use strict;
use warnings;

# Recursive function to traverse a HoH according to a 
# "dotted" properties path:
sub getprop{
	my ($properties, $path) = @_;

	return $properties unless $path;

	my ($key, @remaining_path) = split /\./, $path;
	return getprop($properties->{$key}, join('.' => @remaining_path));
}

# Define our properties:
my $mylovelydata= {
       'Colour'=>'blue',
        'Entries'=> {
                'Flowers'=>  {
                           'Dahlia'=>{'Smell'=>'nice',},
                           'Rose'=>{'Colour'=>'red'},
                  }
         },
};

# Test the function
for my $flower qw/Dahlia Rose/{
	my $colour = getprop($mylovelydata, "Entries.Flowers.$flower.Colour");
	$colour = getprop($mylovelydata, "Entries.Colour") unless defined($colour);
	$colour = getprop($mylovelydata, "Colour") unless defined($colour);

	print "A ${flower}'s color is: $colour\n";
}
__END__
A Dahlia's color is: blue
A Rose's color is: red