The tiny flowers of this wonderful plant when sniffed in the warmth of the day, or when they exude what can only be called an intoxicating and intriguing scent.  Some are known to have an aversion to its strong , sweet perfume and yet others, as myself would happily swoon with pleasure if I could only inhale greater quantities of it!  Such is our individual reaction to aromatics.

Landscape gardeners are usually aware of the likelihood that some will not appreciate a port wine magnolia shrub in close proximity and adapt the placement of these exotics to suit the owners or the environment.  The shrubs would be enjoyed near schools or in parks that young people frequent as their sensitivity is keen.  We may think that older people would not be able to indulge in the same way but sometimes a hint or memory can compensate to echo past delights experienced by a port wine magnolia lover.

The essential oil from the flower is rarely known and expensive as all the exquisite florals and we will welcome its future availability.

Technorati Tags: exotic port wine magnolia, perfumed delight, scented flowers, strong scent in garden

Allspice Calycanthus floridus, scented as the name indicates sweet

Amazon Lily Eucharis grandiflora scent is good

Artemisia arborescens – ‘Powis Castle’ is a soft, ornamentla variety strongly scented

Arum lilies Zantedeschia aethiopica, Z. odorata has a strong perfume of freesias

Backhousia citriodora lemon scented leaves

Basil Ocimum basilicum slightly camphorous, attractive scent

Bay leaf Laurus nobilis , Pimenta racemosa has a warm, spicy smell

Belladonna Lily Amaryllis belladonna  heavy perfume – too heavy

Broom-Spartium, Genista and Cytisus scented spp

Buddleja asiatica, B. auriculate B. davidii spice scented flowers and other scented spp

Buffalo Currant Ribes odoratum spicy scented flowers

Calamints Calamintha alpinahas scent mixed thyme and sage C. grandiflora is taller with rose red flowers aromatic leaves

Californian Lilac Ceanothus dentatus Gloire de Versailles powder blue flowers

Carnation, Gillyflowers spice scented

Catmint, Catnip  Nepeta cataria, N. mussini attracts cats

Cestrum nocturnum heavy, toxic scent at night

Chamomile, Roman  Anthemis nobilis-lawn chamomile, apple scented

Chilean Jasmine Mandevilla laxa syn M. suaveolens scented white flowers.

Cistus ladanifer has sticky leaves and white flowers

Clematis  Clematis. Armandii ‘appleblossom’ is best perfume C.montana wilsonii highly perfumed scent like cowslips C. flammula has best fragrance

Clerodendrum Clerodendron trichotomum has scented flowers but smelly foliage

C. bungei, C. fargesi have sweetly scented pink flowers

Clethra arborea Lily of the Valley tree

Cosmos, Chocolate Scented Cosmos atrosanguineus

Cotton Lavender, Santolina Santolina chamaecyparissus  aromatic foliage.

Crinum x powellii has scented flowers

Curry Plant Helychrysum italicum

Cyclamen europeum has a strong scent

Cypress cupressus sempervirens

Daphne odora, D. pontica D. Burkwoodii D. blagayana is a prostrate fragrant plant

Datura syn Brugmansia D. candida wonderful perfumed flowers to intoxicate

Dianthus Carnations Dianthus fragrans, D. caesius – Cheddar pink from England has best perfume old cloves, many hybrids

Dregea sinensis syn Wattakaka sinensis scented pink flowers

Eau de Cologne Mint leaves and flowers when crushed scent of eau de cologne

Elaeagnus angustifolia honey scented flowers intoxicating fragrance

Elder Tree, Sambucus flowers have perfume – leaves are smelly

Eucalyptus globulus, E. citriodora one of the cleanest antiseptic scents, the latter lemony

Evening Primrose Oenothera odorense – biennial O. trichocalyx white flower almost as pleasantly scented

Flowering Tobacco ,Scented Tobacco- Nicotiana alata yn N. affinis only the white has the perfume “Fragrant Cloud’

Franjipani possesses the well known scent of tropic gardens

Freesia corymbosa the wild ones having best perfume

Gardenia augusta, G. florida, G. jasminoides etc. – exquisite perfume

Geranium Geranium Bourbon, Pelargonium graveolens flowers and leaves scented

Giant Lily Cardiocrinum giganteum from the Himalayas has fine scent.

Ginger plant and root possess the wonderful warm well known ginger scent

Ginger Lily Hedychium gardnerianum scented yellow flowers H. coronarium White ginger Lily

Gladioli tristis has a very sweet scent G. murielae syn gladiolus callianthus  has lily scented flowers

Heliotrope, Heliotropium spp Cherry Pie strongly reminiscent of hawthorn. Some are

vanilla scented

Himalayan magnolia, Champaca source of perfume

Honeysuckle spp Loniceras fragrantissima L. periclymenum, and others sweet scented

Hoya carnosa, H. lanceolata

Humea elegans Incense Plant – can cause skn irritation but has fragrant foliage.

Hyacinth  Hyacinthus orientalis heavy, overpowering scent

Iris aphylla, arenaria, , germanica, graminea, reticulata, stylosa all scented species

I. florentina flower is violet scented and the root dried in use of perfume I. pallida Fleur de lis or Fower de Luce of Damatia has very sweet perfume like orange flower.

Jasmine Jasminum officinale, J. angular has larger leaves than J. polyanthm and heavier flowers J. sambac ‘/Grand Duke of Tuscany’ double exquisite perfume.

