For most people, the sweet, sugary aroma of freshly baked birthday cake sparks feelings of celebration and nostalgia, but imagine the delightful surprise of encountering that mouth-watering scent when taking a walk in the woods. While it may sound too good to be true, there are indeed tree species around the world that give off fragrances reminiscent of vanilla, butterscotch, and other appetizing baked goods.
Monkey Puzzle Tree – Argentina
One of the most well-known “cake-scented” trees is the Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana), a striking evergreen conifer native to central and southern Chile and west-central Argentina. With its thick trunk and branches covered in sharp, rigid leaves, the tree’s appearance is quite distinct from its delicious aroma. When the weather is warm, the resinous sap and spores emit a powerful smell often compared to sugar cookies, caramelized brown sugar, or pancakes dripping with maple syrup.
Pacific Redcedar – US & Canada
Another birthday cake impersonator is the Pacific Redcedar (Calocedrus decurrens), found across the western United States and Canada. The pleasantly sweet fragrance comes from naturally occurring compounds like alpha and beta sesquipolipides in the bark and wood. Redcedars are highly valued for construction due to their aromatic oils that deter moisture, decay, and insects.
Taiwan Incense Cedar – Taiwan & Japan
Over in Southeast Asia, travelers to Taiwan and southern Japan may catch whiffs of maple, cinnamon rolls, or French vanilla from the Taiwan Incense Cedar (Calocedrus formosana). Like its Pacific cousin, the wood’s unique mixture of chemical compounds is responsible for the appetizing wafts that seem to defy logic.
While these trees likely won’t have you genuinely mistaking the forest for a bakery, their ability to produce such delightful scents is one of the fascinating ways nature surprises us. So keep your nose alert on your next hike, or better still, take a trip- you just may catch an unmistakable floral-sugar scent dancing through the evergreen boughs.