The Tussie Mussie, A Small Nosegay Bouquet

The little confection of flowers called a “tussie mussie” was a Victorian favorite.

Victorian Bouquets with a Romantic Message

A small nosegay consisting of fragrant flowers, it often held secret messages which the “language of flowers” might convey. The meaning of the flowers depended on a memorized code popularized by published “Language of Flowers” books, quite popular in Victorian times.

Originating as small bunches of herbs or flowers that ladies of Medieval times may have used to mask the offensive odors common to habits of lax sanitation and hygiene. These tiny arrangements still hold fascination and pleasure for both special occasions and everyday. Tussie mussies make a charming wedding bouquet for bridesmaids or the mother of the bride.

You just might fall in love with these dainty and sweet-smelling flower bouquets.

Tussie Mussie Defined

Is it a fragrant flower bouquet, or a bouquet holder?
It might surprise you to know that both objects are labeled with this term. Over time, the use of the word changed and describes both the ornamental holder and the small fragrant bouquet.

Will it change back to more of its original meaning? Perhaps the wedding of Royals Kate and William holds the answer.

Princess of Wales Royal Example

The Royal Trend

Kate Middleton chose to use the language of flowers and British seasonal flowers for her wedding. Trucking in real trees to create a bower of greenery to create a fairy woodland effect, she did not stint on the floral displays, but her delightful bouquet of flowers was on a much smaller scale (read the report in the Guardian). She chose a more diminutive bouquet for her personal bouquet, more of a tussy mussy or a nosegay, than most of her predecessors in Royal weddings. One that is fresh and sweet not only in aroma, but appearance.

An all-white bouquet:

• Lily-of-the-Valley
• Hyacinth
• Sweet William
• Myrtle

“The myrtle comes from a tree which grew from a cutting of Queen Victoria’s own bridal bouquet myrtle. Since that time, each royal bride has included a sprig from the original plant in her bouquet.”

The press release from the Royal Palace:

“The bouquet is a shield-shaped wired bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth. The bouquet was designed by Shane Connolly and draws on the traditions of flowers of significance for the Royal Family, the Middleton family and on the Language of Flowers”

The photo shows the modest size of the arrangement made with fragrant flowers, all the earmarks of a tussy mussy bouquet.

Wedding Tussie Mussie

History of the Tussie Mussie

How this little, sweet smelling bouquet evolved over time:

The Victorian Tussie Mussie Evolved from Earlier Times

The Victorian tussy-mussy became a circular arrangement of flowers and herbs, traditionally centered with a rose, often surrounded with a lace doily. Miniature silver vases that may be pinned on the clothing became popular, and can be used as boutonnieres today.

At Kew Garden, created in 1759 in England, is a sunken nosegay garden. Ladies and gentleman carried tussy mussies of aromatic leaved plants and sweet flowers during an age, the eighteenth century and previously, when bathing was often infrequent, and street smells could be quite rank. The arrangements could be pressed to their noses in order to mask the the many unpleasant smell of close quarters and public life. Aromatic sage, thyme, mint, rosemary, and artemisia, were used. These are all grown in the nosegay garden.

A traveler of earlier times, circa 1560, described the English practice of a tussle mussie as:

“their nosegays finely intermingled with sundry sorts of fragraunte flowers, in their bed-chambers and privy rooms, with comfortable smell cheered me up, and entirely delighted all my senses.”

Historical Bouquet Timeline

Medieval

A small bunches of fragrant plants and flowers were pressed up to the nose to mask odors, sometimes to fend off illness such as the plague.

Elizabethan

The word itself is first found in the 15th century,reaching further back into the term “tusse” meaning “a cluster of flowers”. Used as an aromatherapy to dispel ill humors, especially “gaol feverthe disease of typhus“.

18th Century

In France little nosegay bouquets were carried in a small metal hand-held vase. Some of those had attached ring chains to carry more easily.

How We Use Tussie Mussies Today

Tussy mussy has become the name of the holder for the bouquet and the traditional wedding flowers carried by the attendants are the interpretation of the much older desire to imbue the air with sweet fragrance. Sometimes the term for tussy mussie is used for miniature arrangements that hark back to the Victorian interpretations including giving secret messages through the choice of the flowers and foliage.

An Elegant Flower Holder

Beautiful nickel bouquet holders for a small and elegant bouquet …like Kate’s.

