There’s nothing quite like walking through a garden filled with the sweet scent of blooming shrubs. Fragrance adds an emotional and sensory layer to your outdoor space inviting pollinators, enhancing relaxation, and triggering cherished memories. The best part? Perennial shrubs come back year after year, often bigger and more bountiful, with little maintenance. Here are 10 of the best long-lasting, aromatic shrubs to bring enduring beauty and perfume to your garden from spring to fall.
1. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
The classic lilac is cherished for its breathtaking spring fragrance and large clusters of lavender, pink, or white flowers. This hardy deciduous shrub blooms in mid to late spring and is best planted in full sun with well-drained soil. Once established, lilacs are remarkably easy to care for and resistant to deer. Their nostalgic scent often evokes memories of old-fashioned gardens. With varieties ranging in size from compact to large, there’s a lilac perfect for nearly every landscape.
2. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Mock orange is named for its citrus-like scent, which closely resembles orange blossoms. Blooming in late spring to early summer, it produces white, bowl-shaped flowers with an intoxicating fragrance. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in sun or partial shade and adapts well to various soil types. It’s an excellent choice for borders or hedges. While blooms are brief, the scent is unforgettable, and the shrub’s dense green foliage provides structure and beauty throughout the season.
3. Daphne (Daphne odora)
Daphne is a compact evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub prized for its early-spring blooms and intensely sweet fragrance. Its small pink or white flowers fill the garden with scent when little else is blooming. Though somewhat temperamental preferring well-drained soil and partial shade Daphne is worth the effort. Plant it near an entryway or path where its aroma can be enjoyed up close. Once established, it grows slowly but rewards you with unmatched beauty and perfume each year.
4. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
Few plants rival the exotic, creamy scent of gardenia blossoms. With waxy white flowers and glossy green leaves, gardenias bring tropical elegance to any landscape. These evergreen shrubs bloom from late spring to early summer and thrive in warm climates (zones 8–11). They prefer acidic, well-drained soil and morning sun with afternoon shade. While slightly finicky, gardenias are a stunning addition to borders or patio containers and reward attentive gardeners with luxurious, fragrant blooms year after year.
5. Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Also known as Carolina allspice, sweetshrub offers a unique, fruity fragrance that’s often compared to strawberries, bananas, or even bubblegum. Its deep red to maroon flowers appear in late spring to early summer and are both beautiful and aromatic. Native to the southeastern U.S., this deciduous shrub is adaptable and low-maintenance, tolerating sun to partial shade and a variety of soil types. It’s an excellent wildlife-friendly choice for naturalistic gardens and woodland edges.
6. Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
This viburnum variety is adored for its clusters of pink buds that open to white flowers, releasing a rich, spicy-sweet scent in mid-spring. It grows to about 4–6 feet tall and wide, making it a manageable size for most gardens. Korean Spice Viburnum prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Its multi-season interest includes fragrant spring flowers, textured green foliage, and red-to-black berries that attract birds in late summer. It’s a showstopper in foundation plantings or near patios.
7. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Also known as sweet pepperbush, Summersweet blooms in mid to late summer with spikes of white or pink flowers that emit a strong, honey-like fragrance. It thrives in moist, acidic soil and partial shade, making it ideal for woodland gardens or rain gardens. This native shrub is a pollinator magnet, drawing bees and butterflies in droves. Its compact form and resistance to pests make it an easy-care choice, while its fragrant late-season blooms extend your garden’s sensory appeal.
8. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Though technically a subshrub, lavender earns its place on this list for its heavenly fragrance, drought tolerance, and year-round charm. Its silvery foliage and purple-blue flowers are as beloved by pollinators as they are by gardeners. English lavender varieties are best for long-lasting scent and colder climates. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil overwatering is its biggest foe. Use it to edge pathways or in mass plantings where you can brush against it and release its calming aroma.
9. Rose (Rosa spp.)
Many roses are grown for looks, but fragrant varieties like ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, and ‘Double Delight’ offer intoxicating scents that can fill an entire garden. Shrub roses are especially hardy and low-maintenance compared to their hybrid tea cousins. Choose disease-resistant, repeat-blooming types for the best long-term performance. Full sun and regular feeding keep roses blooming throughout summer. With so many scents spicy, fruity, or old-fashioned rose you can choose the fragrance that suits your garden best.
10. Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox)
Wintersweet lives up to its name by blooming in the dead of winter, often from December through February. Its pale yellow, waxy flowers might not look like much, but their warm, spicy fragrance fills the cold air with unexpected sweetness. Plant it in full sun and give it time this deciduous shrub takes a few years to establish before rewarding you with blooms. Once mature, it becomes a valuable and low-maintenance winter feature with rare seasonal fragrance.