The Secret Power of Scent in the Garden
You might walk into a garden and admire the colours first, or the way the light falls through the leaves, but the scent often stops you in your tracks.
That sudden waft of sweet peas on a summer evening, the lemony tang of crushed lemon balm, the rich, heady perfume of a rose that smells like your grandmother’s garden scent is invisible but unforgettable. It lingers in the memory long after the blooms are gone, connecting us to people, seasons, and places with remarkable clarity.
In this post, I want to take a gentle walk through the scented side of the garden and offer a few ideas for adding fragrance to your own, wherever you are and whatever space you’ve got.
Why Fragrance Matters
Gardens are more than a feast for the eyes. A truly memorable garden engages all the senses. Fragrance brings intimacy, emotion, and a kind of softness to a space. It slows us down, encourages us to breathe deeply, and makes us feel.
It can also be healing. There’s plenty of research into how certain scents, like lavender, rose, or thyme, can calm the nervous system, lift the mood, or ease anxiety. But beyond science, it’s just about joy. And who doesn’t want more of that in the garden?
Scent Across the Seasons
If you want a garden that carries scent from January through to December, it’s perfectly doable with a bit of planning. Here’s a rough guide:
Winter
Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box) – a small evergreen with vanilla-scented flowers in the depths of winter.
Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) – lightly lemon-scented blooms in January and February.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ – pink flowers with a rich scent through late winter.
Spring
Daphne odora – a powerhouse of perfume. Small, but mighty.
Hyacinths – rich and sweet; perfect for pots near the door.
Viola odorata (Sweet Violet) – an old-fashioned delight with a soft woodland scent.
Summer
Roses – especially old shrub roses like ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, and ‘Munstead Wood’.
Lavender – thrives in poor soil, full sun, and scents the air as you brush past.
Sweet peas – sowed in autumn or spring and trained up a frame, they’re hard to beat for evening fragrance.
Philadelphus (Mock Orange) – offers an orange-blossom scent that can stop you in your tracks.
Autumn
Chrysanthemums – some have a soft, spicy scent.
Hylotelephium (Sedum) – not fragrant to us, but a nectar beacon for bees and butterflies.
Crushed fallen leaves – not planted, but powerful—think of the sweet, earthy scent under a magnolia or birch.
Designing with Fragrance in Mind
When choosing where to put your scented plants, think about where your nose will be.
Near paths and doorways: A rosemary by the front step, thyme between paving stones, or lavender along a garden path will release scent every time someone brushes past.
By seating areas: Night-scented stock or Nicotiana can work magic on a patio table in the evening.
At nose height: Climbing roses, honeysuckle, or jasmine on an archway or trellis will make the most of their perfume.
A little goes a long way. You don’t need to overload the garden with scent, too much can feel cloying. Instead, aim for moments of fragrance that punctuate your journey through the garden.
My Personal Favourites
I’ll always have a soft spot for the scent of old roses; there’s a timelessness to them, something grounding and nostalgic. But lately, it’s been the mock orange (Philadelphus) that’s stealing the show in my garden. Just one shrub, tucked into a sunny spot near the greenhouse, and the whole corner hums with its sherbet-like fragrance.
I also like the small things, thyme, lemon balm, and basil. Not showy, not attention-grabbing, but when the sun’s warm and you run your fingers across them? Instant joy.
Fragrance and Memory
Ask any gardener, and they’ll have a scent that tells a story. Sweet peas for a childhood garden. Lavender for a trip to Provence. The scent of tomatoes in a greenhouse taking you right back to your granddad’s allotment.
What about you? What plant scents bring you joy? Which ones make you pause, smile, or remember?
I’d love to hear what’s scenting your garden right now—whether it’s a big, blowsy rose or just a humble herb tucked in a pot by the kitchen door.
And if you’d like more weekly reflections like this, you can:
– Join the conversation in my Facebook group Gardening with Marcus
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– Or browse more posts like this at MarcusBergin.com
Happy Gardening.