The article discusses the role of phytohormones and regulatory metabolites in plant growth, development, and stress responses. It highlights the evolving understanding of how these small-molecule signals coordinate gene expression and modulate physiological processes. The authors argue that currently recognized plant hormones are part of a larger group of regulatory metabolites that have acquired signaling properties during the evolution of land plants. They emphasize the need to understand the direct targets of these compounds and the mechanisms by which they exert their effects. The article provides a detailed overview of the jasmonate pathway, from its discovery as a floral scent to its current understanding as a potent transcriptional regulator. Key advances in elucidating the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway, mutants involved in jasmonate signaling, and the regulation of jasmonate biosynthesis and catabolism are discussed. The authors conclude by emphasizing the importance of studying regulatory metabolites in diverse plant species to gain a comprehensive understanding of their roles and mechanisms.The article discusses the role of phytohormones and regulatory metabolites in plant growth, development, and stress responses. It highlights the evolving understanding of how these small-molecule signals coordinate gene expression and modulate physiological processes. The authors argue that currently recognized plant hormones are part of a larger group of regulatory metabolites that have acquired signaling properties during the evolution of land plants. They emphasize the need to understand the direct targets of these compounds and the mechanisms by which they exert their effects. The article provides a detailed overview of the jasmonate pathway, from its discovery as a floral scent to its current understanding as a potent transcriptional regulator. Key advances in elucidating the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway, mutants involved in jasmonate signaling, and the regulation of jasmonate biosynthesis and catabolism are discussed. The authors conclude by emphasizing the importance of studying regulatory metabolites in diverse plant species to gain a comprehensive understanding of their roles and mechanisms.