Fragrant plants can lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve concentration, says a horticultural therapist – discover how to harness the science of smell in your yard

Being able to engage all of the senses in the backyard is something many of us gardeners aspire to achieve. There's no denying the feeling of soft grass beneath your feet, the taste of homegrown fruit, the sound of birdsong, and the sight of a thriving garden are all things that makes us feel instantly good. It's for this reason many also incorporate fragrance in the yard, to inhale divine smells as you brush past aromatic plants. But, did you know the choices you make around fragrant plants can actually impact your overall wellness?

There's a lot of thought that goes into planting a fragrant garden, and each of us will be particular about the plants we choose because we all have different preferences in scent. Making these careful choices is more important than you may realize, as opting for the scents you find most pleasant has been found to bring physiological benefits. A 2023 study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, for example, found participants to be physically relaxed and feeling refreshed after interacting with fragrant garden plants.

To find out more about the response our minds and bodies have to fragrant plants, I spoke with Kelly Warnick, horticultural therapist with the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). With reference to her own observations, she shares here how we can use the science of smell to make the best choices around fragrance in the yard for wellbeing.

What does scent do for our wellbeing?

'Fragrance is a sensory experience and all humans tune into that,' says Kelly. 'Not everyone will have the same reaction to the scent of a particular plant, and it may not always be a positive reaction, but we all respond to it' she explains.

When smelling the best fragrant plants, there will be some you prefer over others, while your friend smelling the same plants might have an entirely different response. This is explained by which scents trigger a release of endorphins for each individual (the hormones responsible for boosting mood and relieving pain).

As Building and Environment's 2025 study on integrating aromatic plants into indoor biophilic environments found, when these endorphins are released from smelling aromatic herbs, flowers, vegetables, and more, your heart rate and blood pressure lowers, you feel less tense, and your mind becomes clearer, so you're able to concentrate more.

Of course, it isn't just this release of endorphins that leads us to choose some scents over others. There can be a wide range of factors impacting how scent makes you feel, including how it reminds you of people, places, and experiences - this is why fragrance is a valuable tool in creating memory gardens, for example.

'Scent is the strongest memory trigger,' Kelly says. 'When working with older patients with dementia, I love to introduce scent because it takes them back to a time.

'It creates a window where they start to engage, and talk, and describe their experiences,' she explains.

Kelly Warnick

Based in Chicago, Kelly Warnick, HTR, JD, is owner of Horticulture 4 Health, LLC. She delivers therapeutic horticulture sessions to many populations, including veterans, youth, older adults, and individuals with physical, developmental, cognitive, and sensory challenges. Kelly is an Adjunct Instructor at College of DuPage and serves as President-Elect for the American Horticultural Therapy Association. She is committed to writing, speaking, practicing, and teaching to foster the people-plant connection and further the impact of the horticultural therapy profession.

How to make the right fragrant plant choices

Although there are some plants for mental health that generally have a positive impact on everyone, the important thing to keep in mind when considering fragrance in the yard for wellbeing is scent preferences are unique.

The best approach to garden design to improve mental health and physical wellbeing is experimenting with different plant smells and seeing what brings you joy. You could even take a trip to a nursery or garden center to smell different plants and identify the ones giving you the biggest kick of serotonin.

Kelly encourages to not neglect your other senses when choosing the right plants for your wellness, too. 'I like to incorporate different sensory plants for my patients and give them the option to choose what engages with them most,' she says.

Kelly sees an 'incredibly powerful' shift in her patients (who, for example, might be trying to improve mobility or dexterity through horticulture activities) when all of the senses are engaged in an outdoor space.

This is what the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health's 2023 study found, too. When participants both viewed and smelled plants, they experienced a greater physiological benefit 'with regards to the integrated response of the autonomic nervous system and central nervous system' than when they separately smelled or viewed plants.

With this in mind, also take into account how the appearance and texture of the plants you like the smell of make you feel. Just like energizing red houseplants, you might find bright, fragrant red roses leave you feeling more alert, for example.

How to incorporate fragrance in the yard for wellbeing

There are plenty of ways to incorporate fragrance in the yard for wellbeing once you have identified which plants best serve you.

For example, there are plenty of plants to make a balcony smell nice that grow well in pots. Or, you can train fragrant climbers up a pergola so you're instantly hit with inviting scents as you stand beneath it. Make sure to also opt for some fragrant evergreens that will give you a year-round sensory experience. Likewise, add fragrant trees to provide height and structure in your yard.

To engage all of the senses, the 2023 study states: 'It should be ensured that plant odors and corresponding landscapes are present at the same time in order to ensure the best health effect.'

Growing lavender in pots and positioning them near a seating area, for example, will provide a stronger sensory experience than if you have lavender hidden in a border among other planting. You can admire the purple hues of the flowers, take in its relaxing aroma, and even watch as bumblebees enjoy the flowers, too.

Grow these fragrant plants for a wellbeing boost

FAQs

Do fragrant houseplants benefit your wellbeing?

Yes, just like fragrance in the yard for wellbeing, fragrant indoor plants to make a living room smell nice also give us endorphins. This makes us feel good, relaxes us, lowers our heart rate, and so much more. There are some particular mood-boosting houseplants you can try incorporating in your home with inviting aromas, such as gardenia, jasmine, and indoor herbs.

Using fragrance in the yard is just one of the ways to create a sensory garden. Don't forget to also include some tactile elements that allow you to soak up the beneficial bacteria found in soil and plants, including using houseplants that improve your microbiome in your indoor garden.