The Fragrance Of Orchids: A Natural Wonder

Orchids are known for their colourful flowers, but many also have a wide range of fragrances. Some orchids have a strong scent, ranging from putrid to pleasant, while others have a milder fragrance. The function of these scents is to attract pollinators, and each species has its own unique strategy to do so. For example, some orchids have fragrances that mimic the pheromones of bees and wasps, while others have bright colours and sweet smells to attract hummingbirds. The time of day can also affect an orchid's fragrance, with some smelling stronger in the morning and others in the evening.

Orchids with pleasant fragrances

Orchids are prized for their beauty and diversity, but their fragrance can be just as captivating as their appearance. From sweet and floral to spicy and musky, orchids produce a wide range of scents that can fill a room or garden with their alluring aroma.

Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifolia)

The vanilla orchid is famous for producing the aromatic beans used in vanilla extract. Its delicate white flowers have a sweet, slightly spicy scent that is both exotic and comforting.

Chocolate Orchid (Oncidium sphacelatum)

The chocolate orchid is named for its rich, cocoa-like fragrance. Its flowers are small and brown, with a distinctive lip that resembles a monkey's face. Oncidium Sharry Baby is another variety that smells like chocolate.

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)

Moth orchids are popular for indoor cultivation due to their wide range of colours and sweet, delicate scent, often compared to jasmine.

Lady Slipper Orchid (Paphiopedilum spp.)

The lady slipper orchid has a distinctive pouch-shaped lip resembling a slipper. Its flowers come in shades of pink, yellow, and green, and emit a soft, musky scent.

Oncidium Orchid (Oncidium spp.)

Oncidium orchids have a unique fragrance often described as spicy, with hints of cinnamon or clove. The flowers come in a variety of colours, including yellow, orange, red, and pink.

Brassavola Orchid (Brassavola nodosa)

The brassavola orchid, also known as the "Lady of the Night", has a delightful citrusy scent. Its white, star-shaped flowers have a long, narrow lip and release their fragrance in the evening.

Dendrobium Orchid (Dendrobium spp.)

Dendrobium orchids are prized for their beauty and sweet, floral fragrance, often compared to lilies. They come in a wide range of colours, including white, pink, purple, and blue.

Stanhopea Orchid (Stanhopea spp.)

The stanhopea orchid produces complex and intriguing fragrances that are musky and spicy, often with hints of honey, cinnamon, or even chocolate.

Zygopetalum Orchid (Zygopetalum spp.)

The zygopetalum orchid has a unique, earthy fragrance that is both spicy and floral. Its large, showy flowers feature bold patterns of green, purple, and white.

Vanda Orchid (Vanda spp.)

The vanda orchid is valued for its beauty and sweet, fruity fragrance, reminiscent of ripe mangoes. It comes in a variety of colours, including blue, purple, orange, and red.

Rhynchostylis gigantea (Foxtail Orchid)

The Foxtail Orchid has a range of colours, from pristine white to burgundy red, and all forms are sweetly fragrant with a citrus scent.

Cattleya walkeriana

Cattleya is a genus that offers a wide range of fragrant orchids. Cattleya walkeriana, in particular, has a strong vanilla and cinnamon scent.

Encyclia cordigera

This orchid has a sophisticated fragrance that combines chocolate and roses.

Dendrobium kingianum

Dendrobium kingianum is an Australian native found in various colours and sizes. It is known for its delightful fragrance of hyacinth, lilac, or honey.

These are just a few examples of orchids with pleasant fragrances. Orchids use their scents as a survival strategy to attract pollinators, and their fragrances can vary based on factors such as temperature, humidity, and time of day.

Orchids with unpleasant fragrances

While many orchids have delightful fragrances, some have evolved to emit unpleasant odours to attract pollinators. Flies, gnats, and beetles are drawn to orchids with putrid scents. Here are some examples of orchids with unpleasant fragrances:

Bulbophyllum beccarii

Also known as the "corpse flower", this orchid is famous for its putrid odour, resembling that of a decaying animal. It is often cited as one of the worst-smelling orchids.

Bulbophyllum echinolabium

This orchid has a distinct and offensive fragrance, resembling the smell of dog droppings.

Bulbophyllum orientale

The Bulbophyllum orientale orchid emits a foul odour, reminiscent of rotting apples and bananas.

Bulbophyllum carunculatum

This orchid has a particularly unpleasant fragrance, often described as smelling like rotting brie cheese.

Bulbophyllum psychoon

The Bulbophyllum psychoon orchid has a scent that is often compared to rotting fish or pond scum.

Angraecum leonis

While most Angraecum orchids are noted for their delightful fragrances, the miniature Angraecum leonis, native to Madagascar, has a putrid scent to attract pollinators.

Oncidium

Some orchids in the Oncidium genus are known for their unique fragrances, which can be described as spicy, with hints of cinnamon or clove. While these scents may be appealing to some, others may find them overwhelming or unpleasant.

