The Science Behind the Familiar Sweet Smell of Roses

On a special Valentine’s Day edition of the American Chemical Society series Reactions (previously), host Dr. Raychelle Burks gets to the bottom of the science between the familiar, pleasant smell of roses.

Rose scent comes from a lot of different chemicals. One has a somewhat obvious name: rose oxide. It produces a floral, green top note, plus a sweet smell, a fruity smell, a minty smell and a citrus smell.