The World of Smell

A tour of the largest fine fragrance perfumery lab in the world

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Erika Larsen / Redux for TIME
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This Passion flower is one of more than 2,000 flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs at IFF's New Jersey botanical gardens. Host to the world's largest collection of aromatic orchids, with 750, the facility serves IFF's perfumers as well as representatives of client companies, such as Estée Lauder, who visit for inspiration. The botanical gardens are remarkable in their diversity: an exotic fruit from China sits next to a colorful African flower, which resides near a spicy herb from India. When IFF researchers travel abroad and discover plants with interesting scents, they are added to the collection. The Passion flower pictured here, whose scent has fruity and honeysuckle notes, is used for both flavors and fragrances.

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