Transform your home into a fragrant paradise with our selection of 17 plants that will make your home smell amazing. These aromatic plants not only elevate your living space but also provide a natural, chemical-free alternative to air fresheners.
If you’re interested in plants with air-purifying properties, our post on 13 indoor plants guaranteed to purify the air in your home offers some great options.
For those looking for unique additions to their indoor gardens, we recommend exploring 14 indoor plants no one realizes are house plants. Delve deeper into the world of fragrant plants and create a heavenly scent-scape in your home.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Fragrant plants can add pleasant scents to your home and offer aromatherapy benefits. |
| Lavender, jasmine, gardenia, roses, and lemon balm are just a few examples of fragrant plants. |
| Fragrant plants require regular watering, appropriate lighting, and occasional fertilization to thrive. |
| Many fragrant plants can be grown indoors as long as they receive adequate lighting and proper care. |
| Fragrant plants can have additional benefits such as improving air quality and attracting beneficial insects. |
Lavender
Lavender is one of the easiest, most fragrant plants to grow. It’s a perennial herb that smells great and is easy to grow.
It’s easy to grow in most climates and soil types, but does best in full sun. Lavender can be grown from seeds or cuttings, though you may need to wait a year before it blooms if you start from seed.
It’s also great for bees and butterflies, so it’s an excellent addition if you’re interested in attracting wildlife as well!
“Improving the air quality in your home doesn’t have to be complicated. Our article on 13 ways to make indoor air feel fresher provides simple and effective tips that can help you breathe easier.”
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family, native to the Mediterranean and Asia. It’s often used as an ornamental plant because it has such beautiful, soft green leaves.
The leaves also have a delightfully lemony scent and flavor, which makes them great for flavoring teas, desserts and other foods.
The scent of lemon balm encourages relaxation and helps you feel energized (not in a caffeinated way), which makes it perfect for aromatherapy!
Rosemary
Rosemary is a perennial herb. The shrub has woody stems and needle-like leaves. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region, but it can be grown in many parts of the world. It’s used in cooking as well as medicine.
Rosemary smells like pine and mint with hints of eucalyptus and lemon, according to Dr. Axe. While rosemary grows indoors, it needs plenty of light during winter months or it may not survive over several years before needing repotting or pruning again.
“Looking for a way to boost productivity and purify the air in your home office? Our article on 13 plants that will boost productivity and purify the air in your home highlights some of the best indoor plants for a more productive and healthier workspace.”
Thyme
Thyme is a perennial herb that grows best in full sun, but it will tolerate partial shade. It is an easy to grow plant that is hardy and easy to care for.
Thyme can be planted fresh from seed or grown from cuttings from an existing plant. If you are planting fresh thyme seeds, there are two different ways to do so:
- You can plant the seeds directly into the soil using individual holes or furrows spaced 6-8 inches apart with one seed per hole (or furrow). The distance between each row should be 12-18 inches apart depending on how much space you have available
- You can also sow your seeds indoors and transplant them outdoors once they begin sprouting
Peppermint
Peppermint is a perennial herb that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. It is also an invasive plant in some areas, but it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during the winter.
Peppermint has a refreshing aroma that will make you want to breathe deeply when you walk past it in your kitchen or bathroom!
To get this minty smell into your home, place fresh or dried peppermint leaves around the house wherever there is room for it—in bowls on tabletops, tucked in between books on shelves, or even placed on top of cabinets (make sure not to put them too close together).
When purchasing fresh peppermint leaves from a grocery store or farmers market, choose those with bright green coloration and no sign of wilting on any part of the plant’s stem.
Once at home with its new owner(s), wash these leaves thoroughly under cool running water before using them as an air freshener inside your home by chopping off small pieces (about 4 inches long) at a time to place around any area where they might benefit from some decorating flair!
Scotch Broom
Scotch broom is a perennial shrub that originated in Europe, Asia and North America. It’s best known for its bright yellow flowers that bloom in summer and blue-black berries that form in autumn. The plant produces a pleasant lemon scent when rubbed or bruised, making it an ideal addition to your garden if you’re looking for something to add some extra fragrance.
However, Scotch broom is considered invasive in some areas of the United States because of its ability to take over other plants’ territory quickly; so please be sure to check before planting this aromatic shrub near your home!
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Clary Sage
Clary sage, a flowering plant in the mint family, is native to the Mediterranean region. However, it can be found throughout the world today. The leaves and flowers are used in herbal medicine.
The plant has an aromatic smell that’s similar to lavender but with a bit more spice and citrusy notes. It makes a great addition to any room in your home whether it’s an office or bedroom as its subtle fragrance will fill the air without being overpowering.
Lemon Verbena
Lemon verbena is a perennial herb that grows in humid climates and has a citrusy scent. The plant is native to South America, where it’s used for cooking and as an aromatic tea (the leaves can also be used to flavor sugar or vinegar).
In addition to its culinary uses, lemon verbena is also popular as an ingredient in perfume due to its flowery scent. It’s often found in deodorant products because it works well with other smells that may be present on your body such as sweat.
Jasmine (Common, Arabian, Confederate, Spanish)
When it comes to flowery, sweet scents, jasmine is a classic. This fragrant flower has been used in perfumes and cosmetics for ages because of its pleasant aroma.
