Add these fragrant plants to your outdoor area for your aromatherapy garden!
Fragrant plants are a type of plant that produces an aromatic scent. They’re often used in perfumes and other fragranced products. But did you know that perfume gardening is becoming increasingly popular and aromatic plants can create incredible natural fragrances?
Perfume gardens can also produce potpourris, essential oils, and other scented products. Aromatic plants have been used for centuries to create natural fragrances. Many different types of aromatic plants can be used in perfume gardening.
When choosing plants for your garden, selecting those with solid scents is essential. You’ll also want to consider the plants’ bloom times and the colors of their blossoms. Carefully blending different aromatic plants is the key to creating a pleasing fragrance in your outdoor spaces.
The fragrance of each plant will be affected by the other plants in the blend, so it’s essential to choose a combination that will work well together. The best part is that essential oils can be extracted from aromatic plants and used in various ways.
And by dried and aromatic plants, potpourris can be used to scent closets, drawers, and other small spaces. Overall, creating your own aromatherapy garden is a fun and rewarding experience.
It’s a fantastic way to enjoy nature’s scents and create unique fragrances that you can enjoy for years to come. But where do you begin? Here are 10 of our favorite fragrant plants you can include in your garden!
Chamomile
Sweet scents aren’t for everyone. So, for those who prefer a grassier, fresher essence, you can choose chamomile. Your options are: Matricaria recutita, an annual, or Chamaemelum nobile, which is a perennial.
Not only does this herb with lovely, daisy-like flowers emit the same aroma as a cup of chamomile tea, it can also offer similar calming properties to make lounging around in your garden even more relaxing.
Chamomile grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 2–9 and prospers in full sun and partial shade. This fragrant plant is not at all fussy, tolerating drought and heat well, and it’s not toxic to pets and humans.
Sage
Sage is a fantastic fragrant plant with well-known mood-enhancing effects. It’s believed that the smell of sage reduces stress, calms nerves, and even improves memory.
The essential oil that’s extracted from sage leaves is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. These properties might also treat skin conditions, soothe sore muscles, and relieve menstrual pain and upset stomachs.
Mint
Mint is among the most popular herbs with a variety of uses. It adds flavor to beverages and food and has many health and wellness benefits. It can be used as a tea or as an essential oil.
Its aroma and medicinal properties are related to appetite stimulation, stress and pain relief, and digestive support.
But the best part? It’s one of the easiest fragrant plants to grow and care for, which makes it a perfect choice for beginner gardeners and those without too much time to spare.
Rosemary
Even though rosemary is more commonly known for its fragrant uses in cooking, it’s also a fantastic herb to grow for aromatherapy purposes. It’s appreciated in folk medicine, and its essential oil is used for various purposes, both curative and preventive.
This fragrant plant can be used as a natural pain reliever and is believed to also relieve tension and stress. Some research even suggests rosemary improves cognitive performance and memory function.
And as an added bonus, mosquitoes absolutely HATE this herb. So it’s an excellent repellant, as well!
Lavender
One of the most popular fragrant plants is lavender, which doesn’t surprise us, considering it’s one of the best-smelling flowers you can grow.
The sweet-scented plant has long been believed to soothe wounds, aid poor sleep, relieve stress, and ease menstrual pain. The essential oil from lavender is also used in aromatherapy for anxiety and depression.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a traditional ingredient in both aromatherapy products and perfumes. Its white fragrant flowers bloom at night, producing a refreshing aroma after the sun settles down.
Essential oil is pulled from its sweet-smelling flowers, and its decadent, floral fragrance makes it a top ingredient among perfume manufacturers.
This fragrant plant is also used in teas, and its extract is proven to help relieve headaches, stress, anxiety, depression, and PMS symptoms.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a fantastic addition to an aromatherapy garden, not just because its scent drifts yards away from the plant. This fragrant plant is also fantastic for aromatherapy purposes.
Simply place some eucalyptus leaves that you’ve crushed in a diffuser or boil them on the stove with water.
When inhaled, the vapors can help soothe minor wounds when applied topically and relieve sinus congestion. Eucalyptus oil can also be pulled from specific types of this plant to use as an all-natural insect repellent.
Basil
Basil is another favored cooking herb, and it has many aromatherapy benefits. The oil from this fragrant plant is frequently used in aromatherapy products, especially blends that enhance mental clarity and concentration.
Its scent is thought to help with anxiety and depression and boost memory. On top of this, basil oil can also reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation when used topically.
Lemon Balm
When looking for fragrant plants that smell incredible, you can never go wrong with lemon balm. It’s a gorgeous plant to grow for aromatherapy and herbal teas, and lemon balm extract is believed to ease indigestion and promote sleep.
Its radiant, lemon-scented leaves make a refreshing tea, and the dried-up leaves can be used in potpourri. Make sure you dry the leaves by hanging them in bunches upside down and out of direct sunlight. A pantry would be best if you have it.
Lilac
The lilac tree’s dramatic purple blooms aren’t just stunning… they also have a powerful fragrance that induces a better mood while you’re outside in your garden.
With its intoxicating and sweet scent, the lilac lifts spirits and eases tension, and some have even claimed that lilac oil can boost mental activity and increase concentration when inhaled.
If you have this fragrant plant in your garden, bring some fresh cut lilacs inside to let their powerful scent saturate your home! And if you don’t have the proper shears, Amazon can always help you out. Here’s our top pick: Amazon Basics 7-Inch Steel Bypass Pruning Shears
Do you have any of these fragrant plants? Be sure to share your experiences with them in the comments below. And if you liked this article, we also recommend reading: 27 Best Air-Purifying Plants, According to NASA
