Making scents

Since ancient times, humans have sought to capture the fragrance of plants. From Ancient Eyptian ‘Kyphi’ (distilled from juniper berry, iris root and cinnamon bark) to the more familiar lavender fields of Provence, the modern perfume industry has grown into a £30 billion a year market. Clearly there is something about fragrance that we have always known which makes me wonder why it is so often an after-thought in gardens.

Modern science has begun to unravel some of the mystery and expand our understanding of how scent affects us. Smell is the oldest of our senses and the most deeply embedded in our brain. As such it has the greatest potential to influence our moods and emotions and anecdotally many of us have experienced a sudden and powerful memory triggered by a fleeting aroma.

Plants have many different types of scent including floral, spicy and herbal and research has shown that other than just triggering nice memories these can have a profound impact on our brains including aiding concentration, combating fatigue and stress and even being aphrodisiac. Industry and business has begun to take advantage of this new understanding. Banks are using subtle lavender scents to keep customers calm while offices in Japan are filling their work stations with the scent of citrus and mint to maintain the mental alertness of their workers.         

So perhaps we should use scented flowers and aromatic foliage to greater effect in our own gardens. When it comes to designing a garden for scent there are three main considerations. The first consideration is how to capture it. The scent produced by flowers is often very subtle, ethereal (upon you one minute and gone the next) and sensitive to moving air. It is therefore essential to create still areas using windbreaks.

Secondly you need to make sure there are plenty of places to sit in the garden. Sometimes you just have to wait patiently for the fragrance to find you. And thirdly, of course, you need to select the right plants. To aid your planning process you can divide these into those underfoot (such as thymes and chamomile), those placed for the trailing hand (such as rosemary and lavender) and those hovering at nose level (roses and other shrubs).

Structures such as pergolas and arbours will not only give support for scented climbers but also help trap pockets of air, pots can provide space for annuals such as nicotiana and scented leaved geraniums while raised beds will let you immerse yourself amongst the plants.

There are invigorating mints and citrus foliage to go next to your ‘morning cup of tea’ seat, rosemary and catmint to aid concentration near the office window and even night scented stocks and jasmine for the evening terrace. How far you want to go is up to you.