Some smell and some don’t: The ‘scent science’ of tulips (and other flower) fragrance

I started my flower farming career (at Little Farmhouse Flowers) smack dab in the middle of tulip season. I can vividly remember the strong citrus scent of the Orange Princess tulip as it was being harvested and carried past the table where I was starting seeds. The bright orange double tulip smelled incredible, but not all tulips carried such a fragrance. I wasn’t sure why.

Orange Princess double tulip- photo by Linda D’Arco

The “Scent Science” of Tulip (and Other Flower) Fragrance.

The main purpose of floral fragrance in nature is to attract pollinators. This helps the plants live a good long life and pass on their genetic material.

Chemically speaking, fragrance is comprised of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).

I know, something about the word “volatile” being in the name makes it seem pretty sketchy- but really- it’s just the generic name for a broad group of organic substances.

VOCs can be good for you or bad for you- they’re responsible for the smell of your perfume and the smell of your garbage- and they’re responsible for the smell of flowers.

VOCs are emitted by cellular structures within the plant called osmophores. Osmophores are found in areas of the plant that are most likely to attract pollinators, mainly the petals. Many plants rely on the presence of osmophores to aid in pollination, but not all plants have osmophores- which is why some flowers lack fragrance.

When breeders are working on new varieties of tulips, they are often concentrating on color, stem length, growth habit, etc… and sometimes fragrance falls by the wayside. Scientifically speaking, the osmophores and VOCs are bred out of the newly developed tulips. This holds true across the spectrum of flowers- which is why we often find old heirloom varieties to be the most fragrant.

Have any questions or comments about the science behind floral fragrance? Let us know below!

-Karissa