Pollen

Pollen, a fine to coarse powdery substance, consists of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower or from a male cone. Each grain contains a male gamete that can fertilize the female ovule, through which seeds are produced. Pollen grains are encapsulated by a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametes during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the female cone in coniferous plants.

The scent profile of pollen can vary significantly depending on the plant species. Generally, it is delicately earthy, floral, and slightly sweet. Some pollen fragrances are heavy and can contribute to the hay-like scent of dried grasses and herbs; others are light and ephemeral, adding a fresh, almost citrus-like quality to the air. This diversity is because the pollen's primary role in nature is as an attractant for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other insects, and its scent helps guide them to flowers. The particular fragrance notes of pollen are typically subtle and may be more easily detected by sensitive individuals or animals, rather than being prominently distinguishable. Pollen scents also play an influential role in the aromas of honey produced when bees process the pollen.