Flowers are a beautiful creation of nature, in addition to their pleasant appearance, they have their own and unique aroma. With the help of odors, flowers attract insects for pollination, helping them subsequently produce seeds. The aroma can also serve as a warning to insects and animals. Few people wonder why flowers smell. The aroma of each flower originates within the buds and spreads around thanks to sunlight - when the flower blooms. In other words, the smell comes from the essential oils inside the flower.
The process of creating a scent is actually very simple: the evaporation of oil due to exposure to temperature. Many flowers smell really nice, attracting attention not only with their appearance, but also with the aroma they create in the air.
The smell of flowers captivated even such a baby
It is quite difficult to explain why the scent of flowers is felt from a distance, because the plant itself does not move. There is an opinion that it is insects that spread the scent of flowers over long distances, since the flower itself cannot do this. However, this is not connected in any way; insects only collect pollen and transfer nectar, which subsequently has a beneficial effect on plant reproduction.
Flowering plants contain aroma molecules, which, under certain external temperatures, dissolve into the environment and are carried through the air due to diffusion processes. It is these molecules that give a person a unique feeling of the fragrant aroma of flowers. The molecules, reaching the nasal receptors, allow you to feel the whole range of shades of smell embedded in a single bouquet of floral aroma.
Shades of floral scents
The aroma of flowering plants depends almost entirely on which insect pollinates the flower. For example, if the main insect is a fly, then the smell will be of rotting, actually corpse-like. Such flowers are predominantly predatory, luring flies with their scent and feeding on them, for example
The most smelly flower in the world Amorphophallus titanum
The appearance of a flower almost always directly corresponds to its aroma. But there are also pleasant-looking flowers that smell simply disgusting. This mechanism is similar to that of an animal: the plant protects itself with a strong and unpleasant aroma, just as some reptiles have an aggressive coloration, while being harmless. Also, flowers with a strong aroma often do no harm.
It is worth noting that especially fragrant flowers are usually white or yellow in color. The brighter ones, on the contrary, have a weak aroma.
The smell is felt when essential oils combine into a single bouquet of aromas when exposed to sunlight. Flowers can be called nature's spirits.
Why do flowers smell and what does it depend on? Brief summary"
- smell is necessary to attract insects, as well as repel herbivores and pests;
- the aroma appears due to the essential oils contained in the plant;
- The smell of the plant depends on the color.
The aroma of a flower is necessary for vital existence, since without it there would be no pollination and reproduction.
The most fragrant flowers - top - 15
Flowering plants undoubtedly attract attention with their beauty, range of colors and unique aromas. There are many different flowers around the world, each of which actually smells different. There is even a kind of top 15, which contains the most fragrant flowers in the world.
Plumeria
The most fragrant exotic flower - plumeria
This exotic flower grows in the tropics, preferring islands in the ocean and near the Caribbean Sea. The shades of these beautiful flowers are truly unique. There are a wide variety of colors: from soft pink to passionate red, from faded white to bright yellow. Only the golden core remains unchanged.
Plumeria smells distinctly tropical - a lush floral scent with hints of fruit, and releases its scent towards dusk. And it is considered immortal, because the flower does not burn in hot fire, and is also capable of being reborn even from its leaves. But, despite its attractive external beauty and aroma, plumeria is poisonous. In the Russian climate it is grown as a houseplant.
Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum also has other names - mason and alyssum. An annual flower that blooms throughout the summer. The scent of this baby is incredibly long lasting and, as the name suggests, suffocatingly sweet. Easy to care for, great for decorating or
Black cosmos
Black cosmos, a vanilla and chocolate scented flower
It grows in Mexico, and due to its unique color it is called chocolate cosmos. Black cosmos flowers are reddish-brown, and the persistent aroma is associated with vanilla. And again, the innocent appearance is deceptive - the plant is poisonous, and the alluring smell attracts insects. Moreover, the aroma increases with temperature: the hotter it is, the stronger the flower smells.
Wisteria
Wisteria profusely blooming
Wisteria grows in southern latitudes and blooms in clusters that hang down like bunches of grapes. The petals are white and purple and the sweet scent is considered a harbinger of spring. Cultivated plant species are more adapted to the Russian climate, for example, Blue Moon wisteria can withstand fairly low temperatures in winter.
Sweet pea
Sweet pea
The perennial plant Sweet Pea has a wide range of colors, and the aroma is so persistent that it is difficult to forget it. At the same time, it is completely unobtrusive. Unfortunately, this plant is also slightly poisonous.
Lilies of the valley
Small white flowers have a wonderful tart smell, as if cool. The plant is perennial and quite easy to care for in the garden. At the same time, the fragrant aroma is not intrusive and creates a pleasant atmosphere, which is why the flower is often grown in gardens.
Gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides
Gardenia blooms almost every year, but is a very capricious plant. However, its atypical, rich and sweet aroma is worth all the effort. After all, the silky scent of gardenia even served as inspiration for a line of perfumes from Chanel and Jacobs.
Night beauty
The night beauty will delight you with its aroma in the evening
An interesting flower that opens only in the afternoon, contrary to the usual saying that flowers reach for the sun. The British even nicknamed it the “four o’clock flower.”
The night beauty lives up to its name in its color scheme. Shades of purple, yellow and white flowers, coupled with a strong aroma, give the plant a special charm.
Jasmine
Mock orange or garden jasmine
Grows in warm climates. Jasmine is known all over the world; its white flowers smell delicate and sweet. Essential oils based on this plant are widely used in cosmetology and aromatherapy. And jasmine tea is even made from dried flowers.
The peculiarity of the flower is that the root system of the plant is poisonous, and the buds smell much stronger than the flowers. And the aroma can only be felt after sunset.
In the Moscow region, mock orange or garden jasmine are successfully grown.
Narcissus
Bright yellow flowers attract attention. And the aroma of narcissus is incredibly strong. The sweetish smell with a bitterness is literally intoxicating, because it is not for nothing that the flower bears the name of a narcissistic young man.
Mimosa
Delicate mimosa balls exude an unforgettable aroma
The beautiful yellow balls attract attention with their appearance even before the smell is felt. And the aroma of mimosa flowers is extraordinary: sweet, combining honey and the bitterness of wood. It’s not for nothing that the smell of mimosa is associated with late spring.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth - a fragrant spring flower
It is not for nothing that the delicate white and lilac flower is considered a symbol of happiness. Likewise, its honey aroma intoxicates the head and excites, leading a person to a state of bliss. The bright smell cannot be forgotten or confused even after a while.
Lilies
Lily "purple rain" Asian hybrid
The lily is truly recognized as a royal flower with its sophisticated and noble appearance. The aroma of the lily is thick and sweet, like balsamic. And the floral notes add a wonderful charm to the plant.
Tuberose
Tuberose
Snow-white flowers, despite their innocent appearance, are a symbol of forbidden passion. The aroma of the flower is unusually intense, sweet and heavy. It intoxicates and captivates, and the essential oil of this plant is one of the most expensive thanks to its aroma.
Rose
Musk rose variety “Guirlande d’Amour”
The list is completed by the queen of all flowers - the rose. Roses are usually incredibly beautiful and come in a wide range. Surprisingly, even the aroma is different for each type. But one thing is constant - the sweet aroma of roses is always unusually captivating.
And, of course, these are just the top lines. There are countless beautifully smelling flowers in the world that seem designed to bring joy to people.
The scent of flowers has a great influence on people. The aroma of rose bushes lifts your spirits, driving away sad thoughts and dispelling stress. Not to mention the fact that roses are certainly associated with love. The scent of jasmine has a beneficial effect on concentration and performance, and bergamot seems to encourage. And the heat of the summer months is perfectly smoothed out by the aroma of snow-white magnolias. Thus, flowers not only are a wonderful decoration for the garden, but also saturate the air with their aromas.
It all started in the Garden of Eden. Eve admired the scents of flowers, and Adam admired Eve. But then the tempting serpent intervened. People had no choice but to create fragrant incense, essences and use them to return to heaven at least for a moment. We, like our ancestress, admire the smells of flowers, but, unlike her, we have perfume stores where the shelves are lined with hundreds of perfumes - for every taste and budget.
What do the scents in this group consist of?
You've probably seen essential oils from flowers on sale. They are what give us those delightful floral notes that make us feel like we are in paradise. Essences, extracts and, oddly enough, synthetic substitutes are also used. Sometimes it is not possible to replicate the natural smell of a flower. Then chemistry comes to the rescue.
Creating perfume is like music. It has been developing over the years. That is why it is almost impossible to find perfumes on sale that consist of only one flower. Even if you feel such an aroma, in order for it to “open up”, it takes a long time to select the necessary composition and base. And it’s not at all a fact that another person will feel the same as you.
Any perfume consists of top, middle and base notes. Flowers usually occupy the top and middle notes, and are very rarely included in the base. Because these smells are bright and strong. For the aroma to “sound”, they must be mixed with other, more volatile or, conversely, more persistent odors.
Subtypes of floral scents
Depending on the “accompanying”, the group is divided into subgroups:
- floral-fruity;
- floral green;
- floral-aldehydic;
- floral-woody-musky;
- floral chypre;
- floral-aquatic.
