Humour Your Nose with
The Good Scent (Perfume and Fragrance) and
The Bad Smell (Stink and Stench)
Being eye candies aside, scented orchids impart a bonus sensory dimension to the appreciation of the largest flowering plant family, the diversity of which is also commandingly reflected in the enormous variety of Scents and Smells of orchids, ranging from the ethereally aromatic and intimately sweet-smelling to the needlessly displeasing and even dauntingly putrescent, if not demoralizingly nauseating.
In spite of the subjectivity of sensory perceptions and the diversity of orchid fragrances, there is a high degree of consensus in how orchids smell to the human nose. In addition, there are sociocultural differences in the degree to which the presence and quality of fragrance are considered desirable, admirable or even obligatory in orchids. Such differences can be quite pronounced in certain genera, especially Oriental Cymbidiums, many of which are fragrant orchid competition winners, and are highly prized for their elegant and diffusive aromas, often described as a sophisticated blend of jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and lemons. The cultivation of these fragrant orchids and their exalted elevation in art are symptomatic of the Chinese idea that fragrance is the heart of the flower. Indeed, Confucius referred to Oriental Cymbidiums as the “King of Fragrance” 「王者之香」, a phrase that is still in use today, having withstood the test of time and the rise and fall of dynasties.
The smell and flavour of natural vanilla created by adding or cooking the whole pods, powder or extract from orchids of the genus Vanilla are popular and ubiquitous in myriad foods and culinary dishes. There are at least 171 identified aromatic components in vanilla fruits. Even though no other orchid genus has achieved such global reputation with the odour of its fruit or flower comparable to that of the venerable Vanilla, there are indeed plenty of orchid genera, species and hybrids capable of filling rooms, houses and conservatories with odours containing rich combinations of volatile compounds when they are in flower. Nevertheless, it is still somewhat ironic that the widespread and long-lasting flowers of Phalaenopsis are largely odourless, whereas the specialist and short-lived blooms of Stanhopea are prodigiously fragrant. Hopefully, the renewed interest in breeding orchids specifically for their fragrance as well as the worldwide progress achieved in fragrance classification, competition and judging will result in more perfumed cultivars being available to orchid enthusiasts and the public in the future.
An interactive electronic form is available to anyone wishing to contribute one or more entries to the ✿❀ Scented Orchid Registration with Queensland Orchid International ❀✿, which is a database with two tables containing orchids listed alphabetically across two opposite categories: The Good Scent (Perfume and Fragrance) and The Bad Smell (Stink and Stench).
The Gallery on Page 2 of this post provides exemplary visual documentations of scented orchids. It is a permanent record of excellent or exceptional photos and videos uploaded to the Queensland Orchid International Facebook Group.
This special post features several friendly and witty discussions (entitled “Orchid Fragrances”, “Scent Descriptions” and “Smell like a Flower, Take a Shower”) on the wide-ranging Scents and Smells of orchids.
For those who are more technically minded, this post also outlines the science of scent production in orchids as well as the classification and judging of fragrances, plus some advice from orchidsamore and fragrance variation with orchids, followed by a list of relevant articles available online and a section on reference books.
To access a list of all posts on ✿❀ Queensland Orchid International ❀✿ containing photos, videos and/or discussions of scented orchids, click ✿❀ Scented ❀✿.
✿❀ Scented Orchid Registration with Queensland Orchid International ❀✿
Any Entity, Society, Association, Organization or Company (private or public) substantially dedicated to the cultivation, promotion, exhibition, research, investigation, conservation and/or preservation of the Orchidaceae can supply information on one to three scented orchids using the form below:
If the information submitted via the form above is accurate or appropriate, it will be included in either or both of the two tables below. The URL of a photo or video of any scented orchid may be included in the form for reference. ✿❀ Queensland Orchid International ❀✿ reserves all rights and discretion to include or exclude the supplied information.
Those who are interested in contributing photos or videos can upload them to the Queensland Orchid International Facebook Group.
Excellent or exceptional photos and videos uploaded to the group may be featured in the Gallery on Page 2 of this post to provide exemplary visual documentations of scented orchids.
❀ Science of Scent Production ❀
It is estimated that three quarters of orchids are scented. The scent of an orchid is produced in specialized glands called osmophores. Rich in stored lipids, the glands are characterized by intense physiological activity and biochemical turnover requiring high energy expenditure from the plant, even generating heat in some cases.
All parts of an orchid flower can produce odours, since osmophores can be located anywhere on a flower or bud, from petals and sepals to calluses and basal spurs, depending on function. On the one hand, osmophores may be diffusely located on an orchid flower to offer a general attraction to a pollinator. On the other hand, they can be confined to certain areas of the flower where a pollinator is enticed to remove or deposit pollinia in the process.
The scent of an orchid is most frequently produced on the lip, given that osmophores are most often situated at the hypochile, a rounded (globular), cupped (hood-shaped) or cylindrical structure connected to the rest of the flower and constituting the upper portion of the labellum.
Being volatile, the scented oils produced by orchid flowers can vaporize at specific temperatures, becoming available when pollinators are active. The scent can vary throughout the day both quantitatively and qualitatively as well as from day to day.
The scent release is quite an autonomous process, being strictly a light-controlled phenomenon regulated by a photochrome trigger within the flower. Hence, the inflorescence alone detects the presence or absence of daylight. Since the release is light-sensitive and independent of the orchid’s endogenous clock mechanism, it is also relatively independent of the orchid’s metabolism.
Let it be acknowledged here that the scent description of any orchid species is dependent on not just the subjectivity and variability of the human olfactory faculty as well as sociocultural factors pertaining to the perceiver, but also the variability of the scent resulting from cultural, environmental and/or clonal factors pertaining to the orchid species.
Furthermore, the absence of any floral odour on an orchid does not necessary indicate that the orchid is odourless, given that orchids have evolved with animals much longer than with humans, and that the human nose is limited in its range and sensitivity. In other words, our sense of smell is not specifically designed to detect the osmophores and nectaries present in the epidermis of the sepals and petals of many orchids. Craig Scott-Harden cited one example as follows:
Those who are interested in learning more about Pleurothallis marthae may consult the scientific article entitled “Nocturnal pollination by fungus gnats of the colombian endemic species, Pleurothallis marthae”.
Married couple Simon and Emily of Inspiration Outdoors writing about Wildflowers of the Stirling Ranges: Best Wildflowers in Western Australia also have something witty to say about the “gnatty gritty” of scent lure as follows:
All’s fair in love and war
Honesty is not a desirable trait among many of our orchid friends and sexual deception of all kinds is rife among the 411 known species of Western Australian orchids. It’s not about push-up bras and horrible control briefs though – orchids have taken the seduction game to a whole new level. Here’s how our Bird Orchids (Pterostylis barbata and P.turfosa) do it…
Sex, lies and pheremones
Bird orchids attract their specific pollinator, a tiny gnat, by emitting a scent from a little pouch at the end of their labellum.… Some say it is the scent of the gnat’s favourite food – a delicious fungus which no gnat can resist. Others say the orchid releases a smell that is identical to the sex-attractant scent (or pheremone) that the female gnat releases, attracting virile young male gnats from far and wide.
