Flowers, Mother Nature's Perfume! Quiz

Answer: Mint

Lavandula is part of the mint family Lamiaceae, the same as other culinary herbs such as rosemary, sage, basil and thyme. The essence of lavender is used to make soap and perfume, but parts of the plant can also be used in cuisine. Flavouring lamb and ice cream with lavender is becoming very popular in some areas.

Answer: Frangipani

The Plumeria, or frangipani, is a scented plant native to the warm climes of Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean, although they are suitable to grow in most tropical regions. They do not have any nectar, but instead they deceive insects into pollinating them by using their strong night-time scent. The flowers can be white, white/yellow, pink, red and yellow.

Answer: Lily of the valley

Lily of the valley is a small plant with tiny bell-shaped white flowers. It may be small but it packs a punch with its heady fragrance, especially in shady woodland where it prefers to grow. The Song of Solomon in the King James Version of the bible celebrates the love and dialogue between two lovers.

The bride, or lover, is speaking in the quoted text, "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." Sharon was the name of a place east of Jordan known for its wildflower meadows.

The lily of the valleys refers to the bride's modesty, and of her feeling out of place as she is only a country flower.

Answer: Evening

Matthiola longipetala is more commonly known as night-scented stock. It is a plant which is easy to grow from seed, and once in bloom, it provides a mass of scented blooms of pink or mauve flowers. Like a lot of other flowers, they slow their energy during the heated daytime, but once it starts getting dark and the temperature cools, their scent permeates the air and this attracts nocturnal pollinators such as moths.

Answer: True

Yes, Nicotiana, or tobacco plant, belongs to the same family (Solanaceae) as the deadly nightshade. The scented flower comes in shades of lime-green, white, red and pink. Nicotiana tabacum is the most common species cultivated for the tobacco industry, its harvested leaves hung in a curing area to dry before being made into cigars or cigarettes.

Answer: Jasmine

Jasmine is a beautiful plant with clusters of small white flowers. They belong to the Oleaceae family which is also home to the humble olive. It can be grown in the garden, or as a houseplant, and is cultivated for many reasons, including tea, syrup, essential oil or perfume. During a warm summers' evening, why don't you relax in a warm jasmine perfumed bath, drinking a cup of jasmine infused tea, and let the gentle waft of jasmine scented flowers come through the open window. Heavenly bliss!

Answer: Adam Lonicer

The honeysuckle genus Lonicera was named after Adam Lonicer, a 16th century botanist and professor of mathematics. His greatest love was herbs, and his book "Krauterbuch" (herbal book) was published in 1557. The fragrant climber honeysuckle is a favourite for butterflies and bees, with its creamy peach blooms emitting a heady scent especially during the evening. It is a wonderful sight if grown alongside rambling roses or clematis.

Answer: Hyacinthus

The hyacinth is a scented spring flowering bulb which comes in shades of pink, yellow, blue and white. Whenever you next see the flower, remember the bitter-sweet story according to Greek mythology. It told of Apollo who was playing outside with his lover, the beautiful Hyacinthus, who was throwing a discus. In his jealousy, Zephyr blew a west wind which sent the discus off course, killing the young hero. In his grief, Apollo refused to let Hades, god of the underworld, take Hyacinthus, but instead turned him into a flower.

Answer: Gardenia

The gardenia was named after the American naturalist and physician, Alexander Garden. It is a tropical plant, native to the warm, humid areas of Africa, Asia and Australasia. In colder climates, they can successfully be grown indoors under glass as they thrive in bright light.

The flower has large white or creamy pale yellow scented blooms, almost rose-like but not quite. In parts of Asia, the flower is used as a natural yellow dye for food and on fabric.

Answer: Corpse flower

Sorry, but I couldn't resist adding a stinky flower at the end of this quiz about the most beautifully scented! Some of the most foulest, most smelliest flowers include the Amorphophallus titanum, or Titan arum, or corpse flower, its scent resembling that of rotting flesh. It is believed to have the tallest flower in the world. Another flower which is commonly called corpse flower is Rafflesia arnoldii, its single bloom being one of the largest in the world. The dead horse arum lily, Helicodiceros muscivorus, has a stench which resembles rotting meat. Give me roses any day of the week!