Jasmine plants can grow up to 8 feet tall and bloom year-round with small white flowers that turn into yellow berries.
These plants are also known as “common jasmine,” “arabian jasmine” or other names depending on the variety you choose (Spanish jasmine has a sweet scent). If you don’t like the smell of this plant, there is no need to worry the scent will dissipate quickly once the leaves are dry or if you cut off a few branches from your plant!
“Improve the air quality in your home with these 13 indoor plants guaranteed to purify the air. Our guide provides information on the best air-purifying indoor plants that are easy to care for and can thrive in various lighting conditions.”
Sweet Pea
Sweet pea is a common plant that can be planted in pots and borders. It has a sweet smell and can be grown in shade or sun, so it’s perfect for people who don’t know much about plants. You can grow it from seed or from cuttings, but if you’re feeling ambitious you can also try growing sweet pea from seedlings (the easiest method of all).
Sweet peas are really easy to grow: just plant them in containers or in the ground, water them regularly and sit back as they flourish into fragrant shrubs with beautiful flowers!
Orange Blossom
Orange blossom, also known as neroli, is a beautiful and fragrant flower that originates from southern Europe, Africa and Asia. It’s also a popular ornamental plant in many gardens. Orange blossom is used in making perfumes and potpourri.
Chives
Chives, a perennial herb, are an easy-to-grow plant that will give your home a wonderful oniony scent.
Harvesting chives is best done in spring or early summer, but don’t cut them all at once you’ll have to wait for the plant to grow more before picking more. Chives thrive in pots, so growing them indoors is an option if you don’t have space in your yard.
“Attracting bees to your potted plants can benefit both your garden and the environment. Our article on what potted plants attract bees explained provides information on the best potted plants that attract bees and how to create a bee-friendly garden.”
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Star Jasmine is a climbing vine that grows up to 10 feet tall and has fragrant white flowers. It’s native to Japan and hardy to zone 6, but it can be grown in other areas with winter protection. In full sun and well-drained soil, this plant will thrive!
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a native plant to western North America that can be used for cooking, medicinal, and spiritual purposes. It has a strong smell that’s often described as “camphor-like.” Sagebrush is also an effective insect repellent and has been used in Native American medicine for centuries.
Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera sp.)
Honeysuckle is a perennial climbing vine, native to the Northern Hemisphere. It has fragrant flowers and is often used in gardens.
Plumeria (Plumeria sp.)
Plumeria, or frangipani, is a tropical plant that grows in Southeast Asia and Central America. These fragrant flowers are long-lasting and easy to grow indoors.
The plumeria is a popular plant for home décor because its blooms range from white to yellow to pink and orange. It’s also known as the frangipani tree.
Plumeria can be grown as either an indoor or outdoor plant depending on conditions. If you live in a warm climate without harsh winters, you can grow plumeria outdoors year-round with little maintenance required from you just be sure to water it once every few days during summer months when temperatures rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius).
In cold climates where winter temperatures don’t typically drop below freezing (32 degrees F/0 C), you’re better off bringing your plumeria indoors until springtime rolls around again!
Angel’s Trumpet (Datura and Brugmansia sp.)
Angel’s trumpet is a type of flowering plant. It is a perennial, which means it will grow back year after year and come back from the roots after winter. It grows in warm climates, like the southern United States and South America where it can get up to 10 feet tall!
Angel’s trumpet has large, trumpet-shaped flowers that open up at night or in early morning. The flowers are white with purple markings on the inside of them, making them look like trumpets hence the name!
The leaves are also fragrant when crushed or rubbed against each other. However, angel’s trumpet is toxic so do not eat any part of this plant!
Conclusion
We hope that you have enjoyed learning about these plants and are eager to start growing them in your home.
Even if you don’t have any interest in growing the plants yourself, we encourage you to visit your local nursery or garden center to see if they carry any of these wonderful scents. Take some time to smell them and see what each one has to offer!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on fragrant plants that you may find helpful:
Fragrant Plants: The Complete Guide to Getting a Sweet-Smelling Home – A comprehensive guide to the best fragrant houseplants for your home.
10 Houseplants That Smell Fantastic – This article lists 10 houseplants that not only look great but smell fantastic as well.
25 Fragrant Plants That Repel Mosquitoes – If you’re looking for plants that can do double duty by adding fragrance to your home and keeping mosquitoes at bay, this article is for you.
FAQs
What are fragrant plants?
Fragrant plants are plants that produce pleasant smells that can be appreciated by humans. These plants can be grown both indoors and outdoors and are often prized for their aromatherapy benefits.
What are some examples of fragrant plants?
Some examples of fragrant plants include lavender, jasmine, gardenia, roses, and lemon balm.
How do you care for fragrant plants?
The care of fragrant plants varies depending on the specific plant, but in general, they require regular watering, appropriate lighting, and occasional fertilization. It’s also important to prune and trim them regularly to maintain their shape and health.
Can fragrant plants be grown indoors?
Yes, many fragrant plants can be grown indoors as long as they receive adequate lighting and proper care.
What are some benefits of growing fragrant plants?
In addition to their pleasing scents, fragrant plants can have several benefits, such as improving air quality, reducing stress and anxiety, and attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
For 15 years, Hellen James has worked in the gardening industry as an expert and landscape designer. During her career, she has worked for a variety of businesses that specialize in landscaping and gardening from small firms to large corporations.