Fragrant Orchid dosen't equal "smells good" - Orchid Board

Rhonda Svoboda · #1 09-04-2020, 06:47 PM

I just bought a Mtssa. Charles M. Fitch 'Izumi' for two reasons: 1) the blooms are beautiful and 2) it was fragrant. What the site didn't say was that it smelled terrible. Its in bloom now- see pic's. Lesson learned: Fragrant orchids don't always smell good- look for as much info as possible before buying a fragrant orchid if that's your primary reason for buying it.

Mr.Fakename · #2 09-04-2020, 07:04 PM

Pics aren't working but it does look really nice!

In some cases the name is a dead giveaway. I have a Vanda foetida coming soon, I'm really, really wondering how it's gonna turn out

Paphluvr · #3 09-04-2020, 09:07 PM

To describe it as fragrant was misleading. Webster's New Word Dictionary defines fragrant as "a sweet smell; pleasant oder". Maybe it should have more accurately been described as odoriferous "giving off an odor, specif., a strong or offensive one".

Roberta · #4 09-04-2020, 09:39 PM

And then we have aromas that are pleasant to some people and not to others. For instance, Prosthechea radiata smells to me like wintergreen - a little medicinal but overall, rather pleasant. Other people think it smells like cat urine... There is probably a reason why AOS doesn't try to judge fragrance... it is so subjective.

Ispahan48 · #5 09-04-2020, 10:16 PM

Orchid fragrances, and flower fragrances in general, are a funny thing. I personally love the fragrance of Oncidium Sharry Baby and Oncidium Heaven Scent. I find the mix of chocolate, cocoa powder and vanilla to be heavenly. My partner, on the other hand, finds the scent revolting and describes it as “cheap harsh plasticky chemical bathroom cleaner.” Hmmmmph.

Other orchids whose fragrances I absolutely love are Brassavola nodosa, Brassavola Little Stars and most fragrant Phalaenopsis, especially the rose/peony scent of Phal schilleriana and the intense Fruit Loops smell of Phal Sweet Memory. The Brassavola in particular I find to be among the strongest and most pleasantly scented of all fragrant plants I have ever experienced, not only orchids.

There are orchids that people rave about that I personally find just so-so in the fragrance department. Neofinetia (Vanda) falcata is one of these. The fragrance has lovely top notes of jasmine and coconut that partially covers a base that always smells oddly “fungal” (yes, like mushrooms) to me. I love eating mushrooms but I can’t swoon over flowers that smell like them!

Among orchids I personally find unpleasant is Encyclia (Prostechea) radiata. This one smells like an uncomfortable mix of cheap licorice and sewer gas to my nose. Horrid. Lol.

SouthPark · #6 09-04-2020, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Pics aren't working but it does look really nice!

I thought the pics aren't working

nudge nudge ----- oops ... I get it ..... (we have to use our imaginations).

Indeed ...... it does look really nice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhonda Svoboda

I just bought a Mtssa. Charles M. Fitch 'Izumi' for two reasons: 1) the blooms are beautiful and 2) it was fragrant. What the site didn't say was that it smelled terrible. Its in bloom now- see pic's. Lesson learned: Fragrant orchids don't always smell good- look for as much info as possible before buying a fragrant orchid if that's your primary reason for buying it.

Know what you mean Rhonda. I have a C. Jewel Red 'Shinzu' which is very nice looking. But the scent is well ----- not unpleasant, but has hints of chocolatey chemical cleaner, or something. Not somebody would like to keep smelling ------ interesting smell, but not great.

When I see the word 'fragrant', I usually associate that with meaning - at least passable in terms of sweet smelling. For Oncidium Twinkle etc ..... with some vanilla scent mixed in ....... that sort of fragrance is quite nice. Not everybody's cup of tea ........ definitely not like 'run away' from the flower kind of thing.

I do grow a flowering size Encyclia (Prostechea) radiata, but no flower yet ------ soon maybe ------ and I just grew it to see if it would grow nicely in scoria. And certainly it grows excellently in it. But the mention by somebody about its smell ....... makes me think ....... oops!!!!!! But that's ok ------ I'll deal with it hehe (as in will handle it). I bought it also because it is supposed to have upside down flowers.

Roberta · #7 09-04-2020, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I do grow a flowering size Encyclia (Prostechea) radiata, but no flower yet ------ soon maybe ------ and I just grew it to see if it would grow nicely in scoria. And certainly it grows excellently in it. I bought it also because it is supposed to have upside down flowers.

The technical term is "non-resupinate" ... most orchids are "resupinate", with the lip at the bottom. Many (but not all) of the flowers in the genus Prosthechea are non-resupinate.

SouthPark · #8 09-04-2020, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

The technical term is "non-resupinate" ... most orchids are "resupinate", with the lip at the bottom. Many (but not all) of the flowers in the genus Prosthechea are non-resupinate.

Thanks Roberta!!! I definitely like knowing words like that - which I didn't know before. It really helps with the communications! I'll remember those two terms. Thanks again Roberta!