Whether it’s sex or food that draws the gnat to the Bird Orchid, once it arrives there is little it can do to escape the clutches of the procreation-focused flower.
According to the interview entitled “Ep 6. Perfumery, persistence and parenthood with Anne Gaskett” published at in situ Science “showcasing the stories, discoveries and journeys of Australian scientists”:
Australia is what you call a hotspot for deception … these deceptive orchids are certainly much more common in Australia than other parts of the world. There’s [sic] 11 different genera, several hundred species, and it seems to be the result of six independent evolutions of sexual deception amongst the orchids in Australia, which is extraordinary because people often think of sexual deception as a crazy, quirky phenomenon. How on Earth did that happen? But it’s happened six times independently in Australia, and it’s also happened independently once or twice in Europe, but mostly in Central America and South America. But Australia’s certainly where it happened most.
Specifically, the coevolution of insects (pollinators) and plants (orchids) as well as environmental variations and geographical differences can result in the divergent selection of flowering plants, leadng to phenotypic variations, which include the variation of floral scents. Entitled “Why Do Floral Perfumes Become Different? Region-Specific Selection on Floral Scent in a Terrestrial Orchid”, a 2016 research paper demonstrates that “[g]eographically structured phenotypic selection can lead to adaptive divergence” of an orchid:
In this study, we measured phenotypic selection on display size, floral color, and floral scent in four lowland and four mountain populations of the nectar-rewarding terrestrial orchid Gymnadenia odoratissima in two years. We also quantified population differences in these traits and pollinator community composition. Our results show positive selection on display size and positive, negative, or absence of selection on different scent compounds and floral color. Selection on the main scent compounds was consistently stronger in the lowlands than in the mountains, and lowland plants emitted higher amounts of most of these compounds. Pollinator community composition also differed between regions, suggesting different pollinators select for differences in floral volatiles. Overall, our study is the first to document consistent regional differences in selection on floral scent, suggesting this pattern of selection is one of the evolutionary forces contributing to regional divergence in floral chemical signaling.
- Do Plants and Insects Coevolve? 🥀🐝🌺🦋 (queenslandorchid.wordpress.com)
- Do Plants and Insects Coevolve? 🥀🐝🌺🦋 (soundeagle.wordpress.com)
The Good Scent
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Acampe papillosa — hyacinths Acineta chrysantha — ginger, ginger beer, vanilla Acineta superba — light vanilla Aerangis appendiculata — gardenia Aerangis articulata — jasmine Aerangis biloba — gardenia, lily Aerangis brachycarpa — vanilla, jasmine Aerangis citrata — lemon Aerangis confusa — tuberose, gardenia Aerangis ellisii (syn. platyphylla) — nutmeg Aerangis fastuosa — tuberose, lily, sweet and spicy Aerangis kirkii — tuberose, gardenia Aerangis kotschyana — gardenia Aerangis modesta — minty spice Aerangis mooreana — jasmine Aerangis mystacidii — lily-of-the-valley Aerangis somalensis — gardenia Aeranthes Grandalena — jasmine Aeranthes Grandiose — jasmine Aeridachnis Bogor ‘Apple Blossoms’ — “exotic apple blossom” Aerides crassifolia — aromatic floral Aerides falcata var. houlletiana — citrus, fruity Aerides falcata — citrus, fruity Aerides fieldingii — lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen Aerides houlletiana — sweetish, spicy and sweet citrusy, citrus-like Aerides Korat Koki — floral, lemony, “classic ladies floral perfume” Aerides lawrenceae var. sanderiana — lemon-spice Aerides lawrenceae — lemon spice, honey, anise Aerides odorata — spicy; ribbon candy, cloves, lilac Aerides quinquevulnera — cinnamon Aliceara Dragon Wings ‘Puff’ — sweet Aliceara Marfitch ‘Howard’s Dream’AM/AOS — rose Amesiella philippinense — minty Anacheilium fragrans — honey, vanilla, gardenias, magnolias, lilac Angraecum aporoides — gardenia Angraecum birrinense — orange blossom Angraecum boisserianum — jasmine Angraecum bosseri — spicy floral Angraecum compactum — spicy, citrusy Angraecum didieri — sweet, spicy Angraecum distichum — jasmine Angraecum eburneum — gardenia Angraecum eichlerianum — jasmine, lily Angraecum germinyanum — jasmine Angraecum Lemforde White Beauty — jasmine Angraecum leonis — jasmine Angraecum longiscott ‘Lea’ — jasmine Angraecum magdalenae — jasmine Angraecum sesquipedale — lily, gardenia and nicotiana (the scent changes as the flower matures) Angraecum veitchii — jasmine Angraecum white Emblem — jasmine Angranthes grandalena — jasmine Anguloa clowesii — chocolate and mint, paste, coconut, citrus Anguloa uniflora — Elmer’s paste with a hint of menthol Anguloa virginalis — Elmer’s paste with a hint of menthol Ansellia africana — light floral Arachnis hookeriana — musky Arundina graminifolia — floral |
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Barkeria spectabilis — sweet and spicy Beallara Marfitch ‘Howard’s Dream’AM/AOS — rose Bifrenaria harrisoniae — fruity, honey, spicy Bonatea speciosa — lemon mixed with vanilla Bothriochilus bellus — almond/poppy pastry filling Brassavola cordata — soapy-sweet Brassavola cucullata — musty-soapy, honey-like Brassavola flagellaris — hot chocolate Brassavola George Tyler — citrus Brassavola Little Stars — soapy-sweet Brassavola martiana — soapy-sweet Brassavola nodosa — freesia, lily-of-the-valley, “medicinal sweet odour”, “sweet and spicy with almost a hint of church incence” Brassavola tuberculata — nicotiana, gardenia Brassavola Yaki ‘Black’s Best’ — musty-soapy; similar to the B. cucullata parent Brassia gireoudiana — musky Brassia longissima ‘Pumpkin Patch’ — light, sweet candy Brassia ochroleuca — spicy, spiced apple pie Brassia verrucosa — musky Brassidium Dragon Flight ‘Fluff’ — heliotrope Brassocattleya Binosa ‘Kirk’ AM/AOS — spicy Brassocattleya Mt. Hood — vanilla Brassolaelia Sarah Black — very sweet floral Brassolaelia Yellow Bird — citrus to spicy Brassolaelia Memoria Bernice Foster — sweet floral Brassolaeliocattleya Arthur Bossin ‘Rapture’ — sweet floral Brassolaeliocattleya Dinsmore ‘Perfection’ — “a fresh and elegant fragrance that is a good balance of rose and hyacinth, with a powdery nuance and a touch of mushroom” Brassolaeliocattleya Formosan Gold — vanilla Brassolaeliocattleya George King ‘Serendipity’ AM/AOS — sweet citrus, vanilla Brassolaeliocattleya Goldenzelle ‘Lemon Chiffon’ AM/AOS — sweet floral Brassolaeliocattleya Greenwich — rose-geranium aromatherapy oil Brassolaeliocattleya Haw Yuan Beauty ‘Orchis’ — vanilla Brassolaeliocattleya Hawaiian Avalanche — sweet floral, vanilla Brassolaeliocattleya Momilani Rainbow — sweet floral Brassolaeliocattleya Pamela Hetherington ‘Coronation’ FCC/AOS — sweet floral Brassolaeliocattleya Ports of Paradise ‘Emerald Isle’ HCC/AOS — citrus Brassolaeliocattleya Rio’s Green Magic — citrus Bulbophyllum ambrosia — honey, bitter almonds Bulbophyllum cariniflorum — very strongly scented Bulbophyllum cocoinum — coconut Bulbophyllum comosum — hay scented, cinnamon, “light flower scent” Bulbophyllum grandiflorum — pepper, “the plant itself smells faintly like pepper even when it’s not in flower. The smell is most pronounced right after watering” Bulbophyllum hamatipes — musky Bulbophyllum laxiflorum — musky Bulbophyllum lobbii — jasmine, orange blossoms Bulbophyllum macranthum — spicy Bulbophyllum maximum — musky Bulbophyllum odoratissimum — pleasant fragrance Bulbophyllum praetervisum — spicy Bulbophyllum rothschildianum — peach, fruity, old mushrooms Bulbophyllum suavissimum — musky Bulbophyllum vaginatum — “citrus, almost sweet with a hint of lychee” Bulbophyllum wendlandii — fresh cut grass |
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Cadetia chionantha — sweet floral Cadetia taylori — vanilla Campanemia uliganosa — muguet, lily-of-the-valley Catasetum candida — wintergreen Catasetum collare — wintergreen Catasetum discolor — rye bread Catasetum expansum — “turpentine in the morning and rye bread in the afternoon”; spicy, reminiscent of chai Catasetum fimbriatum — spice Catasetum gnomus — wintergreen Catasetum integerrimum — spice Catasetum maculatum — rye bread Catasetum Orchidglade ‘Davie Ranches’ AM/AOS — spicy, medicinal Catasetum roseum — Vicks VapoRub in the morning, cinnamon at Night Catasetum tenebrosum — citrus, “a warm resinous fragrance with a sharp citrus note” Catasetum warscewiczii — lemon Cattleya aclandiae — spicy Cattleya bicolor var. grossii — spicy, aromatic-floral, rose Cattleya Brabantiae — spicy Cattleya Chocolate Drop ‘Clifton Yellow’ — frangipani-like Cattleya Chocolate Drop ‘Kodama’ AM/AOS — lily-of-the-valley, citrus, roses, lilies Cattleya dowiana — lemon, soapy, spicy, vanilla, vanilla cookie Cattleya Fascelis — spicy Cattleya forbesii — fragrance of bubble gum Cattleya granulosa — rosy-flora Cattleya guttata — sweet floral Cattleya harrisoniana — floral Cattleya intermedia ‘Carlos’ — floral Cattleya intermedia — sweet floral Cattleya Iricolor — sweet and strong, olive Cattleya labiata — spicy, aromatic, cloves Cattleya loddigesii — baked milk chocolate Cattleya lueddemanniana ‘Waterfield’ — floral Cattleya luteola — fresh floral Cattleya maxima ‘Mountainside’ — heliotrope, sweet pea Cattleya mossiae — garlic Cattleya Peckhaviensis — honey Cattleya Pradit Spot ‘Black Prince’ — sweet floral Cattleya quadicolor — ripe plums, “a delicate scent somewhere between vanilla and lillies” Cattleya schilleriana — honey Cattleya schroederae — almonds Cattleya walkeriana (var. alba) — vanilla, cinnamon Cattleya walkeriana ‘H&R’ — “a diffusive fragrance, reminiscent of rose, lily-of-the-valley and jasmine” Cattleya warneri — clean, spicy Cattleya warscewiczii — violets Caularthron bicornutum — fruit, candy, cotton candy, raspberries, strawberries, bubblegum, sweet citrus with vanilla overtones, lemon lollipops Chysis limminghei — light fruity fragrance Cischweinfia sheehanae — strong flowery scent Clowesia rosea — “Vicks Vapo rub in the morning and cinnamon in the afternoon” Clowesia russelliana — “delightfully fragrant”, “somewhat pervasive lemony”, “rather sickly sweetly scented” Clowesia thylaciochila — camphor, eucalyptus Clowesia warscewiczii — freshly ground ginger Cochleanthes amazonica — candy, rose, narcissus, verbena Cochleanthes discolor — candy, cedar, pepper, camphoraceous Cochleanthes flabelliformis — Old Spice Cochleanthes Moliere — candy, rose Coelia bella — marzipan, chocolate covered cherries or almond oil Coeliopsis hyacinthosma — heavily fragrant with a hyacinthlike scent Coelogyne corymbosa — “sweet floral fragrance with a spicy undertone” Coelogyne cristata — banana, candy sweet Coelogyne ‘Unchained Melody’ — “too sickly sweet, like something overly ripe”, “a sugary sweet smell to a sickening intensity” Coelogyne fimbriata — yeasty Coelogyne huettneriana — musk Coelogyne huettneriana var. lactea — jonquils Coelogyne intermedia — sweet, fruity Coelogyne lawrenceana — sweet floral Coelogyne mayeriana — “almost like a sharp lemon mixed with lime flower” Coelogyne ochracea — musk Coelogyne pandurata — cinnamon Coelogyne rochussenii — musky jasmine Coelogyne zurowetzii — spicy floral Coryanthes bruckmuelleri — herbal Coryanthes leucocorys — mint Coryanthes leucocorys — mint Coryanthes leucocorys — mint Coryhopea Red Martian — cherry cough syrup, cherry cola Cuitlauzina pulchella — sweet floral perfume, very lovely and reasonably strong Cycnoches chlorochilon — jasmine Cycnoches loddigesii — jasmine Cycnoches ventricosum — jasmine Cycnoches warscewiczii — ripe fruit Cycnoches — vanilla, spice Cycnodes Wine Delight — “strong and spicy sweet fragrance like cherries”, “sharp, clean and slightly minty, reminding of medicine” Cymbidium ‘Chen’s Ruby’ — “distinctly fruity and flowery including ones that smell like raspberry, citrus, coconut, lilac and even chocolate” Cymbidium cyperifolium — sweet Cymbidium eburneum — sweet, like paperwhite narcissus Cymbidium ensifolium — citrus, lemony scent with a touch of jasmine Cymbidium goeringii — jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, lemons Cymbidium Golden Elf — “mix of lemon and yuzu” Cymbidium Golden Elf ‘Sundust’ HCC/AOS — rose Cymbidium kanran — lemon peel Cymbidium Little Black Sambo ‘Black Magic’ — strong attractive fragrance Cymbidium mastersii — almonds Cymbidium sinensis — light, sweet floral Cymbidium suave — sweet Cymbidium tracyanum — peach Cymbidium virescens — the sweet, delicate fragrance earned it the moniker of “the scent of the king” |
