Unpopular Orchid Opinions

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

My unpopular opinions:

Most orchids said to smell like jasmine do not smell like jasmine. And roses...there is a variety of rose fragrance. Do you mean old fashion rose? Or do you mean the roses that have no fragrance at all?

Most orchids I found that were sold to me as smelling like jasmine smell more like library paste or some kind of rubber cement. I agree that rose fragrance is very diverse. I think they mean damask rose scent when rose fragrance is referenced but I could be wrong.

---------- Post added at 03:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

It just annoys me when people compare the fragrances of orchids to the fragrance of flowers or other fragrances that they have clearly never smelled.

Oh and my new Zygopetalum are supposed to smell like hyacinths. I have some of those come up every spring and so we shall see....

I don’t think I have ever smelled a Zygo that actually smelled like hyacinths, even though they are all marketed that way. To me, they all smell like Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit. The only orchid I have that actually approximates hyacinth to my nose is Den. Comet King ‘Akatsuki’

I do tend to describe orchid fragrances using other plants or foods but, I never use something vague or something I have never smelled before.

[Leafmite]

My father grew fragrant tea and Floribunda and his all smelled wonderful. I do not know the names of most but I do remember (tea roses) Fragrant cloud, Mr. Lincoln, and Tropicana. He was very disappointed with the new varieties as they were either not fragrant or, as you have said, not pleasantly fragrant. In his last few years, he began to replace his tea roses with other types of shrubs.

It just annoys me when people compare the fragrances of orchids to the fragrance of flowers or other fragrances that they have clearly never smelled.

Oh and my new Zygopetalum are supposed to smell like hyacinths. I have some of those come up every spring and so we shall see....

[estación seca]

Different people have different suites of smelling receptors, partially under genetic control, so not everybody experiences scent the same way. I really enjoy the scent of close-up paperwhite narcissus Narcissus tazzeta, and hyacinth, but a lot of people can't bear these when more than just a faint whiff. Same with heavy sweet fragrances like gardenia, Cestrum (night-flowering jessamine) and the different fragrances of jasmine.

Very strong gardenias and the heavily double form of Jasminum sambac smell to me a lot like hot dog sausages. I have friends who share this opinion. The single sambac, used to flavor jasmine tea, doesn't do this; it smells wonderful to me. I have a lot of it in my garden.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Different people have different suites of smelling receptors, partially under genetic control, so not everybody experiences scent the same way. I really enjoy the scent of close-up paperwhite narcissus Narcissus tazzeta, and hyacinth, but a lot of people can't bear these when more than just a faint whiff. Same with heavy sweet fragrances like gardenia, Cestrum (night-flowering jessamine) and the different fragrances of jasmine.

Very strong gardenias and the heavily double form of Jasminum sambac smell to me a lot like hot dog sausages. I have friends who share this opinion. The single sambac, used to flavor jasmine tea, doesn't do this; it smells wonderful to me. I have a lot of it in my garden.

That is interesting. Is it a bit like the cilantro problem where people with certain taste receptors taste it as soap? I like hyacinths, paperwhites, strong gardenias, and love Sambac jasmine. I have a 4 foot Sambac (Maid of Orleans) topiary. While I like the Sambac scent, I don’t like regular jasmine.

Some people I know think the paperwhites smell like manure. I think they actually both contain indole. I also have an unfortunately sick, large Cestrum nocturnum. That one is a bit much too close up.

[Leafmite]

That is true. Fragrance can vary depending on our genetics. I am glad that my Encyclia phoenicea (SVO) does smell like chocolate milk powder to me and my family. The flowers brought my family so much joy. Wonder how others perceive the fragrance?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Wonder how others perceive the fragrance?

My wife hates all orchid smells

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by isurus79

My wife hates all orchid smells

---------- Post added at 02:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:21 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

I might have a bum E. phoenicia. It came from SVO. It hardly grows at all.

I hope that this year, it will grow better for you.

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by isurus79

My wife hates all orchid smells

Is it because of your beautiful but "interesting" smelling amethsytoglossa??

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

That is true. Fragrance can vary depending on our genetics. I am glad that my Encyclia phoenicea (SVO) does smell like chocolate milk powder to me and my family. The flowers brought my family so much joy. Wonder how others perceive the fragrance?

Chocolate milk, yum! Does it smell differently for other people?

I have a first hand example of the importance of plant genetics too. I have owned 3 Haraella odorata in quick succession (before coming to the conclusion that I'll never be able to keep one alive long term without a high humidity enclosure of some sort).

This orchid is said to smell like lemons. The first one really did smell like lemons, freshly squeezed and delicious. The second one had a somewhat artificial sort of citrusy fragrance that was difficult to figure out. The third one had a distinct lemon scent, but not at all like my first plant! This one was more like lemon scented toilet cleaner (very chemical smelling and not pleasant!).

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Different people have different suites of smelling receptors, partially under genetic control, so not everybody experiences scent the same way. I really enjoy the scent of close-up paperwhite narcissus Narcissus tazzeta, and hyacinth, but a lot of people can't bear these when more than just a faint whiff. Same with heavy sweet fragrances like gardenia, Cestrum (night-flowering jessamine) and the different fragrances of jasmine.

Very strong gardenias and the heavily double form of Jasminum sambac smell to me a lot like hot dog sausages. I have friends who share this opinion. The single sambac, used to flavor jasmine tea, doesn't do this; it smells wonderful to me. I have a lot of it in my garden.

Every paperwhite I've had the "pleasure" of smelling reminded me of a litter box that needs cleaned.