Most floral VOCs belong to three main chemical classes. VOCs in the same chemical class are synthesized from a shared precursor, but the biochemical pathway is specific for each VOC and often varies from one plant species to another.
Terpenoids (or isoprenoids) are derived from isoprene and synthesized via the mevalonate pathway or the erythritol phosphate pathway. They represent the majority of floral VOCs and are often the most abundant compounds in floral scent blends.
The second chemical class is composed of the fatty acid derivatives synthesized from acetyl-CoA, most of which are known as green leaf volatiles, because they are also emitted by vegetative parts (i.e.: leaves and stems) of plants, and sometimes higher in abundance than from floral tissue.
The third chemical class is composed of benzenoids/phenylpropanoids, also known as aromatic compounds; they are synthesized from phenylalanine.