Herbs With Sweet Scents

Lemon Balm (Mellisa officinalis)

• Grown for its sweet lemon scent, lemon balm is a perennial plant and features light-green or yellowish heart-shaped leaves. At maturity, lemon balm grows up to 18 inches tall. The plant is native to Europe, but American gardeners grow lemon balm herbs in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 and 5. Lemon balm herbs prefer moist, well-drained soil and flourish in either full or partial sunlight. North Carolina State University's Cooperative Extension recommends frequent trimming for the best branching and says fresh lemon balm has sweeter fragrances than dried varieties.

Lavender (Lavandula species)

• The lavender herbs produce a sweet fragrance that is often included in sachets and perfumes. This plant grows as an annual or perennial shrub. Lavender plants prefer full sunlight and soil with an abundance of lime; the herb also flourishes in rocky environments. For harvesting, cut the lavender's flower spikes once the plant's first flowers dry. The lavender's sweet fragrance still emits from the plant's flowers after drying. Some pharmaceutical products feature lavender oil, but the oral use of lavender oil is toxic. Lavender grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8.

Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)

• Sweet marjoram plants are upright, perennial herbs that produce sweet fragrances from their gray-green, velvety leaves. This herbal plant has a similar scent to oregano; both plants belong to the same plant genus, Origanum. The oil extracted from sweet marjoram leaves is used for making perfumes. Fresh and dried sweet marjoram leaves are included in cuisine for flavoring purposes. Gardeners grow sweet marjoram in the spring and harvest the plants' leaves in the summer. The plants' velvety leaves make sweet marjoram a popular choice as ornamental plants. Sweet Marjoram grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10.

Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

• Sweet woodruff is a low-growing, perennial herb that grows between 6- to-12 inches tall; the plant grows as a groundcover rather than straight up. During April and May, sweet woodruff plants produce small white flowers. The plant's leaves and flowers release a sweet fragrance when crushed; the plant's fragrance is similar to vanilla or freshly mown hay. The plant's fragrance is the strongest in April and May. Various wines include sweet woodruff in their ingredients. Plant sweet woodruff herbs in full sunlight or partial shade; sweet woodruff herbs prefer moist, well-drained soils. Sweet woodruff grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8.