Lavender is one of the most popular and beloved herbs for its incredible soothing fragrance and multitude of uses, But do lavender plants really smell as good as their reputation suggests? Let’s take a deep dive into the enticing aroma of lavender and find out
With its sweet, floral slightly spicy aroma, it’s easy to understand why lavender is so widely adored. The ethereal fragrance of lavender evokes feelings of tranquility, relaxation, and wellbeing – which is why it’s commonly used for aromatherapy perfumes, soaps, sachets, and more.
The distinctive scent of lavender comes from the oil secreted in its tiny aromatic glands on the flowers, leaves, and stems. The main fragrance compounds in lavender oil are linalool and linalyl acetate. Other molecules like terpinen-4-ol, lavandulyl acetate, and ocimene also contribute to the herb’s soothing perfume.
So do lavender plants really live up to their intoxicating reputation? The short answer is yes – most lavender varieties release an unmistakable, sweet floral aroma that makes them a dream to have in any garden. Let’s explore why this mesmerizing herb smells so heavenly.
Reasons Why Lavender Has Such a Soothing Scent
There are a few key reasons why lavender produces such a lovely, calming fragrance:
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It’s in the genes – Lavender contains high concentrations of aromatic compounds like linalool that give it its signature scent. These oils are produced naturally as part of the plant’s metabolism.
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Adaptation to its environment – Lavender originated in hot, arid climates like the Mediterranean. To cope with heat and dryness, it evolved to produce more fragrant oils that deter pests, protect itself from the sun, and prevent water loss.
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The oil glands – Tiny glands called trichomes are densely packed on lavender’s flowers and leaves. These glands steadily secrete the scented oils that make this herb so fragrant.
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Flowering time – During peak bloom, lavender produces the most flowers – and the most fragrance. The open flowers allow the scent to waft farther on the breeze.
So in short, lavender naturally developed a strong aromatic quality over time as an evolutionary adaptation. This, combined with the plant’s prolific oil glands and long flowering period, provides the intoxicating fragrance we know and love.
When Does Lavender Smell the Strongest?
Lavender releases its sweet scent throughout the growing season – but there are certain times when its aroma is the most intense:
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During bloom – The most fragrant period is during peak flowering in mid to late spring and again in late summer if there is a second flush.
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Hot, sunny weather – Lots of sun and high temperatures boost lavender’s oil production and fragrance.
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Morning and evening – The coolest parts of the day allow the oils to linger instead of evaporating quickly.
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After rain – Rainfall wicked into the dry soil enables plants to produce a surge of vigorous new growth and flowers.
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After pruning – Cutting back spent flower spikes stimulates the plant to generate more blooms and fragrance.
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When brushed or crushed – Disturbing the trichomes on leaves and flowers releases more aromatic oils.
So for the most intense lavender scent, be sure to enjoy your plants during peak bloom times on sunny days before the midday heat sets in. And don’t forget to appreciate the momentary burst of fragrance after a nice rain or when deadheading faded blooms.
Which Varieties of Lavender Smell the Best?
There are over 450 diverse lavender species and cultivars to choose from. Here are some of the most popular fragrant varieties perfect for gardens and containers:
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English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – One of the most common types, prized for its strong sweet floral scent. Popular cultivars include ‘Hidcote’, ‘Munstead’ , and ‘SuperBlue’.
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French lavender (Lavandula dentata) – Features serrated leaves and a more camphorous minty aroma. ‘Goodwin Creek Grey’ is an excellent choice.
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Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoachas) – Tolerates heat and drought well. Cultivars like ‘Otto Quast’ have abundant lavender-blue blooms.
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Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) – A hybrid cross of English and French lavender, with bold flowers and robust scent. Try ‘Grosso’ and ‘Provence’.
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Italian lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Also known as L. angustifolia. Distinguished by its tight, compact growth and richly fragrant flowers.
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Wooly lavender (Lavandula lanata) – Unique gray foliage and intense fragrance. ‘Ana Luisa’ is a gorgeous snow-white variety.
For the best scent, look for varieties touted as aromatic or fragrant when selecting plants for your garden. And don’t be afraid to gently rub the leaves and flowers to take a whiff before buying!
Tips for Enjoying Lavender’s Soothing Scent at Home
You certainly don’t need to be a gardener to enjoy the relaxing aroma of lavender at home. Here are some creative ways to incorporate this herb’s blissful scent into your living space:
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Place fresh cut lavender bouquets in vases around the house and bedroom.
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Display dried lavender flowers and sachets in closets and dresser drawers.
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Use lavender essential oil in diffusers, massage oil, bath salts, linen sprays, and homemade cleaning products.
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Craft DIY lavender potpourri with dried buds, citrus peels, pinecones, and spices.
