Many of the most common indoor plants we choose for our homes are foliage plants – they’re grown for the beauty of their leaves. If they flower at all, the blooms are often quite insignificant.
There are many fragrant flowering plants commonly seen out in the garden that is also suitable to grow indoors. It’s probably best to just bring them in while they are at their flowering peak – for the rest of the year they can sometimes be quite uninteresting and they will do better outdoors in the long term.
Some scented plants have quite heady perfumes that could be a step too far for some people. Gentle, wafting scents that aren’t cloying are the best, here are a few of our favourites.
Having plants indoors not only purifies the air but some provide wonderful natural fragrances that elevate your home. I’ve compiled this list of the top 15 best smelling plants you can grow inside to fill every room with pleasant scents.
Why Have Fragrant Plants Indoors?
There are many benefits to having indoor plants, such as improving air quality and boosting your mood. But fragrant plants take it a step further by infusing your home with lovely scents.
The natural aromas from flowers, leaves, stems, and roots can help reduce stress, increase relaxation, improve sleep, and more. Smells also evoke memories and emotions in powerful ways. Surrounding yourself with pleasant fragrances creates a soothing environment that feels cozy and welcoming.
Factors That Affect Fragrance
When selecting scented plants keep in mind that fragrance can vary
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Throughout the day – Some plants release more scent in the morning or evening
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With weather – Heat and humidity tend to increase fragrance.
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With maturity – Young plants may not be as aromatic.
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By variety – Not all plants of one species are scented, so check tags.
Provide your plants with proper care and ideal growing conditions to encourage the best scent. Things like sunlight, temperature, water, pruning, and fertilizing affect fragrance levels.
The 15 Best Smelling Indoor Plants
Here are my top picks for the most fragrant houseplants that will fill your home with natural perfume:
1. Gardenia
Gardenias are renowned for their incredibly fragrant white blooms. The flowers emit a strong, sweet, floral scent that perfumes any room. Provide bright light, humidity, warm temperatures, and well-drained acidic soil. Prune right after flowering.
2. Jasmine
Both Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) and star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) make wonderful fragrant houseplants. Their small white flowers have an intense, sweet smell similar to gardenias. Give them bright light and keep the soil moist.
3. Citrus
The flowers of citrus trees, like lemons, limes, and oranges, produce a fresh, citrusy floral smell. Getting them to bloom indoors takes patience, but it’s worth it. They need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
4. Lavender
The silvery foliage and purple flower spikes of lavender are very aromatic, especially when gently brushed against. It prefers a sunny window, well-drained soil, and infrequent watering. Trim back spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
5. Rosemary
Known for its use in cooking, rosemary also makes an easy-to-grow scented houseplant. It has needle-like leaves that smell similar to pine and lemon when crushed. Give it at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
6. Basil
Nothing beats the smell of fresh basil! The leaves smell sweet and spicy when rubbed. Basil thrives on a sunny windowsill and requires frequently moist soil. Pinch off flower buds to promote leaf growth and scent.
7. Mint
Spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint – take your pick of scented mints! The fragrant leaves smell stronger when crushed. Mint spreads rapidly, so contain it or keep pruning it back.
8. Lemon Verbena
Brushing against the pointed leaves releases the strong scent of lemons. Grow lemon verbena in a pot that’s slightly root-bound to boost fragrance. Give it at least 5 hours of sunlight every day.
9. Scented Geranium
Rose-scented geranium is the most popular, but you can also find geraniums that smell like lemon, mint, cinnamon, and more. Rub the fuzzy leaves to release the aroma. Give them lots of sun and trim back leggy growth.
10. Sweet Bay
Sweet bay is an attractive indoor plant with leaves that smell like eucalyptus when crushed. It can grow quite large over time but is very slow growing. Provide bright light and evenly moist soil.
11. Vanilla Plant
The delicious vanilla scent comes from the vine’s yellow and white orchid-like flowers. It can be challenging to get vanilla plants to bloom indoors, but the foliage also offers a lovely aroma when rubbed or brushed against.
12. Plumeria
Beautiful and fragrant, plumeria flowers are used to make leis in Hawaii. The incredibly sweet floral scent really carries. Be sure to provide plenty of direct sunlight.
13. Angel’s Trumpet
At night, angel’s trumpet releases its perfume, which is similar to the scent of jasmine and gardenias but even stronger. Every part of this plant is poisonous, however, so keep away from kids and pets.