The subgroup of a fragrance is determined by which notes “sound” most clearly.
What we immediately feel is the top note. Its validity period is no more than 20-30 minutes. Next comes the central note. She “lives” for about 2-3 hours. Its life is prolonged by the base note. Their mixture “sounds” much longer - from several hours to several days. Read more about the scent pyramid.
What flowers are used?
Most often, among the components there are: jasmine, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, peony, iris, freesia, violet, tuberose, magnolia, orchid, gardenia, lily.
But if you look at the list of ingredients, you can find everything there - from exotic southern flowers to simple chamomile. Floral perfume scents are the most popular and are usually liked by women.
Alas, women are not given flowers every day. But I really want to feel the fragrance of beautiful creatures next to me again and again. That's why we buy perfume. These are flowers that are always with us.
Floral scent, which excites the soul - the simplest and purest of all joys known to us. The impression of a smell is fleeting and weightless, it deeply moves us and leaves us with a strange feeling of happiness.
Floral perfumes can create the image of either one flower or an entire bouquet. The main components of this family are flowers - rose, jasmine, violet, lilac, lily of the valley, narcissus, tuberose.
Floral aromas are enriched by the presence of other scents, but the floral note dominates in them, defining the character of the perfumes of this family.
The range of shades of floral aromas is very wide. Perfume with floral scent They can be rich and feminine, or they can leave only a light romantic almost weightless shade of aroma. Therefore, women of any age, type and character can easily choose the right floral perfume for themselves in.
Women's floral fragrances
The aroma opens with the freshness of grapefruit and black currant and the second sensation is the radiance of white flowers - jasmine, lily and apricot. Sensuality comes later with the aromas of vanilla, musk, tonka bean and sandalwood, which create an enveloping intimate trail of Cacharel Amor Amor perfume.
Euphoria Blossom by Calvin Klein is inspired by the delicate aura of a graceful blossoming bud. He is like a precious flower gradually revealing its petals to us. The perfume composition is a juicy and fresh floral bouquet that captures our senses with its sparkling freshness. Imagine gentle drops of morning dew on the velvet petals of a flower, in which small rainbows are reflected - this is the image of Euphoria Blossom.
Flora by Gucci perfume is a reference floral scent that combines freshness, sweet notes, sensuality and femininity. The perfume opens with notes of citrus and peony, which when combined create a charming, delicate and intriguing note due to the presence of bergamot, rose and osmanthus.
"Roses bloomed in the heart of Very Irresistible Givenchy." The Very Irresistible Sensual Velvet fragrance is an alluring and seductive, fruity and juicy aroma of Liv Tyler rose, created especially for the Givenchy brand, settled among notes of star anise and a floral bouquet of roses of different varieties. Patchouli notes delight the senses with their enveloping warmth.
Lancome Miracle is a floral fragrance that symbolizes energy and vitality, tenderness and romance, and remains modern and exciting to this day. The Lancome Miracle composition opens with a fresh shade of lychee and freesia, which turns into notes of jasmine, magnolia, ginger and pepper, and ends with a trail of amber and musk.
Sensual connoisseurs of jewelry will certainly want to decorate themselves with an exquisite haze, in which initial notes of pomegranate and icy freshness frame the pure radiance of magnolia and peony, and luxurious amber and noble mahogany create the final royal chord of this extraordinary “living” fragrance. First of all, Versace Bright Crystal perfume brings in youth, spring, new bright feelings. The presence of a union of citrus and floral in this composition determined the tenderness of the aroma.
The aromatic combination of Amor pour Homme in the first notes consists of tea and citrus fruits, the “heart” notes are seasoned with spices, fern, rose. The basic base of the Amor pour Homme fragrance is created by rosewood, benzoin, vetiver, and tonka bean.
Summer refreshing drink Very Irresistible Fresh Attitude from Givenchy shares its energy and vivacity, gives even more sexuality, making you free and liberated! The perfume composition consists of notes of fresh blue curacao, star anise, lavender, basil, mint leaves, grapefruit and green cardamom.
The perfume composition was created in the spirit of the latest trends in incorporating floral notes into men's scents. Kenzo Power opens with an explosion of citrus notes and cool green spices that softly transition into dark musk and amber accords. The soft touch of iris is even more delicately felt at the base of the aroma in combination with woody notes.
Floral aromas are bouquets of garden plants and the smell of a blooming meadow!
*To choose an individual scent, use our "
April 25th, 2013The flora of our planet is rich and diverse. Flowers are amazing creatures. They are beautiful, gentle, perfect. And their amazing aroma captivates women and inspires perfumers all over the world. We present to you the favorites of the perfume industry.
