What Do Sunflowers Smell Like?

Sunflower Odor

• Sunflowers are part of the Aster flower family. Garden sunflowers, Helianthus annuus, are most often cultivated by commercial growers, but the family contains many varieties of sunflowers. They do not smell perfumed or flowery in any way. Most sunflowers, even the common garden variety, do not emit a floral fragrance; instead, the blossoms smell resinous in nature.

Resin Odor

• Sunflowers smell like resin, but what does resin smell like? Sunflowers smell faintly of green, growing things and the outdoors. The blossoms, seeds and foliage may all smell similar, in fact, with no discernible difference between petals and leaves. Even sunflower oil and sunflower seeds have very little smell unless it's added artificially.

Pollination

• Sunflowers do not have a floral odor that humans can detect, but insects can smell the scents the blossoms produce. Insects like bees are essential in sunflower pollination. The flowers attract the insects, which move from flower to flower and spread pollen along the way. Other, more destructive insects are drawn to the smell of sunflowers, such as sunflower moths, wireworms, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. Insecticide helps to keep harmful bugs away.

Sunflower Use

• Don't be disappointed that sunflowers do not have a strong, floral scent to go with their pretty, vibrant blossoms. Because sunflowers emit very little scent, they may be planted alongside much more fragrant plants. Add tall, bright sunflowers to a garden containing strongly scented flowers, like roses, or place them around sweet-smelling aromatic herbs.