests. Gardeners (like myself) have observed that lightly hoeing the top half-inch to inch of soil around an infested plant early in the day can cause pest problems to diminish. The idea is to disturb the pests’ habitat at the optimal time, leveraging the morning “out-breath” of the Earth. Here’s how to try this method:

• Choose the early morning: Plan to cultivate the soil before noon, ideally in the cool of morning (when dew is drying). This is when upward-rising forces are strongest and many pests are exposed or sluggish. Biodynamic growers note “a lift in energy in the morning, which subsides past midday” – you want to act during that lift.

• Gently loosen the topsoil: Using a hoe, hand cultivator, or similar tool, scrape or loosen the top 1–2 cm of soil around the base of the plant. You don’t need to dig deeply – in fact, avoid major root disturbance. The goal is to create a fine “dust mulch” by breaking up the crust of the soil. This exposes insect pests hiding at the soil surface and disrupts their life cycle or movement. Any eggs, larvae, or resting adults near the surface may be unearthed for predators to eat or desiccated by the sun. (Example: Slugs, earwigs, and some insect larvae often shelter just under the soil; a morning tilling can expose them to birds.)

• Do this for a few consecutive mornings: Consistency is key. In my anecdote, a weak rosebush covered in greenfly was lightly hoed around each morning for two days – by the third day, the aphids had vanished and the rose began to recover. The cultivation likely dislodged aphids or their ant protectors and made the environment unfavourable for re-infestation. Repeating the morning cultivation for several days ensures you catch pests that might emerge or relocate.

• Leverage nature’s helpers: The morning timing coincides with peak activity of many natural predators. Birds are active at dawn (“the early bird catches the worm” has truth!) and will happily gobble up insects and larvae you’ve unearthed. Even chickens in a farm setting, if allowed to forage, will scratch up and eat pests from freshly hoed soil. Likewise, beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings become active in morning light and can prey on exposed aphids. By hoeing at this time, you’re essentially “serving breakfast” to pest predators in your garden.

• Harness environmental effects: Morning cultivation also changes the micro-environment around the plant in ways that deter pests. Breaking up the soil in morning aerates and dries the surface faster. This can thwart slugs, snails and fungus gnats which thrive in moist, compact areas. Biodynamic advisors note that hoeing in the morning helps release excess moisture, preventing the damp conditions that favour slugs and disease. Later in the day (when the earth “breathes in”), you would not want to hoe dry soil since that would draw up moisture and could actually help pests – which is why this technique “only works if you do it in the morning,” as I learned. In biodynamic terms, you are working with the descending-drying morning forces and avoiding the ascending-moistening evening forces.

• Watch for ant-aphid relationships: If aphids (greenfly) are the issue, check for ants farming them. Ants often protect aphid colonies and ferry them to new plants in exchange for sugary honeydew. Lightly hoeing around the stem can disrupt ant trails and nests at the base of the plant, severing the symbiosis. Without ant bodyguards, aphids are more vulnerable to predators and may also lose the ability to easily return if knocked off the plant. This is another reason the technique of circling the plant with a hoe works – it’s effectively creating a moat that cuts off ground-based reinforcements or refuge.

By late morning and afternoon, after you’ve hoed, the conditions will turn less hospitable for the pests. The sun dries the turned soil, preventing pests from burrowing back down once the Earth’s forces begin to pull inward after noon (as biodynamics suggests). The pests that fell off or were exposed can’t easily regroup – many will die from exposure or predation. In essence, the morning cultivation “flushes out” the pests during a part of the daily cycle when they struggle to hide. And because the plant’s own energies are rising at that time, it may better resist or “push out” the infestation as well. Steiner indicated that pest insects cannot thrive if the plant’s intrinsic forces are strong and directed properly; morning hoeing may assist the plant in shifting its forces and shaking off the attackers.

