Well, since no one else has took a stab at this one, I do not know why some smell differently beyond the fact that they are different varieties and their genetics are different. A poodle might smell different from a hound dog or something like that. I have not grown Sungold, and I have not kept up with the specific differences, have always loved the smell of my tomato vines in the garden, but have evolved to growing more heirloom and open pollinated varieties. I have noticed more difference in the smell of the plants this year than ever before. One or two borders on being unpleasant to me.

It may be too late this year to identify which ones that is but I will do a little "sniffing" around the garden tomorrow, weather permitting. We are still having highs in the upper 80s with some nice cool nights, but tomorrow is supposed to bring a big change, some rain and quite a bit cooler temps. I have lots of green tomatoes on the vines, I hope that most of them have a chance to ripen.
If I determine which ones that I think are markedly different or smell bad, I will post that info.
Bill P.

Your nose is more sensitive then mine. I saw this post yesterday. This morning while out picking I compared my SunGold plant to about 8 other varieties. They all smell the same to me.

I think that conditions may have something to do with amount of odor from tomato vines. With the above in mind, I went back out and with a slight southerly breeze at 9:15 A.M. and a temperature of 65 degrees, there was very little odor coming from any of the tomato plants in my garden.

I really think that mid day or afternoon on a hot steamy day with high humidity and little to no wind would be the most pungent in the garden, but that is just my thoughts right now.

One disclaimer that I probably need to make is that after smoking for a little over 54 years, I had a triple by pass operation about 13 months ago and quit smoking at that time. That really affected my sense of taste and smell too, especially at first but things are fairly much back to normal with a few exceptions.
For what it is worth, (which probably ain't much).
Bill P.

I've read that there are something like 400 different volatile organic compounds that go into the taste of a single tomato. So, I assume that different varieties are genetically predisposed to producing different compounds or in different ratios. We perceive this as 'flavor' or 'smell.' I will say that I've noticed the difference in the taste of Sungold tomatoes; a citrus-y, fruit-y top note that is a real eye-opener when people try one for the first time. I've heard lots of people say Sungold reminds them of that old-fashioned tomato taste, but I think that's just because they haven't had a fresh ripe tomato in a couple of decades. It definitely has a different taste than a typical slicer red tomato. I'm growing about a dozen Sungold plants now, and my wife is particularly a fan of this variety. Whatever the smell, you're going to be happy with the result.

I've read that there are something like 400 different volatile organic compounds that go into the taste of a single tomato. So, I assume that different varieties are genetically predisposed to producing different compounds or in different ratios. We perceive this as 'flavor' or 'smell.

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stoneunhenged, aka, K

Perhaps you've read that bit about the 400 organic molecules that have been Ided by mass spectroscopy b'c I've posted that at several places online and the original info was published in OG many years ago.

But that has to do with taste, and naturegirl is asking about the smell of the plant, aka the foliage. ( smile)

I haven't detected any differences in the smell of various foliages on different varieties, but that's not to say that someone else might be able to do so.

If we knew all the genes, or most of them, that were involved in synthesis of leaf structure we might have a better idea of which ones contribute to foliage smell.

Carolyn

I'm surprised others haven't noticed the smell of Sungold leaves. Maybe mine are different...or maybe everyone is growing only heirlooms! Almost every time I pick (which is alot cause the plant got HUGE!) I'm struck by how different the LEAVES smell. I just brush against the plant while harvesting and the smell wafts through the air. It's not like I stick my head into the plant and sniff away :) It is pleasant, kinda sweet, and I think non-gardeners might prefer it over the "normal" smell I associate with tomatoes.

After years of gardening, I enjoy the variety of smells from plant leaves in the garden even though some are actually not very good smelling. I'm wondering how many plants could be identified by leaf smell alone. I'm thinking it would be quite a few and tree of heaven (Ailanthus) would be one of the worst, IMHO

May be wrong (don't think so) but I believe that I could identify many, many things that I grow in my garden by smell.
Bill P.

I'm in agreement that Sungold and also SunSugar plants have a definite, different smell. It is so objectionable to me that I will not snack on the friuts while picking these varieties. What I did notice yesterday while eating a few SunSugar fruits was that there is even a hint of that compound, that "objectional chemical",in the fruit taste that seems to improve the flavor profile somewhat.

If you really want to smell an objectionable plant that reminds me of cat urine try growing the tomato grafting rootstock Maxifort. My belief is that these smells are a result of some wild plant parental strains used to breed these varieties.

I would categorize the Sungold/SunSugar plant smell as medicinal. It reminds me of a sanitizer, similar to Rocal-D.

Naturegirl, we probably just have the sensativity that others lack. I know that I can also readily detect Boar Taint(Androstanone) in pork fat that many coworkers fail to detect. So we can just agree that there are definite differences in our sensory perceptions. Ironically, the vast flavor differences of different tomato varieties that many talk about on this forum are not that apparent to me.

I'm with you, naturegirl and bmoser,.....Sungold to me has a very distinct, strong and different smell. This was my first year growing it and it took me awhile to realize what I was smelling. It is definitely the foliage, sticks to you more than others and seems to "grow" on me, so much so that I'm surprised others here have not noticed.

Hey there Naturegirl, I posted a similar thread (twice) over the years and no one ever responded to my Sungold aroma observation, probably thought I was nutz, ha. Glad that you and a couple of others also get it. When I first planted Sungolds it was immediately evident during my very first picking as my arms rubbed up against the foliage. It stikes me as a kinda "soapy" smell, just glad the tomatoes don't pick it up.

So a thought occurs to me ... for those trying to get a good tomato from Sungold saved seed ... anyone have the space to start a whole lot of seed and only grow out those seedlings with a scent similar to Sungold??? Curious if leaf scent is connected to that fabulous Sungold taste.

I think the Sungold smell comes from L. pimpinellifolium or one of the other types.