These orchids with unpleasant fragrances play a crucial role in attracting specific pollinators, such as flies, beetles, and gnats, contributing to the diversity and survival of orchid species.

How orchids use their fragrance to attract pollinators

Orchids are highly specialised when it comes to pollination. They are masters of deception, using every trick in the book to ensure the survival of their species.

Orchids use their fragrance to attract pollinators in a variety of ways. Some orchid species entice pollinators with sweet, fragrant scents. Others emit no odour but use colour or shape to tempt insects. Some orchid species even emit repulsive odours, such as rotting meat or decaying organic matter, to lure pollinating insects that feed on carrion.

The fragrance of an orchid often complements the appearance of its blossom. For example, some orchid species that exude fragrances that smell like insect pheromones also have flowers that look like female insects. Similarly, rotten-smelling orchids usually have dull colours that mimic decaying plants or animals.

Some orchid species have fragrances that mimic the pheromones of bees and wasps, tricking male insects into trying to mate with the flowers. Some bees even collect the orchid's fragrance and store it on their hind legs, perhaps to attract their own mates.

In addition to fragrance, orchids also use colour to attract pollinators. For example, Phalaenopsis orchids use colour to attract orchid bees, which have unusually long probosces that allow them to reach the deep centres of the orchid flower. Orchids also have a lip that provides a place for bees to rest while depositing and gathering pollen.

Orchids are pollinated by a variety of insects and birds, including bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, gnats, and beetles. The fragrance and appearance of an orchid species will often be tailored to attract a specific pollinator. For example, sweet-smelling red and yellow orchids attract hummingbirds, while foul-smelling orchids with dull colours attract flies, beetles, and gnats.

Orchids with chocolate fragrances

Orchids are known for their wide range of fragrances, from putrid to pleasant. The fragrance of orchids is an essential part of their survival strategy, attracting pollinators such as bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, gnats, and beetles. While some orchids have bright colours and sweet fragrances, others produce foul odours to attract insects that feed on decaying matter.

One of the most popular orchids with a unique fragrance is the Oncidium Sharry Baby Orchid, commonly known as the Chocolate Orchid. This tree-dwelling hybrid orchid is known for its intense fragrant blossoms, producing long spikes of brick-red and cream flowers. The mature plants can release numerous spikes simultaneously, often carrying over 100 fragrant deep-red flowers. The care for this orchid is easy, requiring medium to low light and good air circulation.

Following the Oncidium Sharry Baby Orchid, the Oncidium Heaven Scent (Redolence) is another variety that exudes a chocolate fragrance. This orchid has a more defined and fuller flower with wider sepals and petals, making it more appealing than the Sharry Baby. The fragrance is light and charming, with a slight hint of chocolate, pervading the morning air.

Another orchid with a chocolate fragrance is the Encyclia Cordigera, also known as Epidendrum Atropurpureum. This species is native to Central America, the northern areas of South America, and Brazil, and is known for its ability to adapt to various conditions. The powerful fragrance of this orchid varies slightly with each plant, but some say the pink-lipped flowers smell like a combination of chocolate and roses. The flowers have a long blooming period, lasting for over a month, providing plenty of time to enjoy their scent.

In addition to these three main varieties, there are other orchids that are known to have chocolate fragrances, including the Oncidium Hawaiian Sunset, Oncidium cheirophorum, and Oncidium ornithorhynchum. While the intensity of the chocolate scent may vary among these orchids, they all offer a unique and captivating fragrance that adds to their beauty and allure.

Orchids with vanilla fragrances

Orchids are known for their wide range of fragrances, from putrid to pleasant. While the most popular orchids sold by florists are unscented, there are also many perfumed varieties, with their aromas spanning the olfactory spectrum from effervescent lemon to dark chocolate.

Vanilla-scented orchids are among the most popular, with their sweet and creamy fragrance reminiscent of jasmine and green grapes. Here are some orchids with vanilla fragrances:

Oncidium Sharry Baby

Also known as 'Sweet Fragrance', this orchid is adored by chocolate lovers as it smells like chocolate and vanilla.

Cattleya walkeriana semi alba

This orchid has a delightful fragrance that combines cinnamon and vanilla.

Encyclia alata

The Encyclia alata has a tropical scent that combines coconut and vanilla.

C. Purple Cascade

A hybrid orchid with a vanilla scent.

L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Couleur Vanille

A perfume that combines vanilla orchid and vanilla bean to evoke a tropical paradise.

Grossmith's Floral Veil

A perfume that captures the charm of vanilla orchids with a mélange of white blossoms and green notes, finished with cashmere woods and amber.

Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Orchidée Vanille

A fantasy flower created by perfumer Randa Hammami, with mandarin and litchi notes inflecting the creamy vanilla orchid at its heart.

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