Expert's Choice: The 7 Best Fragrant and Scented Houseplants

Expert's Choice: The 7 Best Fragrant and Scented Houseplants

Bird of Paradise houseplant

Bird of Paradise — Strelitzia reginae

String of Hearts houseplant

String of Hearts — Ceropegia woodii

Lemon Tree houseplant

Lemon Tree — Citrus limon

Wax Flower houseplant

Wax Flower — Hoya carnosa

Sweetheart Hoya houseplant

Sweetheart Hoya — Hoya kerrii

Wax Plant houseplant

Wax Plant — Hoya linearis

Expert listicle

Expert's Choice: The 7 Best Fragrant and Scented Houseplants

May 3, 20268 min read

Filling Your Home with Nature's Fragrances

Are you tired of the same old air fresheners and scented candles? Do you want to bring a touch of nature into your home? Look no further than fragrant houseplants. Not only do they purify the air and improve the aesthetic of your space, but they also fill your home with beautiful, natural scents. In this article, we'll explore the 7 best fragrant and scented houseplants that are sure to delight your senses.

The Benefits of Fragrant Houseplants

Fragrant houseplants have been shown to have a number of benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety to improving sleep quality. They can also help to purify the air, removing toxins and pollutants that can exacerbate respiratory issues. And, of course, they add a touch of natural beauty to your home, making them a great alternative to artificial air fresheners and scented candles.

Choosing the Right Fragrant Houseplant

With so many fragrant houseplants to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. That's why we've put together this list of the 7 best fragrant and scented houseplants. From the sweet, citrusy scent of the Lemon Tree to the heady, floral fragrance of the Bird of Paradise, we've got you covered. Whether you're a seasoned plant parent or just starting out, these plants are sure to delight your senses and bring a touch of nature into your home.

Bird of Paradise: The Exotic Fragrance Queen

The Bird of Paradise is a stunning plant with a unique, exotic fragrance that's sure to turn heads. Its sweet, floral scent is released in the evening, making it a great choice for bedrooms and living rooms. With its bright, indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The Bird of Paradise is a standout choice for its unique fragrance and stunning appearance. Its flowers can grow up to 6 inches in length, making it a great choice for adding a touch of drama to your space. And, with its ability to grow up to 6 feet tall, it's a great choice for filling a large room with fragrance.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect-bright light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Medium care
  • Pet Safe: No

Read our full Bird of Paradise care guide

String of Hearts: The Delicate, Floral Fragrance

The String of Hearts is a beautiful, trailing plant with a delicate, floral fragrance that's sure to delight. Its small, heart-shaped leaves are covered in tiny, fragrant flowers that bloom in the spring and summer months. With its indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The String of Hearts is a great choice for its delicate, floral fragrance and stunning appearance. Its trailing stems make it a great choice for hanging baskets or containers, and its small size makes it perfect for small spaces. And, with its ability to grow up to 3 feet long, it's a great choice for filling a room with fragrance.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Easy care
  • Pet Safe: Yes

Read our full String of Hearts care guide

Lemon Tree: The Citrusy, Uplifting Fragrance

The Lemon Tree is a popular choice for its bright, citrusy fragrance and stunning appearance. Its small, white flowers bloom in the spring and summer months, filling the air with a sweet, uplifting scent. With its indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The Lemon Tree is a great choice for its bright, citrusy fragrance and stunning appearance. Its small size makes it perfect for small spaces, and its ability to grow up to 10 feet tall makes it a great choice for filling a large room with fragrance. And, with its high oil content, it's a great choice for making homemade cleaning products and beauty treatments.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Easy care
  • Pet Safe: No

Read our full Lemon Tree care guide

Wax Flower: The Sweet, Honey-Like Fragrance

The Wax Flower is a beautiful, fragrant plant with a sweet, honey-like scent that's sure to delight. Its small, white flowers bloom in the spring and summer months, filling the air with a sweet, uplifting fragrance. With its indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The Wax Flower is a great choice for its sweet, honey-like fragrance and stunning appearance. Its small size makes it perfect for small spaces, and its ability to grow up to 3 feet tall makes it a great choice for filling a room with fragrance. And, with its high oil content, it's a great choice for making homemade beauty treatments and perfumes.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Easy care
  • Pet Safe: Yes

