Imagine walking into a room filled with the soothing aroma of fresh flowers. Their natural fragrance refreshes the air and uplifts your mood, allowing you to relax after a long, hard day of work. From delicate floral scents to citrusy undertones, fragrant flowers make any space feel inviting and serene.
But what is the best smelling flower in Singapore to brighten up your home? It can be hard to choose from, as so many varieties offer unique scents. So, we have done the work for you.
Let’s explore the top 10 best-smelling flowers, perfect for indoor spaces. These blossoms will transform your home into a fragrant haven and add a touch of beauty and elegance!
1. Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata var. fruticosa)
The dwarf variety of ylang-ylang is a fantastic choice for filling your home with a sweet, exotic fragrance that instantly elevates the ambience of any room. Unlike its larger outdoor counterpart, this compact version is ideally suited for indoor spaces, bringing beauty and tranquillity to your home.
Ylang-ylang flowers are known for their uniquely shaped yellow-green blooms that release a strong, floral aroma, often sweet and slightly fruity. This scent is frequently used in perfumes and essential oils, making it a fantastic addition to any indoor housing.
How To Care For Ylang-Ylang:
To keep your ylang-ylang thriving, this plant prefers well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging, which can harm its roots. Place it in a spot where it can receive moderate, indirect sunlight.
2. Champaca (Michelia alba)
Also known as the "joy perfume tree," this flower is renowned for its rich, spicy aroma, filling any room with warmth and honeyed sweetness. This extravagant fragrance makes it one of the best-smelling flowers you can grow indoors, ideal for creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere.
The flowers themselves are as captivating as their scent. Creamy white or pale yellow in colour, they are small but striking, adding a touch of elegance to your home.
So, it's no wonder champagne is often used in high-end perfumes and essential oils, perfect for any home looking to spice up their room.
How To Care For Champaca:
The plant enjoys warmth, so keep it away from air conditioning vents. Champaca needs well-draining soil and regular watering to stay healthy. To avoid overwatering, let the surface soil dry out between waterings.
3. Frangipani (Plumeria)
Frangipani, or Plumeria, is a flower known for its sweet, citrusy fragrance. While it’s often seen outdoors in warm climates, dwarf frangipani varieties are perfect for growing indoors in containers. Their intoxicating scent and vibrant blooms make them popular for freshening any space.
These flowers come in various shades, such as yellow, pink, white, or a mix of these colours, adding a cheerful and exotic touch to your home. The fragrance, often described as a blend of sweet floral and zesty citrus notes, is strongest during the evening, making it the best-smelling flower for creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
For a unique gift option, frangipani can also be included in a beautifully crafted hand bouquet, offering a blend of tropical beauty and captivating fragrance that’s perfect for any occasion.
How To Care For Frangipani:
Frangipani loves bright sunlight, so it is ideal to place it near a sunny window. The plant grows well in wet soil but is not waterlogged, so make sure its pot allows excess water to escape easily. The lovely plant also benefits from occasional fertilising, especially during the growing season, to encourage healthy blooms and lush foliage.
4. Hoya (Wax Plant)
Loved by gardeners and casual floral lovers, the hoya is a charming choice for anyone looking to add a sweet, honey-like fragrance to their indoor space. Thanks to its adaptability and unique, star-shaped flowers that look almost too perfect to be real. Its blooms bring a soft scent and a touch of elegance, making it one of the best-smelling flowers to brighten up your home.
How To Care For Frangipani:
One key to a thriving hoya is proper airflow. Placing the plant near opened windows or well-ventilated areas can help it stay healthy and consistently bloom. Hoyas also enjoy a little humidity, so misting the leaves occasionally can replicate their natural tropical environment.
5. Night-Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum Nocturnum)
Celebrated for its powerful fragrance that fills the air as the sun sets, night-blooming jasmine's intoxicating scent is often described as sweet and heady.
It creates a relaxing and almost magical atmosphere in the evenings, making it one of the best-smelling flowers you can grow indoors, especially if you enjoy a calming aroma at the end of the day.
Despite its name, night-blooming jasmine isn’t part of the Jasmine family tree but shares the same captivating appeal. Its small, tubular flowers may not be as impressive as some other blooms, but their fragrance more than makes up for it. As dusk falls and the night crawls, the scent becomes more pungent.
How To Care For Night-Blooming Jasmine
To grow night-blooming jasmine indoors, place it in a location with bright but indirect sunlight. Kitchen windows with filter curtains are a great choice. Consistent watering is key, but to avoid overwatering.
This plant also appreciates warmth and humidity, making it suitable for indoor conditions in many homes.
6. Orchid Varieties (e.g., Phalaenopsis Bellina)
We all know orchids for their beauty, but certain varieties, like the Phalaenopsis Bellina, also stand out for their delightful scent. These orchids produce a sweet, subtle fragrance that can gently fill a room without overpowering, making them one of the best-smelling flowers for indoor spaces.
Their long-lasting blooms add an elegant touch, making them as visually stunning as aromatic. The intensity of an orchid’s fragrance depends on various factors. Some orchids release stronger scents when pollinators are active during the day, while others may emit their fragrance in the evening.
How To Care For Orchids
Orchids tend to prefer direct sunlight and humidity, so misting the leaves during the day helps freshen the flowers up. Excess water is discouraged, so make sure your pots and containers have proper drainage. If you want to go the extra mile for beautiful blooms and fragrant scents, feed your orchid with flower food every few weeks!
7. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
Gardenias’ creamy, white blooms are visually stunning and emit a rich, heady scent that can fill an entire room. This combination of beauty and aroma makes gardenias great for freshening indoor spaces.
The scent of gardenias is described as deep and sweet, a blend of floral and earthy notes similar to coconuts! This powerful yet soothing fragrance has made gardenias popular in perfumes and scented products.
Their elegant blooms and captivating fragrance also make gardenias a perfect choice for your first date, setting a romantic and memorable tone with their timeless charm. A potted gardenia in your home brings that same elegance and charm directly to your space.
How To Care For Gardenias
Like many of its flowery friends, avoid placing them in direct sunlight for long periods, as it can scorch their delicate leaves. These flowers also prefer slightly acidic soil, which you can achieve by adding used coffee grounds.
Gardenias also thrive in humid conditions, so misting the plant every morning helps maintain a moist and humid environment. Although gardenias may need extra care, the rewards are well worth it. Their stunning blooms and tropical fragrances make them an exceptional choice for anyone willing to put in the extra effort!
8. Hymenocallis (Spider Lily)
Don’t let the name "spider lily" scare you—it’s not crawling with creepy crawlies, but rather, it is named after its unique and spidery-like white flowers. Their delicate, spidery petals stretch gracefully, making them look almost like they’re floating. The peculiar flower is often described as having a gentle, practically vanilla-like smell, making it the perfect indoor flower.
How to Take Care Of Hymenocallis
Growing spider lilies indoors is surprisingly simple. They love warm and humid environments, making them perfect for areas like bathrooms or kitchens with more moisture. These flowers prefer well-draining soil and moderate watering, they also enjoy bright but indirect sunlight. With minimal attention, it will reward you with its stunning blooms and subtle fragrance.
9. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Known for its tiny, delicate blooms that release a honey-like fragrance, sweet alyssum adds a soft and refreshing scent to any room. Its light and sweet aroma is calming and uplifting, making it a striking choice for creating a calming atmosphere at home. Sweet alyssum is versatile and thrives in small pots, window boxes, or hanging planters, making it suitable for even the smallest indoor spaces.
How to Take Care Of Sweet Alyssum
Caring for sweet alyssum is simple, even for beginners. The plant does well in bright, indirect light, so a well-lit room will encourage healthy growth and continuous blooming. It requires only occasional watering—just enough to keep the soil slightly moist. As always, avoid overwatering the plant and ensure proper drainage.
10. Stephanotis (Madagascar Jasmine)
As the name implies, stephanotis’ sweet fragrance resembles the scent of traditional jasmine. Its elegant, star-shaped white flowers emit a soft and refreshing aroma, making it one of the best-smelling flowers you can grow indoors. The gentle fragrance is not overwhelming but still subtle enough to permeate your house with its gentle fragrance.
This plant’s vibrant green leaves and clusters of pure white blooms create a striking contrast. Stephanotis is a climbing plant, and when grown indoors, it does well in containers paired with stake support. This allows it to grow vertically, adding fragrance and a decorative element to your home.
Stephanotis flowers are also a sophisticated choice for wonderful congratulation flower bouquets, their pristine white blooms symbolising good fortune and success, making them a thoughtful and elegant gift for celebrating life’s achievements.
How To Care For Stephanotis
Stephanotis love warm and humid environments. Mist the plant every few days during early mornings and place it in bright, indirect light areas. Thanks to the natural humidity in these areas, the kitchen or bathroom can be perfect spots for stephanotis.
Conclusion On The Best Smelling Flowers
The best-smelling flowers can do wonders for your home, adding beauty and fragrance to brighten your day. Whether it’s the sweet aroma of gardenias, the calming scent of stephanotis, or the exotic fragrance of ylang-ylang, these flowers are perfect for creating a relaxing living space.
If you want to add some of these amazing flowers to your space or send a thoughtful gift, Singapore Florist has a superb selection of fresh and fragrant blooms. They offer beautiful arrangements for any occasion, delivered straight to your doorstep.
Bring the best smelling flowers into your life today and enjoy the simple pleasures they offer!
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Smelling Flowers
What Are The Best Flowers For Mild Fragrance Indoors?
Flowers like lavender and sweet alyssum provide a mild, calming scent that won’t overwhelm indoor spaces, making them ideal for those who prefer a subtle aroma.
Are All Flowers Safe For Pets?
Not all indoor flowers are pet-safe. For example, gardenias and lilies are toxic to pets, so research each flower carefully before bringing it into your home.
What Are The Best Flowers For Creating A Relaxing Atmosphere?
Lavender, gardenias, and jasmine are great choices for creating a soothing and peaceful environment with calming scents.
What Are the Easiest Fragrant Flowers To Grow Indoors?
Sweet alyssum, hoya, and lavender are beginner-friendly flowers that are easy to care for and offer a delightful scent.
How Can I Tell If My Fragrant Flower Needs More Light?
If the plant stops blooming or its leaves start to look pale or leggy, it likely needs more light.
How Do I Choose The Right Fragrant Flower For My Home?
Consider the light available in your home, your care routine, and the type of scent you prefer, such as floral, sweet, or earthy.