Why do raw sweet potatoes taste like perfume?

Raw sweet potatoes can have a perfumy taste due to the presence of certain volatile compounds, such as esters and terpenes, which are also found in flowers and fruits. These compounds develop during the growth process and can give raw sweet potatoes a floral or sweet aroma. Cooking the sweet potato alters these compounds, resulting in a more earthy and sweet flavor, which is why they taste significantly different when baked or boiled.