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Darwinara Charm ‘Blue Star’ — vanilla Dendrobium adae — lilac, a scent similar to orange blossoms Dendrobium aloifolium — vanilla Dendrobium amoenum — violets Dendrobium anosmum — raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb, hyacinth Dendrobium antennatum — rosy-flora Dendrobium aureum — fruity, violets Dendrobium bellatulum — lemon, orange Dendrobium Burana Sweet Hian — “frying bacon with middle tones of black pepper and maybe with a hint of coriander” Dendrobium cariniferum — tangerines Dendrobium chrysotoxum — pineapple, melon, mango Dendrobium Chrystaline — hyacinths Dendrobium Class ‘Nasarka’ HCC/AOC — “lovely sweet Dendrobium perfume” Dendrobium Comet King ‘Akatsuki’ — sweet floral Dendrobium crumenatum — sweet Dendrobium delicatum ‘Brechts’ — wintergreen Dendrobium densiflorum — honey Dendrobium draconis — mandarins, tangerines Dendrobium fimbriatum var. oculatum — sweet Dendrobium Gai Quest — sweet floral Dendrobium glumaceum — curry Dendrobium goodallianum — sweet coconut Dendrobium griffithianum — spicy floral Dendrobium hainanense — honey Dendrobium heterocarpum — honeysuckle, primrose Dendrobium jenkinsii — honey Dendrobium Jesmond Fancy — sweet floral Dendrobium Jesmond Gem — sweet floral Dendrobium kingianum — floral, hyacinth, lilac, honey Dendrobium lawesii — floral Dendrobium Light River — sweet floral Dendrobium leonis — strong, pleasant vanilla, chocolate vanilla Dendrobium loddigesii — sweet floral Dendrobium macrophyllum — sweet floral Dendrobium moniliforme — rosy floral Dendrobium monophyllum — rosy floral, jasmine, fruity Dendrobium moschatum — musky Dendrobium musciferum — vanilla Dendrobium nobile var. virginale — floral Dendrobium nobile — honey, musk by day; mown hay at night Dendrobium parishii — rhubarb, raspberry Dendrobium polyanthum — rose Dendrobium primulinum var. giganteum — primrose Dendrobium pugioniforme — vanilla Dendrobium rhodopterygium var. semialba — sweet floral Dendrobium Sea Mary ‘Snow King’ — sweet floral Dendrobium singaporense — chrysanthemum tea Dendrobium speciosum — hyacinth, honey Dendrobium Spring Bride — fresh, clean fragrance Dendrobium Spring Doll — fresh, clean fragrance Dendrobium superbum — raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb, hyacinth Dendrobium Sweet Song ‘Memory’ — fresh, clean fragrance Dendrobium tetragonum — “sweet, with a hint of vanilla honey maybe cinnamon” Dendrobium unicum — peach, apricot, orange peels Dendrobium virgineum — gardenia, rose, woody Dendrobium wardianum — caramel Dendrobium williamsonii — spicy, citrus Dendrochilum arachnites — cinnamon Dendrochilum cobbianum — fresh, vanilla Dendrochilum glumaceum — curry Dendrochilum irigense — stale nappies Dendrochilum magnum — sweet “wheaty” or spicy scent Dendrophylax lindenii — mild, clean, soap-like smell at dusk and night Diaphananthe pellucida — heavy floral sweet scent Diaphananthe pulchella — gardenia Disa cooperi — cloves Diplocaulobium arachnoideum — strong melon scent Doritaenopsis Garnet Elf ‘Mary’ — sweet floral Doritaenopsis Phoenix Fire ‘Cardinal’ — sweet floral Dracula simia — ripe orange |
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Encyclia adenocaula — floral Encyclia citrina — lemon Encyclia cordigera — honey and vanilla Encyclia cordigera var. rosea — rose Encyclia fragrans — honey, vanilla, gardenias, magnolias, lilac Encyclia lancifolia — spicy Encyclia phoenicea — chocolate Encyclia polybulbon — sandalwood, cloves Encyclia radiata — spicy floral, coconut cream pie, lilac, carnation, hyacinth, lemon honey Encyclia tampensis — honey Encyclia trulla — spice Epicattleya Dora Tinschert ‘Springdale’ HCC/AOS — sweet floral Epicattleya Siam Jade — sweet, sweet and spicy Eria javanica — jasmine Eria pannea — “lemon/citrus with a strong dose of hard-to-describe spicy” Guaricyclia (Kyoguchi) Epicattleya ‘Fumi’ (Cattleya aurantiaca x Encyclia incumbens) — fine musk cologne Epidendrum ciliare — white floral, grapefruit, jasmine Epidendrum coronatum — faintly lemon mint Epidendrum difforme — medicinal Epidendrum falcatum — jasmine, Easter lily, “from the delicate, haunting scent of jasmine in the morning to a stronger note resembling that of Easter lilies or narcissi during the afternoon” Epidendrum inversum — cloves Epidendrum nocturnum — eucalyptus, aniseed Epidendrum parkinsonianum — spicy to floral Epidendrum phoeniceum — chocolate Epidendrum stamfordianum — jasmine, May lily, violet Epilaelia Beverly Shea — sweet floral Eria gigantea ‘Waterfield’ — citrus Eria pannea — vanilla Eriochilus cucullatus — honey Erythrorchis cassythoides — native bee honey Eurychone rothschildianum — cinnamon |
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Flickingeria fimbriata — watermelon |
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Galeottia grandiflora — “lemonade with Vics mixed in it” Gomesa crispa — roses Gongora galeata — orange, “a nice clean fragrance similar to freshly laundered and starched shirts” Gongora horichiana — sweet floral Gongora leucochila — spicy, nutmeg Gongora pleiochroma — powdered cocoa, lilac, hyacinth, sweet floral Gongora quinquenervis — cinnamon, cloves, lily-of-the-valley, ink Gongora unicolor — chocolate-flavoured corn chips, sweet, cocoa Guaricyclia Kyoguchi — strong musk Gymnadenia conopsea — cloves, sweet, vanilla-like Gymnadenia densiflora — marshy cut grass |
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Hapalochilus immobilis — “smells like sea water and is overwhelming for the size of the flower” Haraella odorata — citrus Haraella retrocalla — lemon Herminium monorchis — sweet, honey-like Himantoglossum hircinum — goat, “special”, very intense and musk-like. Holotrix villosa — cinnamon |
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Iwanagaara Apple Blossom ‘Fantastic’ — sweet floral |
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Jumellea confusa — jasmine Jumellea densifoliata — jasmine Jumellea sagittata — floral, jasmine |
