JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Aroma plays a vital role in a home or any living space. It’s an invisible element that welcomes us, sets the mood, and can even trigger cherished memories.
While there are many popular methods for scenting a room, such as aromatherapy candles and frequent carpet cleaning, nothing quite compares to the natural fragrance of blossoming plants. However, it’s important to remember that most flowering plants don’t bloom year-round, offering only seasonal fragrances.
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To encourage blooming, these plants need a warm, bright spot with plenty of sunlight. Therefore, ensure you provide the ideal position, light, and temperature for your chosen flowering plants to thrive.
Adapted from Homes and Gardens, Wednesday (March 12, 2025), here are several flowering plants that can naturally perfume your indoor spaces.
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Gardenia
Gardenias are prized for their intense floral aroma, often likened to vanilla. While indoor gardenia care requires some expertise and attention, creating the right conditions can lead to a thriving plant.
Thomas Rutter, gardener and Content Editor for Homes & Gardens, notes that gardenias are tropical plants, flourishing in warm, humid environments.
These plants crave attention and benefit from regular feeding with an acid-rich fertilizer, at least bi-weekly during spring and summer. Gardenias dislike drying out and appreciate regular misting.
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Jasmine
Another exceptional flowering plant for scenting your home is jasmine. Similar to gardenias, jasmine is highly celebrated for its rich, intoxicating floral fragrance.
It’s no surprise that jasmine’s aroma is widely used in perfumes, soaps, herbal teas, and room fresheners. Growing jasmine in pots requires a warm environment and a slightly acidic soil mix. Most varieties will thrive along a support or trained along a trellis.
Prune your jasmine plant immediately after flowering to encourage abundant blooms the following year. These plants need a dormant period during fall and winter to successfully re-bloom.
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String of Hearts
During the summer months, this delicate trailing houseplant produces small, trumpet-like flowers in a pale pink hue.
“String of heart plants have a nutmeg and vanilla scent,” says Rutter.
If your string of hearts suddenly blooms, it’s a sign that the plant is happy and growing in optimal conditions. Place your string of hearts on a high shelf to encourage growth and flowering. This positioning also allows its fragrance to disperse more easily throughout the room.
Pansy Orchid
Pansy orchids are another excellent choice for adding fragrance to a room. These orchids emit a delicate aroma when in bloom and bring an elegant touch to any space.
Pansy orchids grown in warmer climates prefer humid environments, while those grown in cooler climates thrive best in bright, indirect light and moderate room temperatures.
These orchids are relatively easy to care for; allow them to dry out almost completely between waterings. Pansy orchids can bloom for up to six weeks, so consider moving them to a bathroom or kitchen windowsill while in bloom and replacing them once the flowers fade.
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Lemon Balm
Finally, lemon balm is an easy-to-grow indoor plant that also adds fragrance to a space.
According to Rutter, lemon balm is a remarkably easy plant to cultivate indoors.
“All it needs is a sunny windowsill, well-draining soil, and a pot with drainage holes,” Rutter adds. Be careful not to overwater lemon balm, as it doesn’t respond well to overly wet conditions. Water just enough to avoid standing water in the pot.
Place it near a door to enjoy its aroma as you enter the room and allow the scent to circulate. Alternatively, you can take a few leaves and steep them in a shallow bowl of warm water to release the fragrance into the air.
Ringkasan
The article discusses using fragrant flowering plants as a natural way to perfume your home, noting that while many methods exist, blossoming plants offer a unique and seasonal fragrance. The article highlights the importance of providing ideal conditions such as warm, bright spots with ample sunlight to encourage blooming. Several plants are mentioned as good options for scenting indoor spaces.
Specific plants discussed include Gardenias, known for their vanilla-like aroma; Jasmine, popular in perfumes and teas; String of Hearts, with a nutmeg and vanilla scent; Pansy Orchids, offering a delicate fragrance and elegant touch; and Lemon Balm, an easy-to-grow option with a refreshing lemon scent. The care requirements and unique fragrance profiles of each plant are briefly described, providing a guide for choosing the best fragrant plant for your home.