14. Hyacinth
Though they only bloom for a couple weeks in spring, hyacinth’s small, clustered flowers fill the air with sweet fragrance reminiscent of honey and fruit. Plant the bulbs in fall and provide bright, indirect light.
15. Paperwhites
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs produce flowers with a delightfully fresh fragrance similar to citrus or honey. Their jasmine-like scent is strongest in the evening. Plant bulbs in a container with stones and water.
Tips for Getting the Most Scent From Houseplants
Here are a few tips to follow for maximizing fragrance from your indoor plants:
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Select scented varieties and smell plants before purchasing.
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Give plants proper growing conditions and ample sunlight.
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Keep the soil moist for thirsty, aromatic plants.
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Avoid overwatering, which can diminish fragrance.
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Prune plants to encourage new growth and more flowers.
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Grow plants slightly rootbound in small pots to concentrate scent.
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Place fragrant plants where smells will naturally circulate, like near vents.
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Rub or brush leaves and flowers to release more oils and aroma.
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Grow plants near seating areas where scents can be enjoyed.
Bring Lovely Natural Scents Indoors
Filling your home with pleasant botanical fragrances is easy when you grow beautifully scented plants. The top picks highlighted here are perfect choices for indoor gardens that will perfume every room. Follow the care tips provided to keep your fragrant houseplants happy and aromatic.
Bay laurel or sweet laurel
Better known as a culinary herb adding a light piquancy to soups, casseroles and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, Bay Laurel has lightly fragrant foliage that is pleasant indoors. While the tree itself will flower, the leaves that are most appreciated. Rotate it between outside and inside every few weeks to keep it healthy.
Better known as an outdoor hedging plant in warm climates, Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata) has white citrus-scented flowers that bear a strong resemblance to true citrus flowers. Its leaves will also emit a perfume if rubbed. It is another of those plants best grown outside and brought indoors only while in flower.
Spring flowering bulbs like hyacinths (pictured) and freesias can be grown in pots and brought inside while their at their flowering and perfumed best. Their season is only brief – maybe a couple of weeks at the most – but their beauty and fragrance will add a glamorous touch to the indoors. There are many different varieties in shades from white to crimson available.
The pure white, waxy, star-shaped flowers of stephanotis have long been used in bridal bouquets but their beauty is best appreciated when you have a plant in flower in your home. They are sweetly scented so the blooms are freely produced on this vine. They are best grown outside and brought in when in bloom, stephanotis needs a brightly lit position out of draughts.
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Top 8 most fragrant indoor plants
English or French lavenders grow well in pots, preferring to grow outside but they can be brought in for weeks at a time while in bloom. There are lots of beautiful name varieties to choose from, including some with pretty ruffled spikes of flowers.
Maybe a touch too strong for some, the scent of gardenias will permeate throughout the house. The lush green foliage is an excellent counterfoil for the creamy white blooms that will last for several weeks on the bush.
The waxy pink to red flowers of the hoya have a delicate perfume that won’t overpower. This climbing plant does well indoors in good light and some warmth. Its only downfall is that the heads of flowers produce a lot of nectar which can drop and make a sticky mess on your floor or furniture so make sure your floor is protected.
Lemon, lime, cumquat and orange trees all have beautifully scented flowers and fruits, and many also make great potted plants that can be brought indoors while they’re in flower and fruiting. The waxy white flowers will last for a few weeks but when they’ve finished, the developing fruits and leaves will still emit a silicate citrusy scent.
Top 10 Fragrant Indoor Plants to Make Your Home Smell Heavenly ✨
FAQ
What is the most fragrant indoor plant?
- Scented geranium. Like the air freshener that releases a jet of fragrance when you press its button, a scented geranium will release a burst of beautiful scent into the room when you gently rub or bruise one of its leaves. …
- Madagascar jasmine. …
- Orange blossom. …
- Frangipani.
What plant makes your house smell good?
Eucalyptus. If you’re not confident in your ability to keep a plant alive, eucalyptus is a good place to start. It doesn’t need much love, puts off a lovely scent and has beautiful blue-gray leaves.
What indoor plant smells better than perfume?
For houseplants, try scented geraniums (rose, lemon, ginger, pine and apple are some of the commoner ones), jasmine, Meyer lemon (and other citrus), stephanotis, freesia and various herbs, like basil, oregano, thyme, lavender, mints and sweet bay. (Greeks, who never eat basil, grow it for its scent.)
What plant has the strongest scent?
The Titan Arum, also known as the “corpse flower,” is known for having one of the strongest and foulest odors in the plant kingdom when it blooms.