The Atrium

I recently read an article about a recent study from the University of Virginia which suggests that flowers are loosing their scent because of air pollution. Airborne chemicals have altered flowers' scent molecules, thereby destroying their natural aromas. Can you imagine our world filled with beautiful, yet scentless flowers? I don't even want to try! Additionally, many of the fragrances in our daily use products, like perfumes, personal care, and home care get their scents from nature's flowers and plants. (Even those which are artificial begin with the real thing.)

According to the University of Virginia study, during the 19th century, pollinating insects could detect a plant by its scent from up to 4,000 feet away, today that number has decreased to 700 feet. If what this study suggests is happening on a large scale, not only would future generations be deprived of natural flower and plant fragrances, but our crops and other plants would also be impacted.

There's already concern about the loss of millions of bees due to Colony Collapse Disorder, what will happen if the remaining bees cannot pollinate our crops and plants?