Williamsburg Inspiration

DIY Instructions, delightfully illustrated

(In a PDF) The directions for making Colonial style tussie mussies couldn’t be easier.

Williamsburg tussy mussy bouquets

“The nosegay, or tussie-mussie, is popular in Williamsburg for weddings and for many other occasions. In colonial days ladies carried tussie-mussies to repel offensive odors or placed them on tables to help freshen a room. A tussie-mussie makes a charming remembrance for a friend, and many can be saved and dried. Tussie-mussies can also serve in place of a more traditional table arrangement. This delightful form can be made with fresh or dried materials, may be large or small, and may be formal or informal.”

Favorite flowers described in an old 1901 article,

Send a message in a dainty flower bouquet

Fragrant Flower Choices

…for a nosegay from long ago.
“Tussy-mussy” was not a colloquial word, a nickname or silly reference; it was found in serious, even in religious, texts. A tussy-mussy was the most beloved of nosegays, and was often made of flowers mingled with sweet-scented leaves.

“My favorite tussy-mussy, if made of flowers, would be of Wood Violet, Cabbage Rose, and Clove Pink. These are all beautiful flowers, but many of our most delightful fragrances do not come from flowers of gay dress ; even these three are not showy flowers ; flowers of bold color and growth are not apt to be sweet-scented ; and all flower perfumes of great distinction, all that are unique, are from blossoms of modest color and bearing. The Calycanthus, called Virginia Allspice, Sweet Shrub, or Strawberry bush, has what I term a perfume of distinction, and its flowers are neither fine in shape, color, nor quality.

I have often tried to define to myself the scent of the Calycanthus blooms ; they have an aromatic fragrance somewhat like the ripest Pineapples of the tropics, but still richer ; how I love to carry them in my hand, crushed and warm, occasionally holding them tight over my mouth and nose to fill myself with their perfume.”

The Romantic Language of Flowers

Learn The Secret Message

Tussie mussie bouquets of the Victorian age implemented the fad of the day, cryptic messages sent with an understanding of the Language of Flowers. Some of those meanings survive today in our common knowledge such as a red rose for romantic love, but some flower meanings may surprise you.

Combining flowers could become an entire message of nuanced thoughts. or personal symbolism.

May Day

The Victorian Messages

Lady Mary Wortley Montague was said to have introduced the Turkish “Secret Language of Flowers” from her stint as the wife of the British Ambassador to Constantinople.

Madame Charlotte de la Tour wrote a popular volume with the same idea that became popular in France.

Modern writers freely mix the old meanings while adding new, contemporary interpretations for desired flower messages.

See More: A complete look at the Language of Flowers.

• Almond flowers — Hope
• Anemone — Forsaken
• Balm — Sympathy
• Basil — Best wishes
• Bay leaf — “I change but in death”
• Bell flower, white — Gratitude
• Bergamot — Irresistible
• Bluebell — Constancy
• Borage — Courage
• Broom — Humility
• Campanula — Gratitude
• Carnation, red — “Alas for my poor heart”
• China rose — Beauty always new
• Chrysanthemum — Love
• Clover, four leaved — “Be mine”
• Convolvulus, major — Extinguished hopes or eternal sleep
• Coreopsis, arkansa — Love at first sight
• Cuckoo pint — Ardour
• Daffodil — Regard
• Daisy — Innocence, new-born, “I share your sentiment”

• Fennel — Flattery
• Fern — Sincerity
• Forget-Me-Not — True love
• Furze or Gorse — Enduring affection
• French Marigold — Jealousy
• Gardenia — Ecstasy
• Gentian — Loveliness
• Geranium — “You are childish”
• Harebell — Grief
• Heartsease — “I am always thinking of you”
• Honeysuckle — Bonds of love
• Heather — Admiration
• Ice Plant — “Your appearance freezes me”
• Ivy — Fidelity, friendship, marriage
• Jasmine — Grace
• Jonquil — “I hope for return of affection”
• Lavender — Luck, devotion
• Lemon Balm — Sympathy
• Lily — Purity, modesty
• Lily of the Valley — Purity, the return of happiness

Love The Meaning of Flowers?

The perfect book for finding out what different flowers and colors mean. Attach a small note to your bouquets to explain to the uninitiated- or let it just be your little secret. Bouquets for many occasions, history and glossary of flower meanings.