Broader Biodynamic Practices for Pests

The shallow hoeing trick is one practical, low-tech measure that aligns with biodynamic principles, but it works best in combination with overall good gardening practices. Biodynamics advocates a holistic approach to pest and disease management: build a healthy soil, use crop rotations and companion plants, and time your activities by natural rhythms. Here are a few broader recommendations, both traditional and modern, to complement the morning cultivation method:

• Improve Soil & Plant Health: Ultimately, vigorous plants in living soil are the best defence. Use well-matured compost and organic matter to “feed the soil” (not just the plant), as healthy soil biome helps plants resist pests. Avoid over-fertilising with quick nitrogen, which can create the kind of lush, soft growth that aphids love. Biodynamic growers apply special compost preparations (e.g. yarrow, nettle, chamomile additives) to enhance soil life and vitality, resulting in crops that are naturally more pest-resistant. Modern studies confirm that plants grown in healthy, biologically active soil have stronger immune responses and fewer pest issues.

• Use Biodynamic Timing & Sprays: Biodynamic calendars (such as those by Maria Thun) offer guidance on which days and times are best for certain tasks (root days, flower days, etc.). For example, harvesting or pruning during descending (afternoon or waning moon) rhythms is thought to reduce pest and disease susceptibility, while sowing and transplanting in ascending phases (morning or waxing moon) gives more vigorous growth. Biodynamic farmers also use specific herbal sprays: Horn manure (BD 500) is sprayed on soil in late afternoon or evening to enhance soil forces, and Horn silica (BD 501) is sprayed at sunrise to strengthen plants’ interaction with light and make leaves unappetising to pests. Notably, spraying BD 501 at certain optimal cosmic times has been found to help plants resist fungal diseases and insect attacks by boosting their vitality. For fungal issues like mildews, biodynamic advice often says to spray field horsetail tea (Equisetum, BD 508) during a waning moon or in the cool evening, and then horn silica in the early morning, balancing the forces of moisture and light to cure the disease. All these practices hinge on timing – doing the right thing at the right time of day or lunar cycle so nature’s rhythms amplify your effort.

• Companion Planting and Biodiversity: Rather than mono-cropping, biodynamics encourages plant diversity and companion plants to ward off pests. Certain flowers or herbs can repel pests or attract predators. For example, planting nasturtiums as a trap crop can lure aphids away from roses, and sweet alyssum or dill can attract ladybugs and hover-flies that devour aphids. Marigolds in vegetable beds confuse and deter soil nematodes and some insects. A biodynamic garden often has hedgerows, insectary strips, or even animal habitats (like birdhouses, bat boxes) to keep the ecological balance such that no one pest runs rampant. The presence of birds, ladybirds, spiders, and parasitic wasps – “farm allies” – is actively fostered. This way, if a few pests appear, their natural enemies are already present to keep them in check. Biodynamics sees pest outbreaks as a sign of imbalance in this web of life, so the solution is to increase biodiversity and harmony, not just kill bugs in isolation.

• Modern Organic Aids (used mindfully): While traditional biodynamics shies away from synthetic chemicals, modern organic science offers some gentle remedies that align with biodynamic ideals. For instance, neem oil sprays (derived from the neem tree) can be applied in the early morning against aphids or mites – morning is recommended so the spray can dry before beneficial pollinators become active, and UV light is not yet intense enough to break it down. Similarly, insecticidal soap or diluted garlic/pepper sprays are best used at dawn or dusk to avoid burning the plants and targeting the pests when they are feeding. If you choose to spray an organic treatment, doing so in the morning dovetails with the biodynamic principle of morning as a time of outward activity (the plant’s pores are open, and pests are present and vulnerable). Note: Always use organic treatments sparingly and only when needed – the goal is to support the plant’s own strength, not create dependency. The success of the rosebush hoeing method illustrates that sometimes physical and energetic interventions can replace chemical ones entirely.

Harvest Timing for Maximum Fragrance

Just as biodynamic principles emphasise doing the right task at the right time of day, the timing of harvest is crucial for capturing the strongest fragrance and highest essential oil content in aromatic plants. Biodynamic growers often align harvests with the Earth’s daily “breathing” rhythm: in the morning, a plant’s life forces and saps are said to flow upward into leaves and flowers, while by afternoon they recede downward to the roots. In practical terms, this means that harvesting perfumery materials in the early morning (during the Earth’s energetic “out-breath”) can yield more potent aroma, whereas waiting until the heat of the day may result in some of the precious volatiles being lost or withdrawn back into the plant.

