Floral scents from Buddleja lindleyana, Buddleja loricata, Buddleja cordata and Buddleja tubiflora were evaluated using the dynamic headspace adsorption method and identified with coupled gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. In total, 13 compounds were identified from the flowers of B. cordata, 19 from B. lindleyana and 29 from B. loricata, representing 95.5%, 93.1% and 96.2% of the total floral scents in the three species, respectively. No floral scents were recorded from B. tubiflora. Main volatile compounds in B. cordata were trans-beta-ocimene (53.4%), lilac alcohol (9.6%) and lilac aldehyde (5.6%). Main volatile compounds in B. lindleyana were beta-caryophyllene (17.6%), alpha-farnesene (16.0%) and 3-octanone (9.8%). Main volatile compounds in B. loricata were 4-oxoisophorone (27.1%), alpha-farnesene (17.9%) and linalool (10.6%). The study suggested that the floral scents may have evolved in conjunction with the sensory capabilities of different visitors as a specific group of pollinators in representative Buddleja species. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.