#Fragrant #Houseplants #Thatll #Home #Smell #Divine
Last Updated on May 7, 2025 by April
Indoor plants can do more than just brighten up a room—they sometimes bring in scents that completely change the vibe at home. Some houseplants have flowers or leaves that give off anything from soft, floral notes to warm, spicy aromas.
With the right fragrant plant, you can set the mood you want, whether you’re after something subtle or a scent that really stands out. There are quite a few options out there, so chances are good you’ll find one that fits your space and style.
Hoya
Hoya, or the wax plant, sports thick, shiny leaves and blooms with clusters of pink or white flowers that smell pretty sweet. It’s easygoing—just keep it in medium to bright light, away from chilly drafts. Let the top of the soil dry out before watering again; it doesn’t like soggy feet.
This hoya does best in medium to bright light, and can actually grow up to about 4 feet tall. The flowers are really pretty—they come in either pink or white. Just a heads up, though: the flowers can take a while to show up, so you’ll need a little patience!
Gardenia
Gardenia (Gardenia augusta) is famous for its powerful scent and creamy white blooms, which can be either single or double. Indoors, it likes a lot of light, steady humidity, and temperatures in the 65–70˚F range. The soil should be acidic and moist, and it’s best to use fertilizer made for acid-loving plants in the growing season.
It also prefers high humidity, so it’s happiest in a more humid environment. For soil, you’ll want something acidic that stays evenly moist. When it comes to fertilizer, go for one that’s made for acid-loving plants. And if you give it the right care, it can grow up to 6 feet tall!
Keep gardenia out of the path of blasts of hot or cold air.
Sweet Begonia
A handful of begonia types actually have a lovely scent, which is a bit of a surprise since most don’t. ‘Tea Rose’ and Begonia odorata ‘Angelique’ are especially worth sniffing.
This plant stays pretty compact, reaching up to about 1 foot tall. It likes medium to bright light, so try to find a nice spot with plenty of indirect sunlight. It also prefers high humidity, and you’ll want to keep it away from any drafts. Make sure the soil stays consistently moist, and remember to fertilize it regularly during the spring and summer for the best growth.
Sweet Bay
Sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) has glossy green leaves with a fresh, herbal aroma—and you can use those leaves in cooking, too. They’re great for soups, stews, and all sorts of savory dishes, whether fresh or dried.
This plant grows pretty slowly and, over time, can turn into a shrub or even a small tree. If you give it the right conditions, it can actually reach up to 30 feet tall! It does best in bright light and likes cooler temperatures, somewhere between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to watering, you don’t need to do it too often—just make sure the soil stays lightly moist.
In winter, sweet bay likes a cool spot and just a little water now and then.
Cattleya Orchid
The corsage orchid, or cattleya orchid, is all about those showy, colorful flowers—some even named after celebrities. They do best with medium to bright light, steady humidity, and a spot out of the draft.
This plant grows up to about 2 feet tall, so it’s a nice, manageable size. It likes warm temperatures, ideally between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. When you water it, let the surface of the soil dry out a bit before you water again—it doesn’t like to stay soggy!
During the warmer months, water and feed more often. In fall and winter, let things dry out a bit and keep it cooler.
Scented Geranium
Scented geraniums (Pelargonium) come with leaves that smell like everything from rose to chocolate. The foliage is also interesting to look at—some are fuzzy, some are frilly.
This plant really enjoys bright light, so try to keep it somewhere sunny. It does well in temperatures between 45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It can grow up to 3 feet tall, which makes it a great size for most spaces. Just remember to keep the soil evenly moist for it to thrive.
Cuban Oregano
Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) is easy to spot with its chunky, soft green leaves and bold, spicy scent. It grows up to 18 inches tall in a medium to bright area—just keep it out of drafts. The soil should be evenly moist but not soggy.
It’s an easy one to share with friends, too—just snip a stem and stick it in potting mix. It roots fast. Plus, brushing the leaves releases even more of that unique aroma.
Angel’s Trumpet
Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia x candida) is hard to miss, with its giant, dramatic flowers that smell strongest after dusk. It can get up to 10 feet tall and likes plenty of bright light and regular watering. In warm climates (USDA Zones 8–10), you can keep it outside all year.
