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Fragrance May Be Sites, Or Receptors, in the Lining of the Nasal Cavity

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Fragrance May Be Sites, Or Receptors, in the Lining of the Nasal Cavity florolo gy 101 By Kirk Pamper AIFD, AAF, PFCI among thousands of odors. Scientists have identified a large family of genes in our DNA that they believe are coded for specific odor binding Fragrance may be sites, or receptors, in the lining of the nasal cavity. It’s estimated that there are as many as 10 million the floral attribute olfactory cells in humans. (Don’t feel too smug— dogs have 20 times that many.) These receptor that is most cells are relatively long. At one end are the olfactory cilia—slender, hair-like structures that powerful and least bind to the specific molecules of an odor. The cilia are attached to the olfactory neurons, which understood. generate electrical signals that travel directly to the olfactory bulb, a rounded structure at the front Flowers are intrinsically associated with fragrance. of the brain, located directly above the nose. In the Almost everyone, when presented with a bouquet or olfactory bulb, information from the receptors is even a single blossom, will immediately bring it to organized into patterns that the brain then his or her nose to see how good it smells. It’s one of interprets as different odors. the things that make us value and appreciate flowers as much as we do. In fact, it’s so important The olfactory bulb is part of the brain’s limbic that the newly published AIFD Guide to Floral Design: system—primitive brain structures that govern Terms, Techniques, and Traditions identifies it as one emotions, behavior, and memory storage. The of the elements of floral design. limbic system is one of the oldest and most vital parts of the brain. In fact, a very important aspect How is it that the fragrance of flowers affects of smell is that olfactory neurons make up the us so strongly? What purpose does it only sensory pathway that is in direct contact with serve for the flowers the brain. For most animals, it is a primary mode themselves? And if it’s so of communication that influences many important important, why are so functions, including reproduction and taste. This is many florist flowers one reason why our olfactory memories are relatively weak in among the most powerful. They frequently have fragrance? strong emotional qualities and are associated with the good or bad experiences in which they Let’s first take a look occurred (a fact that florists can use to good at how olfaction (the advantage). Olfactory information travels not only technical term for to the limbic system, however, but also to the the sense of smell) brain’s cortex, or outer layer, where conscious operates in thought occurs. humans. The human olfactory Plants create fragrance by producing volatile system can distinguish (easily vaporized) compounds that emanate from Flo we rs& the surface of their petals, leaves and There are some flowers that don’t smell biological purpose is to be pollinated so technology to consider resurrecting scents other tissues. Scientists have so far very good at all, at least to the human that it can produce the next generation of in flowers that have long since lost them, identified about 1,000 of these chemicals. nose. For example, a succulent plant seeds, it makes evolutionary sense that a and as genetic engineering progresses, However, there are many more as yet to known as the carrion flower (Stapelia short-lived flower might generate a strong we may start seeing plants that produce be isolated, and there can be as many as giganteum) produces blossoms that smell perfume that can quickly attract a fragrances that have never before been 50 or 100 different chemicals involved in very much like rotted meat, which is an pollinator, whereas a longer-lasting experienced by a bee, beetle, or florist. generating a particular scent. In roses enticing aroma to the flies that pollinate it. blossom has a much greater window of alone, more than 80 distinct fragrance The overpowering stench of the titan arum opportunity in which to become pollinated. compounds have been identified. Imagine (Amorphophallus titanium), a gigantic This is one reason why so many of our Designer fragrance, the possible combinations—each one member of the Aroid family, is enough to “florist” roses don’t have much fragrance; anyone? different from every other! These knock a horse over, yet it’s so irresistible in trying to develop more attractive Despite the fact that fragrance is so compounds function in the manner of to dung beetles that they will chew their blossoms with longer vase lives, plant strongly associated with flowers in the enzymes, with distinct molecular shapes way through the inflorescence to get at breeders have focused on selecting genes mind of the consumer, floral designers for that fit precisely with specific receptors in the pollen inside. To give you an idea of that produce those traits rather than genes the most part haven’t added it into their the nasal cavity. This is the reason why what the arum smells like, two of the responsible for fragrance. the second sniff of a fragrant flower isn’t organic compounds that are partly conscious calculations of the elements within their compositions. We know when as powerful as the first; the receptors are responsible for its odor are putrescine and It turns out that there is actually a it’s there of course; yet, we’ve tended to bound up with the molecules from the first cadaverine, both of which are also negative relationship between the genes overlook it as we pay more attention to sniff. Typically, only a few of the volatile produced during the decomposition of that are responsible for vase life and those the visual impact of our designs rather chemicals in a fragrance are obviously rotting proteins. that control fragrance. Some of the same than the olfactory. We haven’t really noticeable to human noses, and no two chemicals that plants use to make learned how to combine and layer people experience an odor the same way. Flowers tend to be most fragrant when fragrance have been shown to shorten fragrances in the way that the perfume In other words, a rose may smell sweeter they have sufficient nutrition, which is one vase life. These are the natural plant trade, for example, has. And that’s a to some people than to others. more reason why the use of commercial chemicals that respond to hormones like shame, because, as we’ve already seen, flower foods is important. In addition, ethylene, which is a ripening hormone and memories associated with the sense of moderate to warm temperatures and high gas that causes flowers to wilt. As Calling all pollinators smell can be among the most powerful we light tend to increase fragrance. Many breeders selected plants that made less of Why do flowers smell good (or bad) in the experience. Numerous studies have flowers display a circadian cycle in the those chemicals in order to achieve long- first place? The answer is simple: proven that pleasant fragrances simply production of fragrance, with the scent lasting cut flowers, they also may have advertising. The basic biological purpose of make us feel and perform better. being strongest at certain times of the day removed the plants’ abilities to produce flower fragrance is to advertise to insects Aromatherapists have built a multi- or night. This phenomenon too is related floral scent. The same holds true for or other pollinators that food (in the form million-dollar industry around that fact. to the activities of the flowers’ pollinators. potted and garden plants as well. For of nectar or pollen) is available, or to fool Snapdragons, for instance, are most example, the cyclamen used to have a them into believing that sex is a possibility But florists can indulge in a little fragrant during the day when pollinating fragrant flower. (some flowers emit a scent that resembles bees are likely to be most active. Perhaps aromatherapy ourselves. We already do so the pheremonal essence of sexually on occasion; how many times have you you’ve noticed that the fragrance of Furthermore, pigment compounds (those receptive members of certain insect gathered around the design bench just to Stargazer lilies becomes stronger at night, that produce color in a flower) are derived species). Thus captivated, the insect visits catch a whiff as someone was about to which would indicate that these and from some of the same biochemical the flower, looking for a meal or a mate. If open a fresh box of gardenias or related species are likely to be pollinated precursors as scent compounds are. So all goes well (for the flower that is), the stephanotis? By learning which of the by a nocturnal insect such as a moth. It it’s logical that if you make more of one insect will take some pollen with it when it cultivars among the many hundreds would be a waste of a flower’s energy to you get less of the other, and as flower leaves and deposit it on the stigma of available to us have the best fragrances advertise to insects that don’t even breeders have sought to create an ever- another blossom of the same species as and practicing combining them in different pollinate them. widening spectrum of colors among the the first, thereby cross-pollinating the ways, we can elevate floral design to a estimated 18,000 rose cultivars now on plants. Even if the pollinator is one that’s new dimension, sharing a kind of the market, fragrance has very often gone drawn by the color or shape of a blossom, Trade-offs aromatherapy with our customers.
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