Bring beautiful blossoms and fragrances from the garden into your home. Not only do they look good, and keep your house smelling fresh and odour-free, but they offer many other benefits – some plant varieties absorb mould and fungi spores, improving the air, and your mental health. Whether you have a magical green thumb that can tackle any plant species, or you’re just starting, there’s a species for every gardening level, taste and preferred smell.
10 Houseplants that look good and smell good too
Keep your house purified and perfumed without lighting candles, incense, or filling scent stick jars. Here are our top favourite houseplants:
1. Gardenia
Gardenias are already iconic, having inspired countless perfumes and home fragrances. Although somewhat high-maintenance, they thrive both outdoors and indoors, requiring high humidity and warm temperatures to produce their heady blooms. But once you find the sweet spot in your home, you’ll be reaping its rewards for a long time yet.
Growing conditions: Direct sun in the morning with afternoon shade, high humidity, and acidic soil.
2. Kalanchoe
A beautiful, thick and vibrant plant with a few fragrant varieties. They are revered for their hardiness, making them beginner-friendly. Aim to get your hands on Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, a sweet-smelling yellow bloom that, some say, smells like gardenias or honey. But beware: Kalanchoes are toxic to pets if ingested.
Growing conditions: Hardy, water when the topsoil dries out, bright light, and well-draining soil.
3. Calatheas
Although not particularly strong-scented, Calatheas are great for absorbing odours and purifying the air around them. Their large, detailed leaves make them stand out, bring interest to any room they’re placed in. They are pretty difficult to grow blooms, but if you’re a seasoned gardener, it might make for a nice challenge.
Growing conditions: Grow best in medium, filtered light with high humidity and evenly moist soil.
4. Frangipani
Frangipani, a type of plumeria, is known for its vibrant cluster blooms. They usually flower from late spring through summer, but may bloom longer in your home as long as indoor temperatures stay warm. The flowers come in a few shades, most notably yellow, pink, and white. Their scent has been described as light, sweet, and floral, although many find it difficult to pinpoint exact smells. Frangipani do well in pots and thrive outdoors, growing into trees.
Growing conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, allow the soil to dry out between watering.
5. Begonia
Begonias produce vibrant, abundant blooms, although not all varieties are heavily scented; those that are release a pleasant fragrance similar to roses or sweet-smelling oranges. Most notably, the Tea Rose Begonia has a fragrant pink flower, reminiscent of sweet tea. When cared for correctly, begonias can bloom year-round.
Growing conditions: High humidity, rich and moist soil, bright and indirect light.
6. Anthuriums
Also known as flamingo flowers, Anthuriums are one of several houseplants well-suited to growing indoors. They bloom year-round and come in various colours and fragrances, with some being scents akin to smelling like blueberries, mangoes, and marzipan. A word of caution: be sure to check the variety you’re purchasing as they have some foul-smelling blooms described as wet dog and vomit.
Growing conditions: Bright, indirect light with lightly moist, well-drained soil.
7. Bay laurel
Known for its magical powers in French cooking (think béchamel, soups and stews), Bay Laurel has both savoury and sweet fragrances. If you prefer a savoury scent, opt for evergreen bay laurel; otherwise, enjoy the sweet, fragrant leaves of bay laurel, or Laurus nobilis. Their leaves and tiny blooms smell like balsam, herbs and citrus.
Growing conditions: Needs full sun to partial shade, and moist, well-drained soil.
8. Lavender
Prevalent in perfumes, candles and incense, lavender is also a beautiful houseplant to adorn your space with. Bright, sage-green stems and leaves meet vibrant lilac-lavender blooms. Although its essential oils are strong and concentrated, the plant itself is not overwhelming – it welcomes a crunch or brush to release its scent whenever you pass it by. With several varieties to choose from, French lavender is a great option, with English lavender having a stronger scent.
Growing conditions: Needs full sun, good airflow, and dry, sandy soil; water sparingly.
9. Arabian Jasmine
With many varieties of jasmine, Arabian jasmine, or Jasminum sambac, is one of the best varieties for indoor growth. The blooms create a stunning display, with a strong jasmine scent. Pop this houseplant in a sunny room, like your home office or kitchen counter. Their scent is stronger in the evenings, so choose their spots wisely if you get overwhelmed easily.
Growing conditions: Thrive in bright, sunny areas, with warm temperatures and regular watering (be sure not to waterlog them).
10. Scented Geranium
Available in more than a dozen varieties, the most popular varieties of Pelargonium geraniums include Atomic Snowflake, Chocolate Mint, and Orange Fizz. These plants are easy to grow (and propagate), with large, fuzzy leaves and soft flowers, and depending on the variety, come in pink, white, and purple colours. When the leaves or blooms are gently rubbed, they give off a citrusy scent with floral undertones.
Growing conditions: They prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Instead of opting for commercial air fresheners, scented candles, incense and scent sticks, consider choosing a fragrant houseplant instead. They provide far more benefits than candles ever could, purifying the air, absorbing harmful microbes, providing fresh scents, and stunning displays – all helping to improve your mood. Choose a houseplant based on your gardening level and reap the benefits it will provide.
