Converts benzoic acid into the volatile ester methyl benzoates (PubMed:14630969). This scent, mostly produced in a rhythmical, diurnal manner, attracts the pollinators (PubMed:14630969). benzoate + S-adenosyl-L-methionine = methyl benzoate + S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine S-adenosyl-L-methionine + salicylate = methyl salicylate + S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine kcat is 0.0057 sec(-1) with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (in the presence of salicylic acid) (PubMed:14630969). kcat is 0.0079 sec(-1) with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (in the presence of benzoic acid) (PubMed:14630969). kcat is 0.004 sec(-1) with salicylic acid as substrate (PubMed:14630969). kcat is 0.0032 sec(-1) with benzoic acid as substrate (PubMed:14630969). Optimum pH is 7-7.5 with salicylic acid as substrate (PubMed:14630969). Optimum pH is 6.5-7.5 with benzoic acid as substrate (PubMed:14630969). Aromatic compound metabolism. Predominantly expressed in petal limbs and tubes of corollas. Triggered by EOBI in flowers (PubMed:23275577). Fades out in flower petals after pollination, thus resulting in a decrease in methylbenzoate emission (PubMed:14630969). Strongly repressed by ethylene (PubMed:14630969). Belongs to the methyltransferase superfamily. Type-7 methyltransferase family.