Timing matters

A plant’s production of attractants is an energy-intensive process. To balance the use of resources, some plants only produce scent chemicals during specific times of day. Jasmine only produces its scent during the evening and nighttime hours when its own dedicated pollinators (moths) are active. This is why the fragrance carried by a summer breeze changes as the afternoon moves from evening to night.

Even though honeysuckle and jasmine plants produce enticing chemical cocktails to attract butterflies and moths, we humans also get to enjoy the fragrance on a summer evening. And it is not just for a summer evening. We have figured out how to collect these odorant compounds from the plants in support of the fragrance industry so that the scents can be enjoyed at any time. Jasmine seems to be a particular favorite, as it can be found in over 80% of the frangrances in women’s perfumes and in over 30% of those in men’s colognes.

So the next time you sample a scent at the perfume counter or enjoy the smell of honeysuckle and jasmine in the evening, you might take just a second or two to contemplate the amazing, complex biosynthesis that is happening!