Many artisan perfumers and farmers therefore start their harvest at dawn. For example, roses destined for rose oil or absolutes are traditionally plucked at sunrise, when the blooms are half-open and richest in fragrance. Rose petals picked too late in the day lose aroma as the sun evaporates their volatile oils – hence the age-old practice of collecting rose blossoms before the sun shines too brightly and steals away the “precious oil”. Likewise, lavender farmers often cut lavender in the cool morning hours (before ~10 A.M.) for maximal oil content, since heat causes the plants to dissipate their essential oils into the air. A lavender stem harvested early will yield more fragrance than one snipped in late afternoon, all else being equal. Experienced herb growers also note that plants are less water-stressed and more aromatic in morning; dew has dried off but the sun is not yet harsh, creating ideal conditions to conserve the plant’s aromatic compounds during harvest.

Some night-blooming flowers flip the script and call for even more unusual timing. Jasmine is a famous case – the most potent jasmine perfume comes from flowers gathered in darkness. The white jasmine blossoms open at night and are harvested when their scent is strongest, often in pre-dawn hours. In Grasse and other perfume regions, jasmine pickers commonly start at or before first light, seizing the moment when the air is cool and the flower’s seductive, indolic aroma is at its peak. Another example is tuberose, a nocturnal bloomer that fills the night air with sweetness. Tuberose flowers actually emit the most fragrance by early morning after opening. Growers therefore rush to pick tuberose at daybreak – as early as possible after sunrise – because that’s when the blossoms contain the highest oil and moisture content (the key to their heady scent). If harvested later in the day, tuberose petals will have already started to dry out and their fragrance will fade. These examples show how attuning to a plant’s own rhythm – whether it blooms by night or by day – lets us catch the “perfume moment” when aroma is most concentrated.

Even exotic tropical flowers follow this principle. Ylang-ylang, the famed “flower of flowers,” offers a dramatic illustration of daily oil cycles. Growers in Comoros and Madagascar have observed that ylang-ylang trees produce the most scent and oil in their blossoms at night, with fragrance waning by afternoon. In fact, analytical measurements of ylang-ylang show the nectar-like essential oil flooding into the petals in the cool of night, then retreating into the tree’s branches during hot daytime hours. To capture ylang-ylang’s full aroma, the optimal picking window is often cited as midnight to early morning. In practice, because midnight harvests are difficult, distillers typically begin at dawn and conclude by mid-morning (around 10 A.M.), before any significant oil loss occurs. Perfumers note that ylang-ylang flowers sniffed in the afternoon smell noticeably less intense – a result of the tree “hiding” its oil from the harsh sun, only to release it again after dusk. This remarkable daily dance of oils reinforces why timing matters: missing the window means a less fragrant harvest. As one expert puts it, knowing “the best time of day to pick the leaves or flowers” is key to obtaining the finest quality oil.

From a biodynamic perspective, these timing strategies are more than just practical measures – they’re a way to work with the plant’s natural energies. Rudolf Steiner advised that a plant’s aroma and healing properties are strongest when the cosmic and earthly forces are in proper balance in the plant. By harvesting aromatic flowers during the morning “out-breath” of the Earth, we gather them at the moment of maximum cosmic inflow (sunlight, warmth, ethers) when the plant’s essence is most outwardly expressed. Conversely, roots and subterranean parts (like vetiver roots or angelica roots used in perfumery) are best dug in late afternoon or evening, when the Earth “breathes in” and draws energy downward – an approach long used by herbalists collecting medicinal roots. This alignment can enhance not only yield but also the quality and longevity of the scent. Gardeners following Maria Thun’s biodynamic calendar even fine-tune harvests by lunar phase and constellation: for instance, picking aromatic flowers on a “flower day” or around the full moon is thought to amplify fragrance and vitality. At the Inn at Moonlight Beach (a biodynamic garden), all flowers are harvested in early morning on new or full moon days, based on the idea that lunar gravitational forces and sap flow are in an ideal state then. While scientific data on moon phases and aroma is scant, these traditional practices reflect an attentiveness to natural rhythms that often correlates with high-quality results.