Rose is the queen of perfumes. This flower with a warm, slightly spicy, sweetish odor was one of the first to be used by humans to produce essential oil. The aroma of a rose combines tenderness and regal splendor, beauty and inaccessibility. In perfumery they use Rosa Centifolia, which grows in Morocco and Grasse, and Rosa Damascene, which is grown in Turkey and Bulgaria.
It is impossible to imagine modern perfume production without lavender. Lavender exudes an attractive, pleasant scent that promotes calm - the aroma of serenity. Endowed with the aroma of misty freshness, lavender is much loved by perfumers in all countries.
The elegant, sophisticated scent of jasmine makes it the king of flowers in perfumery. Its aroma is floral, fresh, light, with a sweet fruity nuance.
The flower is native to the Philippine and Comoros Islands. Ylang-ylang, which Filipinos call the “flower of flowers,” is considered the flower of seduction and pleasure. The unique aroma of ylang-ylang is the top note of the well-known Chanel No. 5 perfume.
5. Orange tree flower or orange blossom
The refined aroma of orange blossom is somewhat similar to the scent of jasmine, but shimmers with more honeyed and tart shades. Fresh, delicate and clean aroma - the aroma of happiness and love. It is not for nothing that the orange tree flower is called the “Flower of Happiness”, “the Flower of Brides”, “the Flower of Innocence”.
Thanks to its intoxicating, intoxicating and captivating aroma, tuberose is a symbol of forbidden pleasures and passion. The scent is very intense, like sweet honey, with hints of jasmine and orange, heavy and sensual. The essential oil of this magnificent flower is considered one of the most precious floral oils in modern perfumery.
Gardenia flowers emit a sweet, silky scent reminiscent of jasmine. Gardenia symbolizes love, harmony and grace. Its warm, voluminous, but at the same time light and airy aroma is often used as the “heart” of floral perfume compositions.
The delicate, very fresh, tart, cool aroma of lily of the valley awakens sensuality and creates an atmosphere of love. This is the most spring smell; a scent that lifts your spirits and gives you confidence.
9. Lily, whether Asian or Oriental
Lily flowers have a pleasant, mysterious, exciting aroma. The Greeks attribute divine origin to the lily; among the Spaniards and Italians, as well as in other Catholic lands, the lily is considered the flower of the Blessed Virgin; among the French in the Capetian and Bourbon eras, the lily is a symbol of royal power. Thick, slightly balsamic, with a sweet floral note, the scent of lily is intended for real kings and queens.
Hyacinth is a flower of love, happiness, fidelity. Its aroma is honey-sweet, floral, bright, with a hint of lily and jasmine, it makes you dizzy and excites. Perfumers often use the scent of hyacinth as top or middle notes.
11. Plumeria or frangipani
Plumeria is a tropical plant with amazingly beautiful flowers of regular shape. Plumeria exudes a warm, sweet, deep floral aroma with soft fruity notes, attracting perfumers all over the world.
12. Tiare or Gardenia Tahitian
It is the national flower of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. Graceful creamy white tiare flowers are endowed with a strong, pleasant, captivating aroma. The sweet, exotic scent of this flower conjures up images of calm seas, a spice island, and the lush vegetation of a tropical paradise.
Mimosa flowers have an extraordinary aroma; you can’t confuse it with anything else. Sweet, floral, woody, green, with a bitter honey note - this is the smell of spring, a holiday.
Peony in China is one of the most revered plants; they say about it: “a hundred roses in one flower.” Its subtle, sweet, floral aroma is reminiscent of old roses. The romantic aroma of love of this flower has taken its rightful place in perfumery.
Narcissus flowers have a strong, sweetish, slightly bitter, intoxicating smell. Early spring is permeated with this exciting aroma. Narcissus absolute is very rare and expensive, it is used only in high-end perfumes.
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Even at the dawn of civilization, man used a variety of aromas to improve the smell in his home, please the gods and get rid of the unpleasant odor of his own body. Ancient perfumers used natural ingredients, and it was only towards the end of the 19th century that chemicals began to be added to them. But few people think that modern perfume can consist of very unpleasant (and sometimes downright repulsive) ingredients.
1. Musk deer musk
Some families of deer have glands that produce musk, a strong-smelling substance used to attract members of the opposite sex. More than 1,000 years ago, it was discovered that musk (the smell of which is unpleasant in itself) enhances the smell of perfumes. Unfortunately, glands cannot be removed from musk deer without killing the animal.
