Best Fragrant Flowers: 20 Sweetly Scented Blooms
Fill your garden and home with intoxicating scents. From romantic roses to exotic jasmine, these fragrant flowers create an aromatic paradise.
A flower's fragrance can transport us to another place and time. The best fragrant flowers not only look beautiful but engage our senses in ways that visual beauty alone cannot. Here are the most heavenly scented blooms to grow and enjoy.
Classic Fragrant Flowers
1. Roses
The quintessential fragrant flower. Old garden roses and David Austin varieties have the strongest scents.
Best for: Garden beds, cut flowers | Scent: Sweet, complex
2. Gardenias
Intensely sweet, creamy white blooms. One flower can perfume an entire room.
Best for: Containers, humid climates | Scent: Sweet, heady
3. Jasmine
Exotic, intoxicating fragrance especially strong at night. Perfect for arbors and trellises.
Best for: Climbing, containers | Scent: Sweet, exotic
4. Lavender
Calming, herbal fragrance. Flowers and foliage are both aromatic.
Best for: Borders, dried flowers | Scent: Herbal, clean
5. Hyacinths
Powerful spring fragrance. A few bulbs can fill a garden with scent.
Best for: Spring beds, forcing indoors | Scent: Sweet, intense
6. Lily of the Valley
Delicate bells with an enchanting, sweet scent. Spreads easily in shade.
Best for: Shade gardens, groundcover | Scent: Sweet, green
Evening Fragrant Flowers
These flowers release their strongest scents in the evening, perfect for patios and outdoor dining areas.
7. Night-Blooming Jasmine
Opens at dusk with an incredibly sweet fragrance that carries far.
Bloom time: Summer | Scent intensity: Very strong
8. Moonflower
Large white blooms open at night with a sweet, tropical scent.
Bloom time: Summer-fall | Scent intensity: Moderate
9. Evening Primrose
Yellow blooms that open in evening with a light lemon scent.
Bloom time: Summer | Scent intensity: Light
10. Night Phlox
Honey-almond-vanilla scent released after dark.
Bloom time: Spring-summer | Scent intensity: Strong
Fragrant Spring Flowers
11. Peonies
Lush, romantic blooms with a rose-like fragrance. Not all varieties are fragrant—choose carefully.
Fragrant varieties: Festiva Maxima, Sarah Bernhardt, Duchesse de Nemours
12. Lilacs
The quintessential spring scent. Common purple varieties are most fragrant.
Best for: Hedges, cut flowers | Bloom time: Spring
13. Daphne
Small shrub with incredibly fragrant winter-spring blooms.
Best for: Foundation plantings | Scent: Sweet, citrus
14. Sweet Peas
Old-fashioned varieties have the strongest honey-orange blossom scent.
Best for: Cut flowers, trellises | Bloom time: Spring
Fragrant Summer & Fall Flowers
15. Tuberose
One of the most intensely fragrant flowers. Rich, sweet, almost narcotic scent.
Best for: Evening gardens, cut flowers | Zone: 8-10
16. Oriental Lilies
Powerfully fragrant with huge blooms. Stargazer is the most famous.
Best for: Cut flowers, garden beds | Scent: Sweet, spicy
17. Heliotrope
Vanilla-cherry scent from clusters of purple flowers.
Best for: Containers, bedding | Bloom time: Summer
18. Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
White varieties are most fragrant, especially at night.
Best for: Evening gardens | Bloom time: Summer
19. Sweet Autumn Clematis
Masses of small white flowers with a sweet vanilla scent in fall.
Best for: Fences, arbors | Bloom time: Late summer-fall
20. Chocolate Cosmos
Dark red flowers that smell like chocolate! A unique conversation starter.
Best for: Containers, cut flowers | Scent: Chocolate, vanilla
Tips for Maximizing Fragrance
- 1Plant near seating areas: Place fragrant flowers where you'll actually enjoy them—patios, pathways, windows.
- 2Create sheltered spots: Walls and hedges trap fragrance. Enclosed areas concentrate scent.
- 3Choose evening fragrant plants for patios: If you use your outdoor space at night, prioritize night-blooming varieties.
- 4Don't overwhelm: Too many strong fragrances together can be cloying. Mix with unscented flowers for balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't store-bought roses smell?
Commercial roses are bred for long vase life and disease resistance, often at the expense of fragrance. For scented roses, grow your own or buy from local growers who prioritize fragrant varieties.
What's the most fragrant flower of all?
Tuberose and gardenia are considered among the most intensely fragrant. However, "best" is subjective—some prefer the fresh scent of lilacs while others love the heady sweetness of jasmine.
Are fragrant flowers good for cut arrangements?
Many are excellent! Sweet peas, roses, peonies, lilacs, and lilies all make wonderfully fragrant cut flowers. Note that some (like lilies) can be overwhelming indoors.
A garden without fragrance is like a meal without seasoning—pleasant but missing something essential. By including these best fragrant flowers in your garden and home, you'll engage all your senses and create memories tied to beautiful scents.
Local Flower Team
Local Flower
The Local Flower team is dedicated to helping you discover beautiful blooms and connect with talented florists in your area.