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Laelia albida — primrose Laelia anceps — primrose, vanilla Laelia lundii — floral scent Laelia perrinii — spicy floral Laelia pumila var. coerulea — light floral Laelia purpurata var. werckhauseri — spice, anise Laelia rubescens — wintergreen Laelia tenebrosa — spicy Laeliocattleya Angel Love — citrusy Laeliocattleya Hausermann’s Sultan — cloves Laeliocattleya Jungle Festival — sweet floral Laeliocattleya Loog Tone ‘Red Chocolate’ — “Christmas cake cooking, sweet & spicy” Laeliocattleya Mini Purple — “light spicy blend with undertones of dusky cloves” Laeliocattleya Nora’s Melody — sweet floral Laeliocattleya Purple Cascade ‘Fragrant Beauty’ — rose, gardenia Laeliocattleya Sagarik Wax ‘HN’ — sweet Laeliocattleya Topaz Fancy — rose, floral Laeliocattleya Whitiniae — sweet floral Laeliocattleya Mari’s Song ‘CTM 217’ HCC/AOS — sweet floral Leptotes bicolor — vanilla, “a litlle bit of vanilla and a lot of cotton candy” Leptotes unicolor — sweet floral Liparis reflexa — “an overused and seldom-refreshed kitty litter tray” Lycaste Alan Salzman — spicy Lycaste Aquila ‘Détente’ FCC/AOS — sweet floral Lycaste aromatica — cinnamon, clove, spicy, like Big Red chewing gum Lycaste bradeorum — lemon Lycaste brevispatha — fresh apples Lycaste ciliata — ripe apples Lycaste cochleata — oranges Lycaste cruenta — spicy, cinnamon, lemon, cloves Lycaste deppei — peppermint, eucalyptus Lycaste Imschootiana — spicy Lycaste lanipes — heady, honey perfume Lycaste leucantha — sweet, heady perfume Lycaste locusta — Granny Smith apples Lycaste lucianii — sweet and spicy Lycaste powellii — sweet floral Lycaste Walnut Valley ‘Black’s Glow’ — spicy |
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Mapinguari desvauxianus — mushrooms, fungi, cucumber Masdevallia agaster — floral Masdevallia attenuata — floral Masdevallia Confetti — spicy, “like Necco wafers” Masdevallia cyclotega — floral Masdevallia glandulosa — sweet cloves Masdevallia laucheana — rosy-floral Masdevallia livingstoneana — fruity scent Masdevallia mejiana — spice Masdevallia triangularis — musty, repugnant Maxillaria ochroleuca — tutti-frutti Maxillaria picta — sweet floral Maxillaria rufescens — vanilla, egg crème Maxillaria sanderiana — sweet floral Maxillaria seymouriana — lemony Maxillaria tenuifolia — coconut, coconut cream pie, box of crayons, “coconut and tropical suntan lotion”, “Coconut, Pineapple, Pina colada, some mint” Meiracyllium trinasutum — cinnamon Milpasia Leslie Garay — rosy-flora Milpasia Milt’s Choice ‘Helen of Troy’ — rosy-floral Miltassia Estrelita ‘Sweet Señorita’ — sweet chocolate/vanilla, sweet floral Miltonia moreliana — sweet jasmine Miltonia regnellii — oranges, coriander Miltonia schroederiana — spice floral, carnation Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana — rose, spicy Miltonia spectabilis — rose, spicy Miltonidium Goliath’s Spire — rose, gardenia, candy sweet Miltoniopsis Bert Field — light floral Miltoniopsis Celle ‘Wasserfall’ AM/AOS — rosy-flora Miltoniopsis Hajime Ono — light rose Miltoniopsis Hamburg ‘Red Velvet’ — rosy-flora Miltoniopsis phalaenopsis — rose, lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen Miltoniopsis roezlii — fruity, rose Miltoniopsis santanaei — rosy Mystacidium capense — “strong, sweet, vanilla, with just a slight hint of honey”, “somewhere between lily-of-the-valley and citrus”, jasmine, celery, “strong, musky smell after dark” Mystacidium venosum — “strong, musky smell after dark” |
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Neofinetia falcata — jasmine, vanilla Neofinetia falcata ‘Kinrokaku’ — “a brilliant and pleasant scent reminiscent of aspects of gardenia, honeysuckle and vanilla” Neomoorea irrorata — sweet lemony jasmin, a hint of new shower curtain |
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Odontioda Vesta ‘Charm’ — citrus Odontobrassia Fangtastic Bob Henley — floral Odontocidium Tiger Crow ‘Golden Girl’ HCC/AOS — light floral Odontoglossum pendulum — lemony rose Odontoglossum pulchellum — vanilla, rosy-floral Oeniella polystachys — vanilla; lily-of the-valley Oncidium cheirophorum — citrus, lemon Oncidium cheirophorum — citrus, lemon Oncidium concolor — spiced apple pie Oncidium cucullatum — violet Oncidium Gold Dust — floral Oncidium Heaven Scent ‘Redolence’ — chocolate, chocolate vanilla, “a delightfully light almost lemony perfume” Oncidium Heaven Scent ‘Sweet Baby’ — chocolate, vanilla Oncidium Issaku Nagata ‘Volcano Queen’ HCC/AOS — light floral Oncidium longipes — aniseed, cinnamon Oncidium maculatum — honey Oncidium microchilum — cider Oncidium ornithorhynchum — “complex sweetness, overall effect is brown sugar” Oncidium ornithorhynchum ‘Lilac Blossom’ — vanilla, “like a fresh morning” baby powder, grape, spicy, cinnamon, cocoa, candy sweet Oncidium Sharry Baby — white chocolate, milk chocolate, vanilla chocolate, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, Hershey bar chocolate Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Misaki’ (syn. ‘Yellow Panda’ or ‘Tricolor’) — chocolate, vanilla, cookies Oncidium Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ AM/AOS — chocolate, white chocolate, vanilla, candy-sweet Oncidium tigrinum — vanilla, freesia Oncidium Tsiku Marguerite — sweet, soapy Oncidium Twinkle ‘Fragrance Fantasy’ — sweet, strong and spicy vanilla Oncidium Twinkle ‘Red Fantasy’ — sweet Otaara Haw Yuan Bay ‘She Shu’ — vanilla |
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Paphiopedilum Armeni White — citrus Paphiopedilum concolor — apple Paphiopedilum delenatii — roses, lemon honey Paphiopedilum emersonii — chocolate Paphiopedilum Joyce Hasagawa — raspberry Paphiopedilum kolopakingii — honeysuckle Paphiopedilum Lynleigh Koopowitz — raspberry Paphiopedilum malipoense — raspberry, apple Peristeria elata — citrus, eucalyptus (with a sweet floral aspect) Peristeria pendula — strong, spicy, clove-like Pescatorea lehmannii — “like Lemonheads, with a hint of vanilla” Pescatoria lehmannii — creamy citrus Phalaenopsis amboinensis — musk Phalaenopsis bellina — freesia, lily-of-the-valley, rose cologne, touch of velvet, lemon, “blend of many compounds, including geraniol, which has a rose-like scent attractive to bees; and linalool, a floral/spicy fragrance” Phalaenopsis Brother Sara Gold ‘Sogo’ — “The first whiff is sweet but as it lingers it DOES smell bacon-like”, “raw bacon just out of the package and only sizzling in the pan a short while with floral overtones… the sweet component hits you first and then is followed up with the bacon” Phalaenopsis Caribbean Sunset ‘Sweet Fragrance’ — rose floral Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi — cinnamon Phalaenopsis Desert Red ‘Ruby’ — sweet Phalaenopsis Dotty Woodson ‘Claudette’ HCC/AOS — sweet Phalaenopsis Ember ‘Blumen Insel’ AM/AOS — rose floral Phalaenopsis fasciata — rosy-floral Phalaenopsis gigantea — orange peel Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica — rosy-floral Phalaenopsis Kilby Cassviola ‘Sweet Fragrance’ — spicy Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana — sweet Phalaenopsis mannii — mandarin orange Phalaenopsis Mary Lillian Taylor ‘Desert Orange’ AM/AOS — spicy Phalaenopsis Mini Mark ‘Holm’ — sweet floral Phalaenopsis modesta — honeysuckle, lilac, grapes, sweet candy Phalaenopsis Orchid World ‘Bonnie Vasquez’ AM/AOS — spicy Phalaenopsis Orchid World ‘Roman Holiday’ AM/AOS — spicy Phalaenopsis OX Black Face ‘OX 1647’ — rose Phalaenopsis Perfection Is ‘Chen’ FCC/AOS — spicy, cloves, carnation Phalaenopsis Samba — sweet floral Phalaenopsis schilleriana — rose petals Phalaenopsis Sweet Memory ‘Amy Dawn’ AM/AOS — freesia Phalaenopsis valentinii — freesia Phalaenopsis violacea — floral with a touch of spice and cinnamon Phalaenopsis Wes Addison ‘Blood Brother’ — floral Phragmipedium Wilcox AM/AOS — roses Platanthera obtusata — smells like humans to attracts the local tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) Pleurothallis cocornaensis — moldy socks Pleurothallis ramulosa — sweet Plocoglottis gigantea — fragrant, with a kind of clean laundry smell Polystachya bella — fruity, “like Lemon Pledge” Polystachya campyloglossa — bananas, strawberries Polystachya cultriformis — lily-of-the-valley, lime blossoms Polystachya Darling Star — floral Polystachya fallax — jasmine, tropical fruit Polystachya mazumbaiensis — rose, gardenia Polystachya pubescens — honey Prosthechea fragrans — honey, vanilla, gardenias, magnolias, lilac, lemon honey Potinara Burana Beauty ‘Burana’ HCC/AOS — citrus, citrus blossoms Potinara Free Spirit ‘Lea’AM/AOS — sweet floral Potinara Twentyfour Carat ‘Lea’ AM/AOS — vanilla |
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Rangaeris amaniensis — lily-of-the-valley, lily Rhyncholaelia digbyana — lily-of-the-valley, lemon Rhyncholaelia glauca — rose, lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen Rhyncholaeliocattleya George King ‘Serendipity’ AM/AOS — sweet citrus, vanilla Rhyncholaeliocattleya Ports of Paradise ‘Emerald Isle’ — citrusy, “like Jean Nate cologne” Rhynchorides Bangkok Sunset — refreshing floral Rhynchostylis coelestis — citrus, unperfumed soap Rhynchostylis gigantea Sagarik Strain — citrus Rhynchostylis gigantea var. alba — citrus Rhynchostylis gigantea — citrus Rhynchostylis illustre — citrus Rhynchostylis retusa — citrus Rhynchovanda Colmarie ‘Merlot’ — grapes Ronnyara Manuel Ugarte ‘H & R’ — sweet floral |
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Satyrium foliosum — quinces Satyrium neglectum — sweet Satyrium odorum — a clove to lemon scent Schoenorchis fragrans — sweet Schoenorchis gemmata — sweet Sedirea japonica — clean and fresh lemon fragrance, rose Sigmatostalix radicans ‘HMO’s Petite Prince’ — honey Smitinandia micrantha — citrus flowers Sobennikoffia humbertiana — spice, sweet Honeysuckle Sophrolaeliocattleya Haw Yuan Star ‘Pink Lady’ — sweet, floral Spathoglottis deplanche — fragrance of grape soda Stanhopea candida — sweet, wintergreen Stanhopea cirrhata — Vicks Stanhopea connata — mothballs, “the scent is very complex and multi-layered. One can smell many spices and herbs, heavy aroma’s and almost buttered fragrances” Stanhopea costaricensis — very sweet, cloves, baby powder, spicy, “camphor scented when it first opens and later it is a combination of camphor and cinnamon” Stanhopea deltoidea — tangy and sweetly spicy Stanhopea ecornuta — fresh floral, cinnamon Stanhopea embreei — vanilla creme icing, chocolate, herbal and sweet, a mixture of sweet witch hazel and fresh basil, or a nice herbal liqueur like Becherovka, tangy and sweetly spicy Stanhopea frymirei — “complex mixtures of floral, culinary and resinous scents” Stanhopea gibbosa — “Eucalyptus, menthol, and pine mixed together” Stanhopea grandiflora — jasmine, “composed mostly of benzyl-acetate (wintergreen), with smaller amounts of limonene (citrus) and cineole (camphor)” Stanhopea graveolens — naphthalene, sweet cinnamon, like “mothballs” – strong, penetrating and long-lingering Stanhopea hernandezii — “a mixture of vanilla, herbs, peppermint, and cinnamon” Stanhopea inodora — mostly odourless and true to its name inadora, meaning non-fragnant, but may have a light lemony fragrance Stanhopea impressa — “similar to basil and is slightly herb-like, but with an undertone of moth balls” Stanhopea jenischiana — cinnamon, fruity, “a warm fruity-floral scent lacking the tangy licorice component belonging to S. embreei” Stanhopea nigripes — “a rather heady mixture of eucalyptus and camphor mixed with vanilla” Stanhopea nigroviolacea — vanilla Stanhopea nigroviolacea ‘Aztec Gold’ — chocolate Stanhopea oculata — chocolate, mint, chocolate mint with vanilla, vanilla mixed with mint and a hint of cocoa, chocolate peppermint patty candy Stanhopea oculata (gold form) — Eucalyptus-like, camphor-like Stanhopea oculata (purple spot form) — chocolate peppermint with a slight infusion of camphor Stanhopea panamensis — pleasant, “a faint lily scent at first, almost like an Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum) or Moon Flower (Ipomoea alba). Later as the flower matures it has a mixture of lily and clove fragrance, but faint” Stanhopea pulla — lemon-lime candy, cool minty, citrus Stanhopea reichenbachiana — jasmine Stanhopea ruckeri — light cinnamon, like Hot Tamales candy Stanhopea ruckeri var. alba — “a slight fresh baked bread scent mixed with lily” Stanhopea saccata — cinnamon, camphor with a bit of cinnamon Stanhopea shuttleworthii — mothballs, expensive perfume, “first smelling similar to vanilla when the flowers first open, later a combination of sweet mothballs and a light lemon scent”, lemon meringue Stanhopea stevensonii — sweet but rather chemical-like, sweet grass with trace amounts of fresh pine needles Stanhopea tigrina — sweet Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea — heady vanilla/candy Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea ‘Glory of Mexico’ — chocolate and vanilla, but with a slight mothball fragrance as the flowers age Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea ‘Predator’ — chocolate and vanilla Stanhopea tricornis — jasmine Stanhopea wardii — jasmine, floral hand soap, candy, chocolate, “intense lemon/citrus at first. After the flowers have been open for a few hours the fragrance lessens to a tart lime fragrance similar to crushed lime leaves. It is a very pleasant and clean fragrance” Stelis pusilla — sweet |