Despite this, musk was previously so prized that it was used in virtually all perfumes until the 1970s, when its use was finally limited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
2. Beaver stream
The beaver stream is the secretion of the beaver's preputial glands, which are located next to the animal's anus. The beaver uses this secretion to mark its territory, and in fact the substance is very similar to musk.
The scent of the stream is reminiscent of wood and leather, so it is often used in perfumery to add these notes to perfumes. Although most modern perfumes no longer use jet, it is still considered a vital component in luxury perfumery.
3. Dimethyl sulfide
Dimethyl sulfide is one of the most powerful chemicals in perfumery. It has a very strong, repulsive smell of sulfur and onions. Not surprisingly, this aroma can be found in nature in onions, asparagus, durian fruit and dead horse lilies. Despite the vile smell, this aroma was also unexpectedly found in roses and geraniums. Dimethyl sulfide is used in perfumery to enrich the rose note in geranium oil and also to reproduce the scent of the sea.
4. Costus oil
Costus oil has also recently been banned from use in perfumes due to the ingredient's potential for causing allergies. However, previously the essential oil, which was obtained from the dried roots of the costus plant, was a very common ingredient in classical perfumery and was used in some of the most famous perfumes for men. The smell of costus is similar to... the smell of wet dog hair, and it is incredibly strong.
When combined with other animal ingredients, it produces the aroma of unripe watermelons and irises. Today there are synthetic substitutes for costus, but no one has yet managed to completely imitate natural oil.
5. Phenols
Phenols make up a fairly large family of aromas in perfumery. They are naturally produced by many plants as a defense mechanism against insects and the environment in general. The most commonly used phenols in perfumery are cresols, which were so named because they were originally synthesized from creosote, a byproduct of coal tar production. Like their resin, they have a characteristic acrid creosote odor.
But the strangest thing is that many of them also have an additional similarity to the smell of horse and human urine. This may seem like a terribly strange smell for a perfume, but phenols play an important role in recreating some floral scents, such as daffodils, ylang-ylang, lilac and hyacinth. Interestingly, salicylic acid, which is the main constituent of aspirin, is also a phenol.
6. Amber
Ambergris is an intestinal secretion of sperm whales. Scientists are still not entirely sure where exactly sperm whales secrete ambergris, but perfume amber must spend years in the ocean waters to become such. Fresh ambergris (which can be found in the digestive tract of a dead sperm whale) is worth nothing to perfumers because it has an incredibly unpleasant odor.
After a long period of aging, the ambergris loses most of its repulsive odor and takes on a slightly floral aroma. It is mainly used in perfumery as a fixative - even the smallest drop of this substance causes the scent of perfume to linger on the skin for several days. For this reason, amber was added to almost all perfumes in the past.
It is used much less frequently in modern perfumes due to its incredibly high cost (from $26,000 per kilogram, depending on quality). The price is so high because most ambergris is found by chance on beaches. In the past, ambergris was also used by wealthy people as a dietary supplement, with King Charles II regularly eating it with his scrambled eggs.
7. Indole
Indole is a chemical found naturally in many flowers (mostly white flowers such as jasmine and lilies). This is a very powerful chemical with a strong fecal odor. Its use in perfumery is exclusively as an additive for creating floral aromas. Synthetic jasmine essence will not truly smell like jasmine until a small amount of this foul-smelling substance is added to it.
Most fascinating is the fact that indoles are formed from a chemical that has a similar effect to serotonin, which interacts with receptors in the brain, causing a person to experience pleasure. For example, LSD is an indole alkaloid.
8. Civet musk
Civet musk is a thick secretion from the glands of the civet (or civet), a mammal most commonly found in Africa and India. The most prized musk is civet musk, which comes from animals bred in Ethiopia. This substance has an extremely powerful rotten odor, but it has long been used in perfumery and as a food additive.
Most perfumes up until the end of the 20th century included trace amounts of civet musk. Even today this ingredient can be found in expensive perfumes.
9. Mercaptans
Mercaptans are a group of chemicals with a terrible odor. Their smell has a distinct sulfurous tint and is most similar to the smell of rotting cabbage. Various types of mercaptans are used in perfumery. For example, blackcurrant mercaptan is used to create a blackcurrant aroma, while furfuryl mercaptan is used to create a coffee aroma. Mercaptans, along with dimethyl sulfide mentioned above, are found in human intestinal gases.
10. Skatol
The smell of skatole is extremely repulsive, even in an extremely diluted state. But when combined with other compounds, a floral smell is formed. Skatole is a compound that occurs naturally in feces and coal tar. That being said, it is also found (in microscopic amounts) in many flowers such as jasmine and orange blossom.
Before using cosmetics, you should find out about. Some may have to give up their favorite cosmetics to stay healthy.
