I remember spending more than an hour in a Devonshire woodland in the pouring rain a long time ago being taught all about the medicinal properties of Tutsan. The plant has scientifically proven anti-septic properties and we were shown how to place the leaves on medium-sized flesh wounds to help prevent infection and speed up the healing process.I have since learned that the name “Tutsan” actually derives from the days of the Norman invasion and the French word Tutsaine (Tout-saine in modern French) meaning “all-wholesome” or “all-healthy”.I don’t recommend that any of you try to use it in this way however….In fact, I’d stick to a dab or two of germaline ointment and a band-aid if I were you just to be on the safe side!My Gran used to thoroughly dry the fresh, odourless leaves of Tutsan and this would eventually cause them to emit a faint smell of ambergris (the very expensive scent-base chemical otherwise only found in the intestines of Sperm Whales….a fact not always mentioned on certain perfume label bottles, but still used by one or two manufacturers today….at least for as long as their long-term stocks last)!Ambergris was always much sought after (much to the detriment of the magnificent Sperm Whale) because it continues to give off its pleasant smell for many years, but the same degree of odour-longevity also applies to the dried leaves of Tutsan….Mmm, if only the perfume manufacturers had talked tomy Gran all those decades ago!