Read our full Wax Flower care guide

Sweetheart Hoya: The Delicate, Floral Fragrance

The Sweetheart Hoya is a beautiful, fragrant plant with a delicate, floral scent that's sure to delight. Its small, heart-shaped leaves are covered in tiny, fragrant flowers that bloom in the spring and summer months. With its indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The Sweetheart Hoya is a great choice for its delicate, floral fragrance and stunning appearance. Its small size makes it perfect for small spaces, and its ability to grow up to 3 feet long makes it a great choice for filling a room with fragrance. And, with its high oil content, it's a great choice for making homemade beauty treatments and perfumes.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Easy care
  • Pet Safe: Yes

Read our full Sweetheart Hoya care guide

Wax Plant: The Sweet, Honey-Like Fragrance

The Wax Plant is a beautiful, fragrant plant with a sweet, honey-like scent that's sure to delight. Its small, white flowers bloom in the spring and summer months, filling the air with a sweet, uplifting fragrance. With its indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The Wax Plant is a great choice for its sweet, honey-like fragrance and stunning appearance. Its small size makes it perfect for small spaces, and its ability to grow up to 3 feet tall makes it a great choice for filling a room with fragrance. And, with its high oil content, it's a great choice for making homemade beauty treatments and perfumes.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Easy care
  • Pet Safe: Yes

Read our full Wax Plant care guide

Hoya Obovata: The Sweet, Floral Fragrance

The Hoya Obovata is a beautiful, fragrant plant with a sweet, floral scent that's sure to delight. Its small, white flowers bloom in the spring and summer months, filling the air with a sweet, uplifting fragrance. With its indirect light requirements and weekly watering needs, this plant is relatively easy to care for.

Why We Recommend It

The Hoya Obovata is a great choice for its sweet, floral fragrance and stunning appearance. Its small size makes it perfect for small spaces, and its ability to grow up to 3 feet tall makes it a great choice for filling a room with fragrance. And, with its high oil content, it's a great choice for making homemade beauty treatments and perfumes.

Quick Stats

  • Light: Indirect light
  • Water: Weekly watering
  • Difficulty: Easy care
  • Pet Safe: Yes

Read our full Hoya Obovata care guide

How We Chose These Plants

We chose these 7 fragrant and scented houseplants based on their unique fragrance, stunning appearance, and ease of care. We considered factors such as light requirements, watering needs, and pet safety to ensure that these plants are suitable for a variety of spaces and households.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the most fragrant houseplant?

A: The most fragrant houseplant is often subjective, but the Bird of Paradise is a popular choice for its unique, exotic fragrance.

Q: How often should I water my fragrant houseplants?

A: The watering needs of fragrant houseplants vary, but most require weekly watering. Be sure to check the specific watering needs of your plant to ensure you're providing the right amount of moisture.

Q: Are fragrant houseplants safe for pets?

A: Not all fragrant houseplants are safe for pets, so be sure to check the pet safety of your plant before bringing it home. Some plants, such as the Bird of Paradise, are toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach.

PlantCare Central — About This Guide

PlantCare Central publishes structured houseplant care content built around specific measurements and actionable guidance. All guides follow a consistent research framework covering light requirements, watering schedules, soil composition, and seasonal care.

Featured Plants
In This Guide

Bird of Paradise houseplant
Moderate

Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia reginae

The Bird of Paradise, or Strelitzia reginae, requires a specific balance of light (200–400 foot-candles, 3–5 feet from an east or south window), watered every 7.

Bright IndirectWeekly
String of Hearts houseplant
Easy

String of Hearts

Ceropegia woodii

Caring for your Ceropegia woodii, or String of Hearts, requires a bit more detail than just bright indirect light. To thrive, this plant needs 200-400 foot-cand.

Indirect LightWeekly
Lemon Tree houseplant
Easy

Lemon Tree

Citrus limon

The Citrus limon, or lemon tree, thrives in bright indirect light (200-400 foot-candles), requiring water every 7–10 days. Maintain a humidity level of 50–70% a.

Indirect LightWeekly
Wax Flower houseplant
Easy

Wax Flower

Hoya carnosa

To grow a thriving Hoya carnosa, place it in an east or south-facing window that receives 200-400 foot-candles of light, which is about the brightness level you.

Indirect LightWeekly
Sweetheart Hoya houseplant
Easy

Sweetheart Hoya

Hoya kerrii

To care for your Hoya kerrii, provide it with bright, indirect light of around 200-400 foot-candles, placed about 3-5 feet from an east or south window. Water t.

Indirect LightWeekly
Wax Plant houseplant
Easy

Wax Plant

Hoya linearis

Caring for a Hoya linearis, or "Wax Plant," is straightforward with the right conditions. Provide it with 200-400 foot-candles of light from an east or south wi.

Indirect LightWeekly