Simsbury Women Lift Patients' Spirits With Origami Bouquets

Two Simsbury women have found a creative way to lift the spirits of hospital patients who are not allowed to receive fresh-cut flowers due to health risks. Elizabeth Greenberg is co-founder of Simsbury-based Non-Scents, a floral delivery company that makes paper flower bouquets instead of fresh flower arrangements. She runs the company with her mother Mimi Greenberg.

Elizabeth said she said she got the idea to make paper flower arrangements when a friend was diagnosed with thyroid cancer two weeks after his college graduation. “I wanted to send him flowers but was told by the hospital that they weren’t allowed because of potentially harmful allergens and bacteria,” she explained.

Cut flowers pose a health risk to hospital patients by carrying bacteria found in the water that could carry infectious diseases. She still wanted to do something to brighten the day of those who are sick and so the idea for Non-Scents was born.

“Every hospital patient should be able to experience the positive, uplifting effect of flowers in their hospital rooms without worrying if bacteria carrying infectious diseases is going to harm them,” she said.

In addition to bringing cheer through folded paper flower bouquets, Elizabeth and her mother Mimi also help female refugees from Ethiopia, Iran, Sudan and other countries by employing them to help create the arrangements.

Non-Scents provides origami flower arrangements, made completely of paper, that include customized messages inside each flower. Patients can enjoy the vibrant colors and receive personalized well wishes from loved ones while they’re in the hospital.

Non-Scents Flowers are light-weight and can be shipped anywhere. They are long-lasting and require no maintenance. To read more, or to order a bouquet, click here.