A fascinating exploration of the natural history of scent and human perceptions of fragrance from the viewpoint of plant and pollinator
“An evocative journey that awakens one’s curiosity to an oft-forgotten sense.”—Dana Dunham, Scientific American
Plants have long harnessed the chemical characteristics of aromatic compounds to shape the world around them. Frankincense resin from the genus Boswellia seals injured tissues and protects trees from invading pathogens. Jasmine produces a molecule called linalool that attracts pollinating moths with its flowery scent. Tobacco uses a similarly sweet-smelling compound called benzyl acetone to attract pollinators. Only recently in the evolutionary history of plants, however, have humans learned to co-opt their fragrances to seduce, heal, protect, and alter moods themselves.
