Why does flowers smell nice

That's where their smell comes in. Flowers produce fragrances to help attract pollinators. No two flowers emit the same fragrance, according to Scientific American. That's because scents are created by a variety of volatile organic compounds. The amount of these compounds and how they interact with each other is what creates a particular fragrance. Plants tend to emit the most fragrance during the time of day when the insects they use for pollination are active, Scientific American reports.

Flowers that use butterflies and bees for pollination are most fragrant during the day, while plants that are pollinated by moths are most fragrant at night. Some flowers rely on one particular type of insect for pollination, so their scent is very specifically aimed at attracting that insect. Not all flowers emit a sweet-smelling odor to please people and pollinators alike.

Some flowers smell downright awful. Take the corpse flower. As you might expect based on its name, the corpse flower emits a noxious odor reminiscent of rotting flesh. The horrible smell of the corpse flower may be a turnoff for humans, but it has a purpose. Upon investigation, you find that both odors originate from flowers — but why do flowers smell like anything at all? Certain scents help these flowers solve a big problem.

Plants flower to produce seeds that can go on to become new plants. To make a viable seed, pollen from one part of the flower must fertilize the ovules in another part of the flower.

Some plants can self-pollinate , using their own pollen to fertilize the ovule. Sometimes gravity helps pollen fall into place. Sometimes wind carries it. Other flowers are pollinated by birds, bats, insects or even small rodents carrying the pollen from one flower to another. In these cases, the flowers might provide a little incentive. Animal pollinators are rewarded by sweet energy- and nutrient-rich nectar or protein-packed pollen they can eat.

Flowers that need the help of insects and bats go one step further, producing a floral scent that acts as a smelly kind of welcome sign for just the right pollinator. An orchid blooming in the tropical forest or a rose in your garden needs to attract a pollinator to bring pollen from flowers of the same species. However, there are flowers which look similar but are from other species. Tell us about it sometime at Dr. Universe wsu. Search for:. Videos Activities Podcasts. Dear Miles, Flowers not only smell nice to humans, but also to many insects and birds who help the flowers do a really important job.

All kinds of smells Different flowers will send out their own unique smells to attract the right kind of pollinators. Even stink y flowers need pollinators to survive. A Puget blue butterfly on a daisy. Some insects can use their feet to help them smell. Photo by Rachael Bonoan. Sincerely, Dr. Universe Investigating Pollinators.