• Marigold — Health, grief or despair
• Marjoram — Kindness, courtesy
• Myrtle — Fidelity
• Oregano — Joy
• Pansy — Loving thoughts
• Periwinkle — Happy memory
• Phlox — Agreement
• Poppy, red — Consolation
• Rose, cabbage — Ambassador of love
• Rose, red — Love
• Rose, pink — Grace, beauty
• Rose, yellow — Friendship
• Rosemary — Remembrance, constancy
• Rue — Contrition
• Sage — Gratitude, domestic virtue
• Snowdrop — Hope
• Star of Bethlehem — Purity
• Sweet Pea — Departure, tender memory
• Sweet William — Gallantry
• Tuberose — Voluptuousness
• Tulip, red — Reclamation of love
• Violet — Loyalty, modesty, humility
• Violet, blue — Faithfulness
• Wormwood — Grief
• Wheat — Riches of the continuation of life
• Willow, weeping — Mourning
• Wallflower — Fidelity
• Yew — Sorrow

Try A Floral Themed Victorian Party

Try a Tussie Mussie Tea Party game, linked here.

What Is a Tussie-Mussie?

The meaning of tussy-mussy has changed over the years.
Today, the tussie mussie is defined as “a small circular nosegay of flowers and herbs, tightly gathered and designed to carry a special message in the language of flowers”.

From Victorian times the addition of incorporating a private message through the language of flowers became popular. At that time it was common to send unspoken messages based upon books consulted for the designated meanings. The symbolism is still part of what we think should be the purpose of old fashioned tussie mussies. It is again popular to choose wedding flowers based on those esoteric meanings of so long ago.

Tussie Mussies Today

Today you are more likely to find the tussy-mussy type of bouquet simply called a “nosegay”. If you look for “tussie mussie” in a google search you are likely to be directed to the holder for the tiny bouquet, not the flower arrangement itself.

These small, cone shaped holders may be silver or paper, or a number of materials. They may be modern versions or genuine antiques. Originally, though, the term related to the flower bouquets tucked inside the holders.

Floral Bouquets as Christmas Decorations

Paper cones made of patterned papers and brightly decorated with gewgaws can be filled with dried flowers or candy.

OR

Make herbal tussy mussy bouquets to decorate your tree.

Making a Christmas Cone

It really couldn’t be easier. Simply roll decorative paper into a cone shape and secure with staples, glue, or tape. Fill with flowers.

Your favorite idea for a Tussy Mussy – Do tell!

Which idea intrigues you the most?

• A May Day miniature bouquet hung on the bedroom door knob
• A cone of dried Christmas flowers to hang as a Holiday decoration
• A Mother of the Bride Bouquet
• Flower Girl bouquets
• Bridemaids bouquets
• A special thank you bouquet
• A little nosegay for my own desk or bedside table

Easy Directions to make Tussie-Mussie Bouquets

All the flower meanings in the example bouquet are discussed, along with step by step demonstration. Great bouquet idea for members of the wedding party, especially for the mother of the bride.

Use small flowers and sprigs to keep the entire bouquet quite small.

Directions for making your own tussie mussie:

•  Choose the center flower for your main message, roses are traditional.
•  Surround with three stems of an herb or foliage choice.
•  Choose a small filler flower with the meaning of your choice, 5 stems surrounding the second layer.
•  Surround with five stems of your final choice of foliage or flowers.
•  Wrap tightly with florist tape.
•  Use a small vase of water, or wrap tightly with wide satin ribbon completely covering stems bottom and to top.
•  A nice touch is to cut an opening in a round paper doily and frame the entire bouquet.

Easy and Simple Bouquet Idea

Use snippets of flowers and foliage From larger bouquets.

Make tussie mussies for someone special (or your own bedside table!) with little sprigs and blossoms that you didn’t need for a larger table bouquet.

It really is that simple to create adorable little bouquets that lighten your heart through your senses.

Surround your tussy mussy with a delicate doily, beaded holder, or frill of chiffon for dainty mother of the bride bouquet .

Find Out More About Victorian Tussy-Mussy Nosegays

– How-to And More Wedding Ideas

“Small bouquets, such as empire bouquets or tussie mussies, are great for moms who feel too young to wear a corsage. They are equally attractive to moms who know they will be nervous and could use a little something to hold onto and play with during the ceremony. Think of it as an extravagant stress ball. Best of all, a bouquet solves the old problem of “What do I do with my hands during the wedding pictures.”

“Making a Romantic Tussie Mussie” Video