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Thunia marshalliana — orange Trichocentrum albococcineum — floral Trichocentrum Nathakhun — honey Trichocentrum tigrinum — lily-of-the-valley Trichoglottis philippinensis — ripe or baked apple Trichoglottis philippinensis ‘Pololei’ — ripe apple Trichoglottis wenzellii — sweet Trichopilia fragrans — narcissus Trichopilia suavis — floral, intoxicating, roses Tuberolabium kotoense — floral, Old Spice Tuberolabium odoratissium — sweet |
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Vanda Chao Praya ‘Violet’ — violets mixed with a dash of spice Vanda coerulescens — like grape bubblegum, concord grapes Vanda cristata — floral Vanda dearei — vanilla, cinnamon Vanda denisoniana — sweet, “like waterlilies in essence, anisic, fresh, sweet, somewhat “piney-herbal” with an Ylang Ylang nuance (methyl benzoate, methy salicylate, benzyl acetate and salicylate…)” Vanda falcata — jasmine, vanilla Vanda falcata ‘Kinrokaku’ — “a brilliant and pleasant scent reminiscent of aspects of gardenia, honeysuckle and vanilla” Vanda lilacina — artificial grape flavour Vanda Memoria T. Iwasaki — baby oil Vanda Mimi Palmer — beautiful perfume Vanda Pat Delight — ripe grapes Vanda roeblingiana — sweet Vanda tesselata — grapes, lilac, “floral smell, with hints of mulberry and guava” Vanda tricolor — vanilla Vanda tricolor var. suavis — vanilla Vandachostylis Lou Sneary — vanilla candy Vandachostylis Lou Sneary ‘Blue Moon’ — jasmine Vandachostylis Lou Sneary ‘Pinky’ AM/AOS — vanilla, candy Vanilla planifolia — vanilla Vascostylis Crownfox Red Gem — citrusy Vascostylis Tham Yuen Hae ‘Blue Queen’ HCC/RSPC, JC/AOS, HCC/AOS — jasmine |
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Woodwardara Adelaide — sweet |
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Zygocolax — sweet Zygoneria — hyacinth Zygoneria Freestyle Meadows x Zygoneria Dynamite ‘Meg’ — overpowering, sweet, blossomy and heady Zygopetalum Artur Elle ‘Tanzanite’ AM/AOS — hyacinths, violets, sweet perfume Zygopetalum BG White ‘Stonehurst’ HCC/AOS, AM/AOS — hyacinths, violets, sweet perfume Zygopetalum blackii — hyacinths Zygopetalum crinitum — spicy-floral, narcissus Zygopetalum intermedium — rose, lilac Zygopetalum mackayi — hyacinth, narcissus, perfume Zygopetalum maxillare — floral Zygopetalum Redvale ‘Fire Kiss’ — hyacinth Zygopetalum — sweet |
The Bad Smell
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Bulbophyllum beccarii — rotting fish, “100 dead elephants rotting in the sun” Bulbophyllum carunculatum — “a hot night at the fish markets” Bulbophyllum cupreum — “the aftertaste of eating durian”, rotting salmon Bulbophyllum echinolabium — carrion, rotten meat, “a dead rat stuffed into a dead fish and left in the sun for 3 days”, “a soiled baby diaper pulled up out of a pile of rotting fish” Bulbophyllum grandiflorum — carrion Bulbophyllum graveolens — urine, warm dog poop Bulbophyllum helenae — smelly feet Bulbophyllum immobile — “smells like sea water and is overwhelming for the size of the flower”, “a subtle fragrance of “wet dog”” Bulbophyllum medusae — fresh doggie poop Bulbophyllum nympholitanum — “a public bathroom of a dysentery clinic” Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis — carrion, “1000 dead fish rotting in the sun” Bulbophyllum spiesii — carrion Bulbophyllum tingabarinum — stink beetles Bulbophyllum trigonosepalum — dog poop |
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Cirrhopetalum graveolens — carrion Cirrhopetalum ornatissimum — “whale oil, while the lip smells like fresh herring” Coelogyne flaccida — dog pee, animal urine Coelogyne ‘Unchained Melody’ — dog poop, cow dung, “over-ripe fruit that has gone off” |
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Dracula chestertonii — fungus |
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Eria hyacinthoides — carrion, “something nasty has died underneath the staging” |
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Gongora grossa — fishy, stale, musty, sweaty gym clothes |
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Liparis reflexa — “wet dogs”, “cat’s piss” |
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Masdevallia triangularis — “a repugnant smell and may leave the tongue and nose with an unpleasant dumb sensation” Masdie triangularis — musty, repugnant Miltonidium Pupukea Sunset — “an overpoweringly strong soap scent mixed with hot garbage” |
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Oncidium crispum — musty, “like cockroaches” |
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Pescatoria cerina — “quite strong, somewhat musty and extremely unpleasant, though not all of the other people who were asked to smell it agreed with this. Some actually were delighted with the “fragrance,” some said the odor was not pleasant but it was very faint, and there were even some who could smell nothing at all.” Pleurothallis cocornaensis — moldy socks Phragmipedium caudatum — urine-like |
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Satyrium pumilum — “mimics the odor of decomposition, specifically that of a decaying mammalian carcass.”, “The stench was dominated by three chemical compounds. The first, 2-heptamone, is known for its banana-like fruity odor. The second, p-cresol, is a prominent component in human sweat. And the third, indole, produces an intense fecal odor. Mixed together, they generate the reek of decay. Moreover, these same three compounds dominate the scent of a rotting mammalian carcass, the favorite fare of flesh-fly larvae.” Stanhopea connata — “exudes cresole and indole. Cresole is the fragrance compound associated with coal tar (think freshly poured asphalt). And indole has a fragrance described in botanical literature as fecal.” |
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Mick Talbot shared 
Gawler Districts Orchid Club Inc.’s note to the group: Queensland Orchid International. 21 January at 14:20 ·
Some of our orchids are beautiful, others interesting and then there are some that are hard to describe. Fragrance can be a consideration when it comes buying an orchid, It is for me. This subjective list of orchids and their fragrances might be of interest.