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Grow mini lavender plants indoors in containers near sunny windows.
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Shop for lavender-infused candles, soaps, pillow sprays, and skin care products.
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Brew a soothing cup of lavender tea using fresh or dried lavender flowers.
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Add culinary lavender to baked goods, lemonades, cocktails, and other recipes.
Whenever you need to destress or enhance the ambiance in your home, rely on the soothing magic of lavender. It’s an inexpensive, versatile way to create a sanctuary of cozy tranquility.
How to Grow Lavender for Maximum Fragrance
Now that you know how heavenly lavender smells, you may be itching to grow some in your own garden. Here are some organic gardening tips for cultivating potted or in-ground lavender that smells sensational:
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Sun and drainage – Lavender thrives in full sun and very well-drained soil. Amend soil with sand or gravel if needed.
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Climate considerations – Most lavender flourishes in hot, relatively dry climates with cool nights. Provide shade cloth or bring pots indoors if temperatures exceed 85°F.
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Planting time – Spring after the last frost is ideal. Space plants 12-24 inches apart for air circulation.
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Watering practices – Allow soil to dry out between waterings, then soak thoroughly. Just a couple inches per week is sufficient.
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Organic fertilizer – Use a balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea a couple times during the growing season. Too much nitrogen reduces blooms and fragrance.
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Pruning – Cut back flowers as they fade and trim mature plants by 1/3 each year to stimulate growth.
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Container care – Ensure potted lavender has enough root space, drainage holes, and a lightweight potting mix. Move containers to a sheltered spot in winter.
Follow these tips to keep your lavender happy and smelling divine. And don’t forget to enjoy those blooms and aromatic foliage! Adding this colorful, fragrant herb to your outdoor living space is sure to lift your mood.
Why You Should Add Lavender’s Soothing Scent to Your Life
Beyond just smelling fantastic, incorporating lavender aromatherapy into your daily routine provides a host of benefits:
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Lavender promotes relaxation and stress relief when scent is inhaled. The fragrance has a positive influence on limbic system responses in the brain.
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The herb can boost mood, ease anxiety and depression, and improve quality of sleep.
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Lavender has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. The oil contains linalool and linalyl acetate which help heal minor cuts, burns, bruises, and skin irritation when applied topically.
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The fragrance deters pests like moths, fleas, and mosquitos when used around the home and garden.
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Lavender flower buds, leaves, and oil are all edible and used to flavor a wide array of dishes and beverages.
So if you’re looking for an affordable, versatile way to enhance your mental clarity, skin health, sleep, and overall wellbeing, give the soothing scent of lavender a try. A little bit of this aromatic purple herb can go a long way in improving your everyday life.
Without a doubt, lavender plants really do live up to their sweet-smelling reputation. With proper care, most species and cultivars of this mesmerizing herb produce a lovely floral scent – especially during peak bloom. For the most fragrance, be sure to select varieties described as aromatic, plant in full sun, and avoid overwatering or over-fertilizing. And incorporate lavender into your home for an instant mood boost. Let this calming botanical treat your senses and spirit to its heavenly perfume.
Lavender Plants Are Easily Grown
Lavender is popular for a reason, as both a perennial plant in a flower garden and as a denizen of the herb garden. Harvested flowers and stems make fragrant crafts, potpourri, perfumes, and even an unusual -but delightful- food flavoring. It is easy to grow and its Mediterranean roots means it is adaptable to drier conditions than many common garden plants.
Once you know more about it, and how to propagate it, you may find Lavender becoming one of your favorite perennials.
Come explore the world of lavender. How to grow it, propagate it, and use it, to add enjoyment to your home and garden.
Most people know about using a soilless mix as a starting medium, and that grow light fixtures bring growing success when you are short on windowsill space (or even if you are not). Fewer know the secret tip about how using heat underneath can speed up germination and help stimulate root growth.Heat Helps Germinate Using heat underneath your seed starting trays helps germination and root growth.
Make new lavender plants from cuttings – my favorite way to multiply plants.
Grow Lights For Your Seedling Starts
Many gardeners like to grow their own plants from starts, either cuttings or from seed. Either method will be an economical way to have a large number of plants. Using grow lights in your basement or utility room is the ideal way to grow lots of healthy plants for filling your garden beds and not break the bank.
You can increase your plants by taking softwood cuttings and rooting them either in the garden or in pots. Lavender branches can also be simple layered by scraping the underside of a branch and holding it to the ground with a rock or a pinning wire until it roots into a new plant.
Sometimes lavender plants will self-seed, although I have not found that to be reliable. If you have ideal conditions, it might be the case for your garden.
- ‘Munstead’ is best for tolerating summer heat.