If you’re somewhere colder, bring it in before frost. Just a heads-up: all parts are highly toxic if ingested, so definitely keep it away from pets and kids.
When it’s fully grown, it can reach up to 10 feet tall, so it makes quite a statement! Just a word of caution: it’s extremely poisonous if eaten, so keep it out of reach of pets and children.
Citrus
Citrus plants—think orange or lemon—can do surprisingly well indoors if you give them lots of light, steady humidity, and keep them out of drafts. They like soil that stays moist and temps between 60–65°F.
It really likes high humidity and prefers temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to watering, make sure the soil stays evenly moist, but not soggy. If you give it the right care, it can grow up to 10 feet tall!
Arabian Jasmine
Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) is cherished for its starry white flowers and gentle, classic scent. The blooms are popular in teas and garlands (think Hawaii). You can train it up a trellis or just let it mound naturally.
This plant has lovely white flowers that can bloom all year round. It really enjoys full sun, so try to give it plenty of light. The ideal temperature for it is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can grow up to 5 feet tall, and you’ll want to keep the soil evenly moist to keep it happy.
Oncidium Orchid
Oncidium orchids are a solid pick for folks who want something dependable indoors. Give them medium to bright light, warm temps (70–85˚F), and high humidity. Keep them away from cold breezes.
These plants are really interesting because their flowers come in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes, depending on the variety. The bloom periods can also vary quite a bit from one type to another. Some cultivars even have unique scents—imagine a flower that smells like chocolate or herbs! As for care, these plants can grow up to 10 feet tall, and they do best in medium to bright light with high humidity.
Favorites include ‘Sharry Baby’ (smells like chocolate) and ‘Twinkle’ (herbal notes).
Plumeria
Plumeria is a tropical tree with gorgeous, fragrant flowers—these are the ones you see in Hawaiian leis. The scent is reminiscent of sweetshade, and the petals come in all sorts of colors: white, pink, red, yellow, orange, and mixes, too.
This plant really thrives in bright environments, so make sure it gets plenty of light—but try to keep it away from cold drafts. When it comes to watering, let the top layer of soil dry out before you water it again. If you give it the right care, it can actually grow to around 25 feet tall!
With its variety of colors and unmistakable fragrance, plumeria is a favorite for a reason.
Passionflower
Passionflowers are hard to miss, thanks to their wild, intricate blossoms. Not every variety’s fragrant, so it’s worth double-checking plant tags or descriptions if scent’s important to you. Some of the most aromatic types? Passiflora x belotii, ‘Inspiration’, and ‘Elizabeth’ tend to top the list.
This plant loves bright light, but it’s happiest in spots where it’s protected from drafts. It does best in cooler temperatures, ideally between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to keep the soil evenly moist, not too dry or soggy. If you take good care of it, it can grow up to 15 feet tall!
These climbers really appreciate a trellis or something sturdy to grab onto.
Stephanotis
Stephanotis brings a touch of elegance with its shiny, deep green leaves and clusters of starry white blooms that smell amazing. It’s a classic for weddings, but honestly, it’s just as nice in a sunny room at home. Indoors, it’s a slow grower. If you can, give it a summer vacation outside in partial shade—it might just reward you with a flush of new growth and more flowers.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is famous for those cool blue-gray leaves and a scent you’ll notice right away. Indoors, it needs a sun-soaked spot and soil that doesn’t dry out. Don’t be shy about trimming it back—regular pruning keeps things looking full and bushy, not leggy.
Eucalyptus really loves bright, direct sunlight, so be sure to place it somewhere sunny. Indoors, it can actually grow up to 10 feet tall if you give it enough space. Just remember to keep it away from drafts and prune it regularly to help it stay healthy and looking good.
Give the leaves a gentle touch and you’ll get a burst of that signature eucalyptus aroma—kind of a bonus for any room, if you ask me.
Orange Jessamine
Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata) is one of those plants that just keeps on giving—glossy, aromatic leaves and bursts of white, orange-scented flowers that pop up off and on all year. If you brush the leaves or just walk by on a warm day, you’ll probably catch a whiff of its sweet fragrance.
This plant can grow up to 12 feet tall, so it can really make a statement in your space. It loves bright light and does best with high humidity. A good tip for watering is to let the surface of the soil dry out a bit before adding more water—just be careful not to overwater it!
