Are Orchids Fragrant?

Among the great variety of species and hybrids, there are many fragrant orchids. The particular scents depend on the varieties that you have growing in your home. For example, the Lady of the Night (Brassalova nodosa) has a particularly powerful clove scent that is released at night. Your entire house would have the heady smell wafting through the air when these orchids become fragrant at night. The Fan-Shape orchid (Cochleanthes ‘Amazing’,) on the other hand, has beautiful flowers when they bloom, but possesses no scent whatsoever.

So the plain and simple answer to this question would be that certain varieties of orchids are fragrant while others are not.

One advantage of raising orchids for their scent is that the fragrances are as varied as there are smells! One of the more dramatic examples of this is the Sharry Baby oncidium. This popular orchid can leave your home smelling like a cake shop, with the scents of vanilla and chocolate floating in the air.

One of the easiest ways for you to find what fragrant orchids will work for you is to visit an orchidarium, botanical garden or orchid show. An alternative is to search out the book, “Fragrant Orchids”, identified in the video. In this book there’s a list of fragrant orchids and their fragrances described as accurately as possible. You definitely do not want to buy an exotic orchid that spreads the stench of rotting carrion in your home!

One caution about fragrant orchids: It‘s a good idea to find out if you are allergic to any particular smells. The aforementioned Lady of the Night has a particularly powerful scent, and could prove to be uncomfortable for those whose noses are too sensitive to the fragrance. Keep this in mind, and you’ll be able to select an orchid that is just right for you and your family’s noses.

Manipulating the Scents

Orchids are plants that are particularly sensitive to light and temperature, and these factors also contribute to the release of floral scents.

For example, the Lady of the Night only releases its scents at night. You could effectively simulate these nocturnal conditions to trigger the scent-releasing mechanism of the orchid. This also works for other orchids, since scents can be released during dawn, early morning, midday and the afternoon.

Again, the simulated conditions to trigger an orchid’s scent-releasing mechanisms vary according to the variety of orchids you have at hand. Each type of fragrant orchid has its own conditions for releasing its scent, and you’ll need to be familiar with these conditions in order to simulate their release.

It’s also good advice to have a manual, such as “Fragrant Orchids,” available if you plan to cultivate scented orchids. The information you can obtain regarding their cultivation would be well worth spending a little more in order to keep your home pleasantly fragrant.