Jonquil, Narcissus spp heady perfume that is either loved or avoided

Juniper Juniperus communis strong masculine type aromatic

Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum perfumes the air

Lavender Lavendula officinalis, L. Vera , L. dentata

Lavender cotton, Santolina - once as cooking herb but suited to keeping away moths Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis – lemony scent

Lemon blossom Citrus limonum unique clear, citric scent allied to the orange flower

Lemon Oil from fruit Citrus limonum antiseptic, shart and cleansing

Lemon scented thyme Thymus best for garden verges, walkways and culinary use

Lemon Verbena Aloysia citriodora syn Lippia citriodia Lemon Verbena leaves scented

Lilac Syringa vulgaris exquisite perfume. Many hybrids.

Lilium – many sp. Most have scent but careful as pollen often stains

Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis strong and distinctive perfume

Luculia gratissima cherished plant for pink delicate scented flowers

Magnolias sinensis, M. stellata, M. wilsonii, M, grandiflora

Mahonia japonicaflowers like lily of the valley

Marjoram Origanum majorana familiar scent in garden and kitchen

Meadowsweet Spiraea sp once a strewing herb – richly perfumed English wild flower  

Mexican Orange blossom Choisya ternata scent similar to sweet Orange blossom

Michelia, spp includes the indescribable richness of the Port Wine Magnolia

Mimosa , Wattle Acacia dealbata and many others – but care with allergies

Mint, Mentha spp scented foliage and flowers

Mock Orange, Philadelphus Philadelphus coronarius, strongly scent P. microphyllus,  

Murraya paniculata delightfully fragrant shrub with white flowers

Myrtle Myrtus communis aromatic leaves

Narcissus/Jonquils, Daffodils – select spp N, campoernelli odourus plenus doule has great perfume N. jonquilla flore pleno

Night Blooming Cereus, Night scented Cacti – Epiphyllum crenatum

Night scented Stock Matthiola longipetala bicornis waves of delicious fragrance in evenings. 

Orange blossom, Neroli Citrus aurantium one of the supremely satisfying scents

Osmanthus fragrans exquisite perfume similar to warm ripe apricots

Ozothamnus ledifolius leaves covered in sticky gum perfumes, white flowers pink buds from Tasmania, Australia

Passionflower ‘Incense” Passiflora incarnata x P cincinnata has fragrant flowers

Patchouli Pogostemon patchouli popular first in India and now world wide

Pelargoniums – many scented varieties P, tomentosum, P. graveolens Rose Scented used for rose substitute perfume. Some spp have are evening scented flowers P. gibbosum is strange plant hightly scented green flowers in evening. P. triste also evening fragrance

Peppermint Mentha piperita attractive to the senses of taste and smell

Petitgrain Citrus aurantium bitter orange tree – refined scent in demand in perfumery

Petunias – suitable for warm climate gardens and exude wonderful scent at night

Phlox paniculata scented flowers

Pine Pinus sylvestris has strong, clear, mellow scent. Masculine scent used in aromatherapy for general massage

Roses – Rosa gallica sp  and R. moschata,  also David Austin roses (See Rose List)

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis a scent traditionally associated with the mind and with memory. It is a culinary herb well suited to all potato dishes

Sage. Salvias Salvia officinalis S. rutilans has a pineapple scent S. sclarea Clary Sage strongly scented but not as strong as common sage

Spanish Broom Spartium junceum sweetly scented – many hybrdis are scented

Stephanotis floribunda Madagascar Jasmine sweet strong perfume

Stocks- White Perennial Matthiola incana – most heavily scented

Sweet Alice Alyssum scent like hawthorn

Sweet Box Sarcococca confusa, S. hookeriana

Sweet Peas Lathyrus odoratus – soft, powdery sweet perfume

Sweet Pepper Bush Clethra alnifolia white and pink flowers scented

Sweet Rocket Hesperis matronalis  has a perfume like cloves – evening perfume

Sweet Sedge,Calamus Acorus calamus, scented in all ita parts but roots most valued

Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum scented flowers and foliage – strewing herb

Tangerine Citrus reticulata from peel of ripe fruit

Thyme Thymus. serpyllus wild the – culinaryT. herba borona smells of caraway seeds

T. nitidus attractive perfume

Tobira  Pittosporum tobira – scent of orange blossom

Tuberrose Polyanthes - said to be the strongest of floral perfumes.

Vetivert Vetiveria zizanoides for tranquillity

Viburnum fragrans – fruits are eaten there are many hybrids with perfumed flowers.

Violet, Viola Viola odorata true perfume V. ruviniana Dog Violet with no smell

Wallflower Cheiranthus cheiri syn Erysimum cheiri Best scent are the original yellows

Water Hawthorn Aponogeton distachym has a strong scent lance shaped leaves white

flower unusual shape with black anthers. Scent disappears soon after picking.

White Flag Iris –perfumed like lemon sherbet -delightful

Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans has hawthorn like perfume – exceedingly strong

Winter’s Bark  Drimys winteri jasmine scented flowers and aromatic leaves.

Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria W. sinensis Chinese Wisteria

Witch-hazel Hamamelis mollis from China has wonderful scent on warm day.

Ylang Ylang Cananga odorata an exotic tropical perfume used discreetly in perfumes

Zaluzianskya. Zaluzianskya ovata heavily scented plant from Sth Africa

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