Aromatic twig

[Tiempo]

Out trail riding a couple of weeks ago, my friend in front of me reached out, snapped off a twig and said, "I love how this smells"

She handed it back to me and it does smell lovely.. I'd love to know what it is?

However, the leaves are all gone and it will (obviously) be a while before they are back.

All I can say is that it grows at least human on horseback height (), at the edge of the woods on the trail, and Jan said she noticed the twigs turn paler in the fall.

The aroma was somewhat lemony.

Any ideas?

I still have the twig and can take a picture if you like, but it looks like...a twig

PS.. this is in Waterloo State Park, Michigan.

[Danaus29]

Off hand I would say most likely spicebush. But, yes, a picture of the twig would be good, if you can get a close-up of the leaf scar and bud.

[EDDIE BUCK]

My guess, Waxmyrtle http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOCE2

[Tiempo]

Originally Posted by EDDIE BUCK

My guess, Waxmyrtle http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOCE2

We're too far north for that Eddie. I'll take a picture of it today, but it doesn't look like much!

[mammabooh]

Could it be sasafrass?

[Wildcrofthollow]

My guess would be spicebush as well. "lemony" would be a fair description of the scent. Spicebush tends to grow near water, like in hollows or near streams or rivers. It is usually fairly gregarious (there will be more than one). Spicebush is fairly nondescript it is usually multiple stemmed, and human on a horse high is about as big as it usually gets. It makes a very nice tea, made with the twigs. to make the tea, gather a handful of twigs and add to hot (boil the water then take off the heat) water. takes about a half hour to steep. then strain out the twigs and warm up the tea (don't boil). I usually don't have to add sugar or honey but you may if you wish. I like this best as a cold tea (iced).
The other possibility is sweet birch, but it has a definitely wintergreen scent.
Sassafras is a possibility (nods to mammabooh) but the twigs and branches are really not anywhere near as aromatic as the roots. I would suspect that one would be unlikely to notice a broken branch.
Anyhoo the scientific name is Lindera benzoin should you want to look it up on the web. Has yellow flowers in early spring.

[IMP]

I would guess sasafrass too.