Modern science is beginning to validate some aspects of harvest timing. Studies of essential oil plants show that oil composition and quantity do fluctuate over the course of a day. One detailed 2019 study on lavender measured oil content at eight different times in 24 hours. It found that total oil yield peaked in mid-afternoon (around 3:00 P.M.), but interestingly, the quality and makeup of that oil varied with timing. For instance, linalool – a key aromatic component – was highest in lavender flowers harvested at night (around 3:00 A.M.), whereas more camphor (a less desirable note in fine perfumery) appeared in morning-harvested samples. This suggests that an optimal harvest time might depend on which fragrance characteristics one prioritises. In many cases, early morning strikes the best balance: you obtain plenty of oil and a desirable scent profile before heat and sun alter the chemistry. Moreover, other experiments have confirmed that prolonged sun exposure can reduce volatile oil content in herbs (supporting the common wisdom to harvest before noon). And as mentioned earlier, plants often have built-in circadian rhythms for aroma emission – jasmine’s nocturnal perfume or ylang-ylang’s nighttime oil surge – which line up with when pollinators are active or when evaporation risk is lowest. By observing these patterns, a farmer-distiller can choose a harvest schedule that naturally yields the richest scent.

In practical terms for the small-scale perfumer, the recommendation is to harvest aromatic plants when their scent is strongest to your own nose – typically morning for most flowers and herbs, or late evening for certain night bloomers – and to process them immediately if possible. The longer cut plant material sits, the more aroma will dissipate or degrade, so timing the distillation or extraction on the same day as harvest is ideal. This is why rose and jasmine harvests in places like Grasse or Kannauj finish by mid-morning, with blossoms promptly sent to the still or enfleurage trays. For an artisan working with a garden of perfumery plants, it’s wise to pay attention to the daily and even lunar cues: morning harvests when the plant feels vibrant and aromatic will typically give superior fragrance extractions than later in the day. As one biodynamic herb grower muses, it’s about “consciously working with planetary rhythms” and the plant’s own cycle to capture its essence at its peak. By aligning harvest timing with nature’s clock, natural perfumers can ensure that every petal and leaf they collect carries the fullest measure of aroma – the very soul of the plant – into the bottle. In the end, knowing when to harvest is as important as knowing how, and it deepens the connection between the grower and the fragrant gifts of the Earth.

Modern Scientific Perspectives

Although the language of “energies” and “cosmic influence” sounds esoteric, modern science is finding intriguing parallels to some biodynamic practices. Research into plant circadian rhythms has revealed that plants indeed have internal clocks that regulate their growth and defence cycles over a 24-hour period. For example, a 2012 Rice University study showed that plants ramp up their anti-insect defences in anticipation of morning/daytime attack. They found Arabidopsis thaliana produces more jasmonate (an insect-deterring hormone) during the day when herbivorous insects are most active, effectively “arming up” before pests feed. This suggests that a plant is naturally at high alert in the morning, which could make pest control methods more effective at that time. If you cultivate the soil or knock pests off in the morning, you’re syncing with the plant’s own defence peak. By contrast, at night many plants dial down certain defences, so intervening then (aside from hand-picking nocturnal pests like slugs) might be less impactful.

The behaviour of pests is also diurnal. Many sap-sucking insects like aphids are less mobile in cool early hours, making them easier to knock off or collect. Birds and predatory insects follow daily cycles as well – birds feed most actively at dawn, and beneficial insects like parasitoid wasps often navigate by daytime cues. All of this supports the biodynamic notion that timing matters. Even without invoking astrology, a gardener can appreciate that working with natural daily rhythms yields benefits: you water when the sun won’t scald leaves, you weed or hoe in the morning so uprooted weeds dry out (and, as we saw, exposed pests desiccate or get eaten), and you harvest at times that preserve flavour. In fact, conventional gardening guides echo some of these tips – e.g. weed in the morning on a dry day so the weeds die on the surface, or apply foliar feed in early morning when stomata are open. Biodynamics integrates these practical insights into a larger framework of “working in harmony with nature’s cycles.”

