A primary function of floral scent is to attract pollinators and ensure the reproduction of animal-pollinated plants.
Some families of VOCs presented in floral scents have likely evolved as herbivore repellents. However, these plant defenses are also used by herbivores themselves to locate a plant resource, similar to pollinators attracted by the floral scent. Therefore, flower traits can be subject to antagonistic selection pressures (positive selection by pollinators and negative selection by herbivores).