The Scent of an Orchid

[RJSquirrel]

I see people all the time stick they nose into the flower of an orchid. Actually got to looking and smelling around and found the scent of mine doesnt come from the flower ..

It comes from glands (nectaries) on the column behind the flower . Its like beads of oil..The catt. acliandia just ooozes oil from behind the flower. The Encyclias have oil in the same places. The bractescens doesnt smell very strong in front of the flower but if you smell right behind it you can get a hint of the spice...The Cordigera is the same way. I couldnt detect the sweetness of it till I got behind it.. It also gets stronger in bright light and smells wonderful!!!!

But I do read they have the scent on the lip..hmmmm..not all of them do..I think the oil runs down onto the lip..But Im a noob

So next time you cant smell a flower..you might be smelling in the wrong places! or the wrong times!

[Jennyfleur]

I'll keep that in mind

[Wrebbitrocks]

i have always noticed large clear beads of what seemed to be nectar droplets on the ovaries of my cymbidium. it tasted sweet and the whole stem area seemed to be oiled. it smelled like between plastic/newcar smell with a hint of some other sweet smell. strange

[Vanda lover]

From now on I'm going to try smelling the back of the flower. I might get less pollen up my nose to bother my allergies!

[dounoharm]

the scent of orchid is the most fabulous scent to me...i love the smell....specially the smell of the big catts, some of them just pour out the smell!! when the big catts are blooming the whole greenhouse smells of orchid! ahhhh

[Jennyfleur]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

From now on I'm going to try smelling the back of the flower. I might get less pollen up my nose to bother my allergies!

I'm pretty sure I saw/ heard in nature show once that Orchids were great for hay-fever people (of which I am most definately one) as the the pollen forms a sticky ball (not very techinal I know) rather than float free like other pollens.

Can anyone back me up on this? or was I dreaming I heard it?!!

[Vanda lover]

That is quite possible, but unfortunately the perfume can also be what people are really allergic to.

[BobInBonita]

Great observation!

Tomorrow I'll be out in the orchids with a straw up my nose. I figure it will be easier to pinpoint the source that way (I have a nose that would definitely not be considered pinpoint).

Don't know about allergy to scent, rather than pollen - I've always heard that allergies were to proteins. Scents are usually aromatic oils, not proteins.

The logic that orchids would be less allergenic makes better sense to me, because orchids have pollinia that are like clumps of pollen grains. Being larger, they don't float around airborne like other pollens, but need an insect to move them from plant top plant.

[Vanda lover]

My husband and I are both allergic to perfumes. I fine that I can handle some [but not all] of the natural scent oils, but I have to admit that my Cattleya does bother me some. I really want a Vascostylis, so I think I'm willing to risk getting one. They are quite fragrant.

[BobInBonita]

I stand corrected. My only personal experience is with pollen allergies. Since you have direct experience, you obviously are closer to it than I am.