Do paperwhite flowers smell bad?
Paperwhite narcissus are the cilantro of the flower world. While some people can’t get enough of their heady fragrance, to others they smell like a cross between dirty socks and cat pee. Like daffodils, paperwhites are a type of narcissus. But these are tender bulbs, native to frost-free regions of the Mediterranean. Paperwhite flowers have a very strong, heady scent that some people adore as intensely floral and sweet (like jasmine/orange blossom), but many find overwhelming, comparing it to cat urine, dirty socks, or feces due to compounds like indole.Enter the paperwhite (Narcissus papyraceus), a Texas tough member of the amaryllis family known for its clusters of pure white blossoms. But here’s the twist that has puzzled garden enthusiasts for generations—the enchanting blooms of this Mediterranean native emit a scent often likened to (at least for some) feces.Paperwhites. Indoor Narcissus Paperwhites (Ziva) is a highly fragranced daffodil with large clusters of pure white flowers that exude a gorgeous, spicy scent.