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Paperwhite Narcissus: sweet or foul smell?

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  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    neither sweet nor foul
    Bonjour @Papi Jo    I think they smell like horse's urine.  At least mine do.  So it's sort of a country smell which isn't foul - just smelly nose-wrinkling.  I agree with @Dovefromabove - I am sure they used to smell differently many (many) years ago and although a strong smell, quite pleasant.  I thought that it was just the French variety that smelled so so so..... smelly.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    Been  a few years since I grew any.
    Found the scent pleasant but overpowering indoors.
    Placed in a sheltered open porch.  Nice.

    Other half described them as "old lady" scent.
    He also thinks Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn and Park farm hybrid and Lily of the valley (convalaria) = Old lady scent.
    Not how old ladies smell.....goodness knows that is variable and a bit personal.
     But meaning the kind of flowers old ladies might like in perfume, like violets or lavender or lily of valley.....roses....

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    They seem to smell quite different nowadays to the old fashioned Paperwhites I used to grow. I prefer the old ones 

    Maybe it's your nose that has changed, Dove. ;)
  • lovely fragrance
    @Papi Jo it’s interesting how opinions are equally split between ‘love’ and ‘hate’ - what a divisive plant paperwhite is! 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    White hyacinths smell vile too but blue are a bit strong but ok. I wonder if it's something in the white.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    foul smell
    Many thanks to those who answered my little poll. You can read more about the topic on my garden site at De gustibus et odoribus…
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