A note of thanks to David Janvrin for answering my query about chocolate scent.
In my post [ http://orchidguide.com/pipermail/orchids_orchidguide.com/2008-February/008439.html ], I mentioned Oncidium Sharry Baby, an hybrid which flowers are popularly referred to as having a chocolate scent. David mentioned the book written by Roman Kaiser, The Scent of Orchids. I have studied that book to write a review, a few years ago, but I do not know remember having seen a chromatographic analysis which reveals a chocolate scent. Is there one in that book ? Are you aware of any article in which the chemical compounds that produce a chocolate scent in flowers (orchids or else) are identified ? David indicates that the scent of the flowers of Oncidium ornithorhynchum is detailed in Kaiser's book. Does the author mention a 'chocolate scent' ? As David writes, chocolate flavor and fragrance are not naturally occurring in cocoa. What is referred to as a chocolate scent is the aroma which results from roasting the chocolate beans. When someone smells the flowers of the hybrid Oncidium Sharry Baby and says that they have a chocolate scent does that person really perceive a chocolate scent or says so because the vanillin [presumably present] makes him/her associate the fragrance with chocolate ? If possible, please provide references with any answer. Regards, Viateur _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
