{
  "id": 12622319,
  "title": "Making Scents Of AI: Can Technology Take The Pressure Off Endangered Plants?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/making-scents-of-ai-can-technology-take-the-pressure-off-endangered",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-07T11:36:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/tech/making-scents-of-ai-can-technology-take-the-pressure-off-endangered-plants"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Many of the world's most expensive perfumes rely on ingredients derived from plants facing severe pressure in their natural habitats. One such example is agarwood, or oudh, produced by Aquilaria trees when damaged and valued for its dark resin. Scientists and biotechnology firms are now investigating whether artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies could recreate these scents and compounds without continuously harvesting endangered plants. Researchers employ AI to predict the smell of molecules never before produced, while others have reconstructed scent-producing genes from flowers presumed extinct. The Guardian reports that some have even collected microbes from clouds to develop novel fragrances. Alex Wiltschko, founder of Osmo, a Google Brain spin-off backed by $130 million in funds, believes AI could benefit businesses and the environment by recreating the scent of endangered plants. Osmo successfully recreated the aroma of a rare tree using a single-finger-sized bark sample. A spectrometer analyzed the sample, and AI reconstructed the chemical formula, allowing the scent to be recreated in the lab. BioHarvest Sciences has developed a stable cell culture from an endangered Southeast Asian fragrance plant, enabling the production of valuable compounds without cultivating or harvesting the original plant. The company anticipates producing 20 tonnes of the fragrance composition, with limited production starting in 2027. However, conservationists and perfumers caution against presenting technological alternatives as a solution to the threats facing endangered species. Natural perfumer Mandy Aftel argues that synthetic versions of endangered plants' scents do not save the plants and may not prevent consumers from purchasing the original product. Rhian Smith of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, also expresses concerns, stating that while AI could develop an alternative to oudh, the material sourced from wild Aquilaria trees would retain high value. AI's significant advancement lies in predicting how combinations of molecules might be perceived, training on over five million human responses to smells. Despite these advancements, AI still faces limitations, as a flower's scent can contain hundreds of molecules and vary based on the plant part and growing conditions. Some researchers and perfumers argue that recreating a chemical composition cannot fully recreate the complexity of a living organism and its environment.",
  "summary": "Many of the world’s most expensive perfumes depend on ingredients derived from plants facing intense pressure in the wild. Agarwood, or oudh, is one example. It comes from the dark, fragrant resin produced when some Aquilaria trees are damaged, and its high value has fuelled illegal felling of wild trees. Now, scientists and biotechnology companies are exploring whether artificial intelligence…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}