It’s worth noting that rigorous scientific trials on specific biodynamic claims (like planting by moon phase or astrological signs) have had mixed results. However, the overall outcomes of biodynamic farming – such as improved soil structure, higher soil microbial diversity, and resilience to pests – have been documented. Studies have found biodynamic compost and field sprays can enhance soil biology and even plant metabolic profiles. Many of Steiner’s original ideas (peppering pests under certain constellations, for instance) remain controversial and not scientifically validated. Yet, the success of biodynamic growers around the world suggests that paying close attention to soil health, biodiversity, and natural timing does lead to healthier plants that suffer fewer pest and disease issues. Modern ecological science wholeheartedly agrees with that approach, even if it uses different terminology.

In summary, the morning hoeing method to combat pests is an excellent example of biodynamic principles in action: it’s practical, chemical-free, timing-conscious, and holistic. You’re not poisoning the aphids or blasting the plant with fertiliser; you’re gently tweaking the environment at just the right moment so that the plant and its allies can restore balance. This method costs nothing but a bit of morning time and attentiveness, yet it can yield impressive results – as seen in the anecdotal rosebush that went from “a weak stick covered in greenfly” to a healthy, budding plant in a matter of days. By combining such traditional wisdom with broader biodynamic theory and insights from modern science, gardeners can develop an intuitive yet informed feel for working with nature. Rudolf Steiner’s ultimate message was that farming (and gardening) is not just a set of mechanical tasks but a “conversation with the forces of life.” Approaching pest control in this spirit – observing patterns of time and energy, intervening with respect for the whole ecosystem – can lead to sustainable solutions that benefit the garden in the long run. As one biodynamic maxim says: “Feed the soil, and the soil feeds the plants.” A balanced, vibrant garden will have far fewer pest problems to begin with – and when issues do arise, a bit of clever morning hoeing might just do the trick!

Still with me? You’ve earned it. Grab your free downloads: guides to Zodiac Signs & Day Types and Moon Phases and Energy Flows— all through the lens of artisan perfumery. TIP: edit them right there in your browser if you need to make notes

In the spirit of slow perfume and deep roots,
~ Ruth Ruane

Curious about studying natural perfumery in more depth? You’ll find our courses here:
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References

• Biodynamic principles of daily rhythms (Earth’s “breathing” in morning vs. afternoon) and their practical use in gardening.

• Steiner’s view on pests as imbalance indicators and working holistically with nature to restore balance.

• Practical tips from biodynamic gardeners: e.g. hoeing soil in the morning to dry it and disrupt slugs/soil pests.

• Modern study showing plants’ circadian defense (increased daytime pest resistance via jasmonate).

• Biodynamic preparation timing (horn silica at sunrise for strengthening plants, etc.) and its effect on pest resistance.

• General biodynamic and organic pest management practices emphasising prevention, biodiversity, and timing.

• Traditional harvesting timing for roses, lavender, and other aromatics based on time of day and plant vitality.

• Night-harvesting practices for jasmine and tuberose to capture peak fragrance and oil yield.

• Ylang-ylang’s nocturnal oil production cycle and its impact on harvesting schedules in tropical climates.

• Biodynamic guidance on harvesting above-ground vs. below-ground parts based on rising and falling Earth energies.

• Use of lunar phases and flower/root/leaf/fruit days in biodynamic calendars for optimal harvest timing.

• Scientific studies showing variation in essential oil content and composition throughout the day.

• Artisan perfumery practices that favour early-morning harvesting to preserve delicate volatile compounds.

• The importance of immediate processing post-harvest (e.g. distillation, enfleurage) to retain full aromatic profile.

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