The Southern Expression of Gratitude
The rich scent of vanilla has been "The Essence of Southern Hospitality" since colonial times. Though vanilla is not native to the American South, Southerners learned of these exotic "pungent pods of pleasure" from their Mexican neighbors to the south. Southerners whole-heartedly embraced the vanilla bean and share their love with the rest of the world through an almost limitless array of vanilla indulgences. Think hand-cranked vanilla ice cream, vanilla-laced Lane Cake, and a savory sideboard of sweets in the grandest, Southern dining rooms.
The scents of vanilla, which originate from wild orchids, range widely from innocent purity to pulsingly sexy. On one extreme the aroma of vanilla can be so intoxicating even that long ago Spanish explorer Cortez reported of how Aztec Emperor Montezuma would drink a mixture of hot chocolate and vanilla prior to visiting his many wives.
For "Thanks Y'all", Southernness’ fragrance and spice research guided us to an elegant yet swoon-inducing beauty associated with the world-class hospitality of the Old South. "Thanks Y'all" is a charming and very Southern way to express one's gratitude.