Some of the world's costliest perfumes originate from a wounded tree. When Aquilaria trees are damaged, they produce a dark, fragrant resin called agarwood. This ingredient is so valuable that wild trees have been illegally felled, devastating natural populations.
Artificial intelligence is now being deployed to address this problem. Osmo, a Google Brain spin-off, has raised $130 million to develop AI that can predict and recreate smells. From a finger-sized piece of bark, the AI analyzed the chemical formula and reproduced the scent in a laboratory, eliminating the need to harvest the tree.
Nevertheless, critics argue that synthetic alternatives do not necessarily relieve pressure on endangered species. Natural perfumer Mandy Aftel insists that replicating a scent does not prevent consumers from seeking the original, nor does it address other threats such as deforestation. Conservationists warn that such approaches may amount to greenwashing.
Sources: theguardian.com
The words in bold are from the article.
| 1. originate | a. however |
| 2. wounded | b. artificial |
| 3. fragrant | c. unlawfully |
| 4. illegally | d. remove |
| 5. deployed | e. used |
| 6. replicate | f. damaged |
| 7. eliminate | g. reproduce |
| 8. nevertheless | h. aromatic |
| 9. synthetic | i. forest clearing |
| 10. deforestation | j. begin |
1.j 2.f 3.h 4.c 5.e 6.g 7.d 8.a 9.b 10.i