I don't go for smelly shrubs, but lilac, mahonia, mock orange all have scents. White shrubs seem to have their own, strong smell frequencies, often strengthened in the evening (for attracting night flying insects). Night blooming phox and stocks.
Apple blossom is one of my top ever scents, but is the blossom fleeting. Many clems are scented. Honeysuckle, if it's your thing (I find it to be a PITA).
I like cut flowers in the house and am trialling which plants hold their scent well. So far, certain red roses come out on top. Freesias are nice but hard to grow I find, in regular conditions.
Lavender, sweet peas, jasmine and night phlox are my favourites . I also love herbs and scented foliage plants - I always have a selection on my patio, Lemon Verbena being my favourite of those.
Oh my goodness. How could I have missed night scented stock?!!? It is probably my absolute favourite, but weirdly I have a lot of trouble growing it. Freesias and Lily of the Valley, especially cut for the house, are probably my next favourites, and I missed all three 🤣
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I am a big fan of fragrant flowers and foliage. Lots of my favourite are already listed in posts above. But the one I love most are my Daphne. They don't love me though but that's another story.
Lemon verbena and basil for 'crushed leaf' fragrance, night scented stocks, clove pinks and nicotiana outdoors, narcissus, roses and sweet peas as cut flowers indoors
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Another vote for wallflowers from me. I find that wonderful heady scent almost addictive and can stand there sniffing it in for several minutes at a time.
Posts
Freesias and Lily of the Valley, especially cut for the house, are probably my next favourites, and I missed all three 🤣
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
-Rose Princess Alexandra of Kent
-Sweet peas