He has named two old trees near The Bermuda Perfumery in Hamilton Parish.

Getting to the root of the problem has brought the sweet smell of success to Mr. Hunt.

For eight years ago the Perfumery launched an "identify the trees'' contest, with $100 and 11 bottles of perfume as prizes.

The mystery kept holidaymakers and Bermudians guessing -- until this week when Mr. Hunt twigged the answer.

His winning entry? Acacia suma Kurz, an Indian tree occasionally planted in the West Indies.

"In a way it's a shame the contest is over. It's been a great deal of fun,'' said Perfumery managing director Mr. Colin Curtis. "I will be ringing Mr.

Hunt and sending the prizes to him.'' Mr. Hunt, of Virginia, first entered the contest about three years ago while in Bermuda.

But he was told he was barking up the wrong tree -- despite using a suggestion from The New York Botanical Garden.

Two months ago, however, the Garden's curator Mr. Rupert Barneby wrote to him with the correct answer. The letter explained why the Garden had had problems naming the trees.

"It was a vexatious puzzle. The reason I was unable to match your plant in our collections has now emerged; all our material of the species has been out on loan to a German university.

"This material has just been returned to us, and was immediately recognised as being the same as your mystery on Bermuda.'' Scenting success, Mr. Hunt wrote this week to the Perfumery.

In it, he declared hopefully: "I'm going to be rich, and my girlfriend is going to be happy, swimming in gallons of perfume.'' Mr. Curtis had no doubts Mr. Hunt was a winner. "I will take the word of The New York Botanical Garden. That is good enough for me.'' Mr. Curtis believed the trees were planted in the 1930s by his grandfather, who used to travel to the West Indies.