Certain micro-organisms such as fungi can actually "talk" to each other using fragrances known as "terpenes," according to a new scientific study.

Researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) demonstrated for the first time that two different types of micro-organisms -- bacteria and fungi -- use fragrances known as terpenes to hold conversations. And that's not all.

"We actually believe that terpenes are the most popular chemical medium on our planet to communicate through," said the NIOO microbial ecologists in their study.

Their research demonstrated that two very different groups of micro-organisms use fragrances to communicate with each other, the most common type being terpenes.

Billions of micro-organisms are thrive in only one gram of soil, so that makes for many "speakers." Besides this fact, this "chemical communication" will probably work for a host of other life forms, as well.

Researchers have demonstrated that bacteria and fungi do in fact respond to each other. In other words: they can hold conversations.

"Serratia, a soil bacterium, can 'smell' the fragrant terpenes produced by Fusarium, a plant pathogenic fungus. It responds by becoming motile and producing a terpene of its own," said group leader Paolina Garbeva.

Researchers established this by studying which genes were switched on by the bacterium; which proteins it began to produce and which fragrance.

"Such fragrances -- or volatile organic compounds -- are not just some waste product, they are instruments targeted specifically at long-distance communication between these minute fungi and bacteria."

But how widespread is this "language of smells?"

Pathogenic soil fungi such as Fusarium also have an effect above ground, where they make plants sick. Can they communicate with those plants?

"We have known for some time that plants and insects use terpenes to communicate with each other," said Garbeva.

"But we've only just begun to realize that it's actually much wider. There is a much larger group of Terpene-speakers: micro-organisms."

Fungi, protists, bacteria, and even higher animals can "speak" terpene. Terpenes act as pheromones -- chemical signals used by animals -- which makes them a regular ingredient of perfumes. So it's likely that the language of terpenes forms a vast chemical communications network.