WHY don't sellers describe fragrance?! It is killing mee!!

[lotis146]

I second what Paul said; sellers would more than likely have a lot of returns on their hands if they even tried to say anything other than fragrant. If you want to know the fragrant specifics then ask. I think it would also be a huge waste of time for a seller to try and describe, accurately, each and every individual fragrance. If they start down that road of specifying then they're going to have to say well it's only fragrant from 8-12 then it's nothing or then it's mild. While I do agree that it would be nice to know about the unpleasant ones, they're in it to sell plants not discourage people, not to mention all the points you and everyone have made about our varying sense of smell. I have two Zygo hybrids whose scents I do NOT like, they smell like a chemical of sorts, something along the lines of Pine Sol (which I like) but worse. Then my Miltonia has a funky bad soap smell to it, I hate getting close to it when it's in bloom. Dare I bring up the Sharry Baby plants; they do not smell like chocolate to me - what I've always heard, always - though I do think it's a super delicious smell I don't think it's chocolate.

Furthermore, as a kid on up I always like the smell of snowmobiles (when running and after) as well as the smell of permanent markers. I wish I had some of those plants that are so fragrant they fill the room, but there's plenty here who can't stand the super sweet ones.

[camille1585]

Fragrance is such a personal thing/interpretation that it's difficult to be objective about it. If vendors were any more specific they'd get loads of complaints from unhappy customers who don't smell it the same way.

Even within a species there can be variation. For instance, my first Haraella odorata did smell strongly of lemons, like fresh squeezed lemons even. It was very very nice to smell. After that one died I got a replacement, which also was fragrant, as expected for this species, but this one smelled extremely artificial! To me it smelled more like a cheap air freshener or a toilet spray. Not a nice fragrance this time around!

As to the word fragrant being used to describe pleasant and in pleasant scents I think that's just how it is.... I have a book called "Fragrant Orchids" and it covers all types, from sweet and floral to true stinkers. You may like that book, the author (Steven Frownie) tries to describe the scent of each orchid and it can be quite entertaining to read. One Bulbo's scent is described as being "like a thousand dead elephants rotting in the African sun". I think that description gives a very vivid idea of what the plant smells like!

[astrid]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Fragrance is such a personal thing/interpretation that it's difficult to be objective about it. If vendors were any more specific they'd get loads of complaints from unhappy customers who don't smell it the same way.

Even within a species there can be variation. For instance, my first Haraella odorata did smell strongly of lemons, like fresh squeezed lemons even. It was very very nice to smell. After that one died I got a replacement, which also was fragrant, as expected for this species, but this one smelled extremely artificial! To me it smelled more like a cheap air freshener or a toilet spray. Not a nice fragrance this time around!

As to the word fragrant being used to describe pleasant and in pleasant scents I think that's just how it is.... I have a book called "Fragrant Orchids" and it covers all types, from sweet and floral to true stinkers. You may like that book, the author (Steven Frownie) tries to describe the scent of each orchid and it can be quite entertaining to read. One Bulbo's scent is described as being "like a thousand dead elephants rotting in the African sun". I think that description gives a very vivid idea of what the plant smells like!

Thanks for the book suggestion!! I would love to buy it! I really wish I could afford some of the more academic books, but they're like $200 a pop!! </3

I have actually had good luck with fragrance consistency with a couple of orchids. All my Nelly Islers have had a very characteristic fragrance of lemon candy and an undertone of musk.

All the Sherry Baby orchids I've smelled (within the dark ones and within the light ones) have smelled the same to me.

But I also understand that siblings of the same family can come out differently, I'm just saying I've had good consistency with my very limited experience.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Katrina hit the nail on the head. I totally understand that some fragrances that are pleasing to some can annoy others, or make them ill. I get that way around Wisteria or Royal Paulownia. In the same way, I like Cattleya fragrances, you apparently don't care for them. So, how could anyone describe their fragrances in a way that would be meaningful to both you and me ("Cattleya XYZ, fragrance of roses and citrus, or mothballs and emptiness"?)

Nurseries that sell stinky Bulbos usually warn customers. Other than that, indicating that the plant is fragrant may be the best that can be done.

Perhaps it would be best for you to only buy plants in bloom whose fragrance you like?