The OP specified "lovely smelling shrub". Some fellow forum members suggested V. tinus 'Eve Price'. This shrub definitely looks like a V. tinus, but I'm not so sure about the suggested cultivar. I purchased and planted 'Eve Price' last year and it is now in full bloom of pinkish flowers but... no scent whatsoever. I am yet to meet with a sweet-smelling V. tinus (contrary to other Viburnums which are very scented).
Can any owner of 'Eve Price' confirm that it smells nice?
That was my feelings. Def Viburnum tinus. Not happy to say V. tinus Eve Price. Never ever noticed any scent from V.tinus.
Absolutely no scent from my Viburnum Tinus either, don’t think they are known for it. I agree it must be another winter shrub somewhere wafting it’s fragrance.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
They do have a scent, and it's not unpleasant. But you have to stick your nose right in - I've never known of any wafting. I suspect there was something else nearby.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I agree with LG - I'm pretty sure I was able to smell the Viburnum Tinus in my previous garden - but I do have a very keen sense of smell. The V Tinus in this garden is right at the back of a very deep border so not easy to get in and have a whiff!
It would, anyway, be totally overwhelmed and outplayed by the Viburnum Bodnantense and 2 sarcococcas close by. What with those and the winter honeysuckle the air is beautifully scented on a still day.
My favourite viburnum for scent is carlesii.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Is that the snowball-y one, @Topbird? That's my favourite ever too, but I don't have one and don't know of one that I can access for a sniff. I miss it.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Carlesii certainly does have a snowball form LG - although I think a few others are a similar shape. I think carlesii smells a bit like baby talc or Nivea cold cream. I have 3 (now fairly mature) in my garden and, in the right conditions, they scent the whole garden. One is right behind my morning coffee bench🥰
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I had a beautiful 8 ft tall Viburnum Tinus but it had no scent at all...... until it got infested with viburnum beetle then it smelt like vomit. Sadly had to remove it in the end🙁
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Def Viburnum tinus.
Not happy to say V. tinus Eve Price.
Never ever noticed any scent from V.tinus.
It would, anyway, be totally overwhelmed and outplayed by the Viburnum Bodnantense and 2 sarcococcas close by. What with those and the winter honeysuckle the air is beautifully scented on a still day.
My favourite viburnum for scent is carlesii.
Viburnum × bodnantense 'Charles Lamont'|arrowwood 'Charles Lamont'/RHS Gardening