Why are some flowers, like peonies, roses and lilacs so insanely fragrant? I swear, with the least bit of movement around them, their fragrance dances around the room, away from their velvety petals.
Did some digging in the grounds of botany and found some fun stuff......
- The fragrances of flowers are made up of vaporous organic compounds (VOCs), or tiny molecules, that evaporate easily, thus creating the scent that dances through the air.
- Floral scents begin as oils that are produced by the petals of most plants.
- The specific combination of VOCs is what gives each flower its unique scent signature. From the deep, soul-stirring aroma of roses to the light, refreshing scent of lilies, it's all about chemistry. These compounds aren't random, they're meticulously produced by the plant to appeal to special pollinators.
The flower's scent is one of the most important communication channels mediating plant and pollinator interactions.- Some flowers produce different scents to attract specific types of pollinators, like insects and birds, that transfer pollen from place to place....thus aiding in their reproduction.
- Some flowers are more fragrant during the day to attract bees and butterflies, while others are more fragrant at night to attract moths and bats.
- Flowers produce pleasant scents to signal the presence of their nectar or pollen.
- We humans also benefit from the flower's fragrance. Studies have shown that the smell of flowers helps reduce stress and anxiety. For instance, lavender and jasmine have a calming effect on the nervous system and can promote better sleep. We should be sure to stop and inhale these invisible inspirations whenever we can.
Flowers have played a central role in the history of perfumes since ancient times. That's another topic for another day.