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Barbara Haywood This is an excellent list… K.W you should add this to WordPress. Thanks for sharing this Q.A. 21 January at 15:10 · Unlike · 1
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Mick Talbot I put this together from lists I found in books, online and my own experience. If anyone has any additions or suggestions please let me know. 21 January at 15:13 · Edited · Unlike · 2
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K-w SoundEagle Hi Mick Talbot, you and I are more similar now that I realise that you also like Orchid Fragrances. As Barbara recommended, I shall promote this list online on a special post with a customised electronic form so that others can add to this list by filling in a form. 22 January at 08:16 · Like
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Craig Scott-Harden There does appear to one term missing!!! A number of Bulbophyllum species have characteristics of smelling a heard of 100 dead Elephants!!!! 22 January at 10:27 · Unlike · 1 -
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Craig Scott-Harden Even now I think your term is a tad to polite!!! Let me tell it like it is “Cats Piss” 22 January at 10:42 · Edited · Unlike · 1
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Mick Talbot If you check the Bulbophyllum section there is reference to beccarii smelling like 100 dead elephants rotting in the sun. 22 January at 12:30 · Unlike · 2
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Craig Scott-Harden Humble apologies Mick Talbot, I should have realised you would be far more astute than to leave that little pearl of wisdom out!!!!😎 22 January at 13:23 · Unlike · 1
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Humour Your Nose with The Good Scent (Perfume and Fragrance) and The Bad Smell (Stink and Stench)… -
Jesus M. Figueroa Vigo About the scent and smell, is there a more scientific way of determining what smell an orchid hace? It’s very subjective what I smell and associate the smell with is rather subjective, if I never smelled a citrus I would not describe a smell as citrious. Is there a more nuetral unsubjective way of describing scents and smell. 19 hrs · Unlike · 1 -
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Humour Your Nose with The Good Scent (Perfume and Fragrance) and The Bad Smell (Stink and Stench)…queenslandorchid.wordpress.com
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Craig Scott-Harden Ok time to shine! The first and most efficient thing one could do in determining different scents, even though most impractical would be the purchasing of a mass spectrometer??? This naturally would allow different scents and smells, to be broken down to there chemical elements! This can then be shown in graph form as a visual display! Now barring a win in Powerball this is highly unlikely in its viability! So how does one describe the stated example of citrus! The art of verbal artistry I think is called upon! My example for citrus (Orange) hence forth would be “A sweet slightly spicy, with floral undertones, pungent even pervasive in its intensity odour, depending on strength it can be slow to dissipate, prevailing in the back of the nostrils whilst others may fade quickly!” Now I am aware that this is subjective so I will finish off by simple saying, “That the nose knows? It is up to us as individuals, and using life’s experiences to bring forth images starting from a blank canvas to create a complete landscape formed by our senses ,our minds eye and our human ability to communicate such things! This is what defines us above other life! 13 hrs · Edited · Unlike · 2
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Alison Viatos Wise move – valentines day is comin up pretty fast !! 27 January at 20:47 · Unlike · 2
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Craig Scott-Harden A bird in the bush is worth two in the bath, or is it a plumber a day keeps the avian fanatic at bay??? Just call me Socrates-Harden!! 27 January at 21:33 · Edited · Unlike · 2
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Craig Scott-Harden I always have a shower if I smell like Bulbophyllum echinolabium, hell I’ll even wash my clothes!!! 28 January at 01:15 · Unlike · 1
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Would SoundEagle be able to outrun the stink of Socrates-Scott-Harden in a car? 28 January at 09:09 · Edited · Like · 1
Based on Linet Hamman’s talk given at the LOG seminar in November 1999
Published by the South African Orchid Society
There are certain (cor)relations between scents and floral colours:
- White floral image — a soft fragrance : The white-floral scents incorporate the very pleasing scent notes of jasmine, tuberose, orange flower, honeysuckle etc. These flowers really are white in the majority of cases and release their scent mainly during the late evening or night. Most are pollinated by moths which use the scent and white colouring as pointers to the flower.
- Rosy floral image — a sweet, rosy smell almost like Turkish Delight : The scent of cyclamen, lily of the valley, sweet pea and rose identify this group. Sunlight and warmth trigger scent production.
- Yellow scents — strong, citrus-like freesia fragrance
- Brown scents — reminding of spices; cloves, coriander; caraway and cinnamon : Typical scent of a carnation.
- Green scents — a mossy, wet / forest scent
- Dark smells — mostly unpleasant; musty, stale socks
- Intensity — the strength of fragrance
- Diffuseness — the degree to which one can smell it from a distance
- Pleasantness — how pleasant or unpleasant the fragrance is
- Elegance — how well-rounded and perfumistic the fragrance is; chemical notes or thin fragrances are detractions
- Instant appeal — whether one likes it and how much
If you desire fragrant orchids you should find them in bloom and smell them directly.
The [defunct] list given is too vague and will result in your buying plants that are a disappointment.
The [defunct] list included Brassia, of which I raise hundreds and have never had one with a scent I could detect. Admittedly my sense of smell is not great, but others may be the same. Nobile Dendrobium are listed but I again raise hundreds and would not sell them as a fragrant orchid.
A good example of fragrant orchids is the most famous Onc. Sharry Baby, the chocolate orchid. It normally it has a very strong Hershey bar chocolate scent. I have 100 in bloom and the fragrance is almost missing. You have to stick your face in the plant to smell it. Normally you would be hit with scent when you walk into the shadehouse. These are large plants that bloom twice a year and when they bloom again in the winter the same plants will have a very strong scent. The heat of the summer is reducing the scent.
Orchids put out scent to attract insets to pollinate themselves. If the weather is not right for the insects to be on the prowl (like damp rainy days, summer heat, winter cold, almost anything for at least one orchid) the orchid does not waste its perfume.
It is also not uncommon for an orchid to have no scent one year and then be very fragrant the next.
Young orchids blooming for the first or second time often have no scent on a plant that is famously fragrant.
Back to my original suggestion to find them in bloom and smell them. Then do not be disappointed the next year if it skips a year from having its environment changed.
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- Perfuming: Orchids and Jasmine (frankincenseandrose.com)
- Best Fragrant orchids (plantorchid.wordpress.com)
- Tom Ford Velvet Orchid ~ fragrance review (nstperfume.com)
- Orchid – a symbol of beauty and perfection (fragrances.bg)
- Original Orchids of Singapore (jetaime-singapore.com)
- Orchid Bees and the Art of Making Perfume from Orchids (tambela.com)
- Nocturnal pollination by fungus gnats of the colombian endemic species, Pleurothallis marthae (lankesteriana.org)
- Why Do Floral Perfumes Become Different? Region-Specific Selection on Floral Scent in a Terrestrial Orchid (journals.plos.org) Gross K, Sun M, Schiestl FP (2016) Why Do Floral Perfumes Become Different? Region-Specific Selection on Floral Scent in a Terrestrial Orchid. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0147975. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147975
- The Genetic Basis of Pollinator Adaptation in a Sexually Deceptive Orchid (journals.plos.org)
- Orchids with a strong scent (orchidboard.com)
- Adjectives To Describe Flavors And Aromas (nicholasrossis.me)
- Adjectives To Describe Flavors And Aromas (thestoryreadingapeblog.com)
- Aromatic (dailypost.wordpress.com)
- Scent (dailypost.wordpress.com)
- Perfume (dailypost.wordpress.com)
- Fragrance (dailypost.wordpress.com)
Reference Books
Frowine, Steven A (2005). Fragrant orchids: A Guide to Selecting, Growing, and Enjoying. Timber Press, Portland, Or
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Well every time I read information less clear I have which are the most fragrant, now I have lots of species supposedly very fragrant, however I propose to list with a ten, regardless of the moment they emit the fragrance in order to clarify a Little more still this subject since the bibliography is not conclusive from my point of view, greetings and until soon
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Amazing work. I added to my favorite to be able to return to.
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Hello John! Welcome to ✿❀ Queensland Orchid International ❀✿
Thank you for your first visit and compliment. Please feel free to turn this website into your playground, a place of discovery and wonderment through the joy of understanding orchids from multiple perspectives.
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I shall. I use the herbal cures in real life and in my stories.
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