The Yellowstone Collection

Old Faithful is quintessential Yellowstone. At Old Faithful, there are primal, magical events occuring: Bison own the geyser basin, and geysers go off regularly every day, sometimes spontaneously. In the spring, you can get glimpses of grizzly bears strolling the geyser basins looking for winter kill and wolves passing through. It is a place where anything can happen, where you can at any moment, if you are observant, glimpse a bit of nature that you would otherwise never see.

Old Faithful has a wide range of flora. An abundance of Sagebrush, Blue Lupine, Buckwheat; and gorgeous early season blooms of Larkspur (Delphinium nuttalianum), Monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus & Mimulus nanus), Steershead (Dicentra), Sierra uniflora sanicula graveolans, Lomatium triternatum (Biscuitroot). Old Faithful is another area of the park known for early season blooms thanks to the thermal features warming the ground. In addition to the amazing terrestrial plants, the Firehole River is a major feature contributing to Old Faithful so the smell of water is always permeating the air. In the river grows an aquatic hybrid only found in that river and in one other place in the world: a non-thermal water in Michigan! The aquatic hybrid has no scent of course but they add to the allure of the area being iconic for “primal moments you can only see here."

We now arrive at Lake Yellowstone, which is at the heart of the Park. Shrubby Goldenweed is specific to higher elevations and areas around Lake Yellowstone. The smell is similar to another common species found in the park, Curly Cup Gumweed, and it is one of the unsung heroes of the native plant community. Shrubby Goldenweed is able to compete with nonnative (invasive) species, and has held on well in the park, growing cheek and jowl with Knapweed. Curly Cup Gumweed is also prevalent in Mammoth, away from the large geothermal features, and in the open range towards Tower Fall. Silky Crazy Weed and Mountain Forget-me-Not are specific to high elevations above nine thousand feet, found in these high elevation areas near Lake, Canyon and Tower.

The Lake is known for Sand Verbena which is a type of Verbena that does not grow anywhere else in the world. It is threatened by a range of issues that are putting this rare species at risk of extinction. Yellowstone Lake is an incredibly large body of water in the interior of the park, and a major destination for visitors in the Summer months. There are lots of grizzly bears in the region around the Lake chomping on native plants including Camas, Yampah, and Sedges. Due to its interior location and high elevation, it’s generally cooler and feels very alpine with mountain fresh air and undertones of water. There’s always a breeze—it’s where you go to cool off on really hot days. 

Mammoth is known best for its spectacular Terraced Thermal features of course. Besides the thermal sulfur smell, there is a beautiful fresh water smell in the region and a scent of hay grass in the summer. Even though it is farther north, the flora in Mammoth generally bloom early since it is the first part in the park to lose snow.

Flora in Mammoth is characterized by gorgeous Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) blooms in June. Early in the season, Desert Primrose (Oenothera cespitosa) blooms at night and is so very fragrant to attract the night pollinators. Similarly, Evening Star (Mentzelia decapetala) blooms around Mammoth at night and is very floral. Those plants are not really found in other places at the park. Of course there is lots of sagebrush in Mammoth and later on in the season, it tends to feel really hot, especially walking around the terraces, and you start to really relish the cool evenings. The terraces have beautiful blooms of Larkspur (Delphinium nuttalianum).

To complete the research project, Caswell-Massey looked to Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, to coordinate the team's work with the help of official botanists of Yellowstone National Park. “This partnership is a great example of corporate stewardship and research that will strengthen education and preservation efforts in Yellowstone for years to come,” said Yellowstone Forever President & CEO Heather White. “We’re delighted that this unique new collection of products will introduce many people to this wonderful park and help share the treasures found within it.” 

After our initial expedition, we spoke with Heidi Anderson, the Yellowstone Park Botanist, to reflect on some of the botanical species at Yellowstone, and the meaning of these collections of florals to her, in her experience at the Park. The species in her descriptions are just a few of the species included in the blended fragrance formulations.

Caswell-Massey is proud to support Yellowstone Forever in celebrating the flowers and fauna that are part of the unique heritage of Yellowstone National Park through our Yellowstone Collection. Purchase of these products supports Yellowstone Forever’s mission of engagement and support through education and fundraising for the park, to ensure Yellowstone remains an incredible resource for generations to come.