- ‘Hidcote’ is best in a cooler climate, may not do well in the South.
- ‘Sarah’ is more diminutive in size than other L. angustifolia lavenders, yet with a good show of bloom. That should make it your choice for container growing.
- The ‘Lavandins’ are better choices for warmer climate conditions.
Choose which cultivar is best for your garden.
- Lavandula angustifolia -common lavenderAKA Lavandula officinalis, English lavender, and the one which sports many named varieties such as ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’. Although the varieties vary in hardiness, this type is the most hardy of the lavender species.
- Lavandula stoechas -Spanish lavender is hardy in zones 8-10
- Lavandula Vera is synonymous with L. angustifolia
- Lavandula dentata – French lavender, hardy in US zones 8-10
- Lavandula viridis, “Yellow Lavender”. blooms at the same time as French lavender, and is tender north of zone 8.
- Lavandula lanata ‘boiss’ is also known as “woolly lavender”. Another tender type not hardy north of zone 8; it is worthy of note for its felted white foliage. Grown as a tender perennial in pots, it would be a beautiful foliage contrast to purple leaf sage.
- Lavandula x intermedia are called the ‘Lavandins’. A cross between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. They start to bloom just as the the English Lavenders are finishing, and continuing to mid summer.
- Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso lavender’ is cultivated for oil. It is one of the best cultivars for lavender crafts.
10 Indoor plants that smell good | 10 fragrant Indoor plants that make home aromatic
FAQ
Does lavender plant make your house smell good?
This plant removes the damp odour you may find in the bathroom and replaces it with a distinctive, strong lavender scent. The lavender plant needs to be kept in bright light the majority of the day, and it needs to stay cool and moist.
Why does my lavender plant not smell?
If your lavender flowers don’t have a strong smell, it may be because the plant doesn’t have what it needs to produce the essential oils. This is usually due to overly fertile soil or a lack of sunlight. It can also be because you choose a less fragrant variety.
Which lavender plant smells the best?
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) English lavender is the preferred medicinal variety heralded by herbalists everywhere. With a sweet, floral perfume, upright mounding, often fairly compact) habitat, richly colored blooms, and fragrant foliage, there is really nothing not to love about English lavender.
How long does lavender smell last?
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Fresh Lavender:Freshly cut lavender can last for about a week when kept in water in a cool, dark space.
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Dried Lavender:
- Initial Fragrance: Dried lavender typically retains a strong fragrance for an entire season.
- Extended Life: With proper storage (airtight container, cool, dark place), you can extend the life of the scent for several months to a year, or even longer.
- Rejuvenating the Scent: To revive the scent of dried lavender, you can squeeze or crush the flowers, or add a few drops of lavender essential oil.
- Initial Fragrance: Dried lavender typically retains a strong fragrance for an entire season.
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Lavender Sachets:
- Longevity: Lavender sachets can last for years, potentially 5 to 20 years, but the scent may fade if not properly stored or used.
- Squeezing for Scent: To release the scent, you may need to squeeze the sachet occasionally.
- Longevity: Lavender sachets can last for years, potentially 5 to 20 years, but the scent may fade if not properly stored or used.
Do lavender plants smell?
Yes, lavender plants smell and have a distinct one that cannot be mimicked by any other scent. You just have to smell lavender once to memorize the scent forever! But, only healthy and comfortable lavender plants will create such a strong smell. When and How Long Does Lavender Bloom? Why doesn’t My Lavender Plant Smell?
Does lavender smell good?
Research has shown that lavender scent can help alleviate anxiety, reduce feelings of depression, and improve sleep quality. Inhaling the calming aroma of lavender can have a profound effect on the nervous system, promoting a sense of relaxation and tranquility.
What does lavender smell like?
The scent of lavender is primarily due to its essential oils, which contain linalool and linalyl acetate. These compounds give lavender its distinctive sweet, floral aroma. 3. Lavender fragrance has been used for centuries for its relaxing and soothing properties. It is believed to help reduce anxiety, promote better sleep, and alleviate stress. 4.
Why does lavender smell better in the Mediterranean?
All these countries are known to have high temperatures and sunshine throughout the year. Sunlight influences the oil production of a lavender plant and hence it also determines the intensity of smell as well. Less sunlight means fewer oils and less fragrance production. But, what if you don’t have a Mediterranean climate?
How do I choose a lavender scent?
When it comes to choosing a light, floral scent for your lavender, look for varieties such as Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’. These varieties of lavender have a light, sweet, and slightly fruity aroma. They also have hints of mint and rosemary, which can add a pleasant complexity to the scent.
What is the most fragrant lavender plant?
The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent. Lavandula x intermedia, also called Lavandin, is a hybrid cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.