This entry comes from a lovely reader suggestion – one of the senses that gets lost through online medium is smell. While I adore the look of bouquets, it never occurs to me that they need to smell good too – it just goes out of my head! So for our lovely reader’s request for wonderful smelling bouquets, I asked a few of my favourite florists for their take on beautiful smelling bouquets!

Photos by Blushing Blooms

Sally of Blushing Blooms “Hugely popular with brides, David Austin roses are known for their elegant, rustic charm and natural beauty. David Austin’s are not generally acknowledged for their scent but this is not wholly true! Many varieties are deliciously fragrant – so not only gorgeous to look at but swoon-worthy in their perfume. For the most fragrant varieties consider Evelyn (the inspiration for the Crabtree & Evelyn scent of the same name), Glamis Castle, Perdita & Belle Story. Mother Nature has more than exceeded herself with the David Austin, that’s why they are one of my personal favourites…”

Photos by Hello Blossoms

Cameron of Hello Blossoms “Bouquet one features the beautiful classic fragrance of white hyacinth blooms and the perfume from bouvardia blooms and jasmine vine. The creamy ivory “emmanuelle” and off white “bounty” roses added a mild rose fragrance.

Bouquet two is a gorgeous white, soft pink and lilac hand held bouquet featured the the stunning “parfume de grande” rose blooms which give a sweet fragrance like they are picked straight from your garden.  The bouquet also featured fresh lavender and lilac hyacinth which created a beautiful overall garden fragrance. These florals are available almost the whole year round.

The feature of beautiful paperwhites create a really lovely garden fragrance during the winter months.

The aisle arrangements with open bloom “parfume de grande” roses created really sweet aisle posies and a strong garden style fragrance.”

Photos by Butterfly Philosophy Floral Design

Elaine of Butterfly Philosophy Floral Design“Winter is a wonderful time for sweet smelling bouquets – sweet peas, freesias, jonquils and hyacinths are all in season and have a beautiful perfume.  Here’s a photo of a simple hyacinth bouquet that looks elegant and smells divine!

For early summer brides, there’s just no going past the peony – it has a feminine fragrance that is perfect for dreamy summer days. They look stunning on their own, or teamed up with other ruffly flowers, like hydrangea (pictured above). For the ultimate in sweet smelling bouquets, pair peonies up with David Austin Roses. Both have a fragrance so wonderful you’ll want to bury your nose in your bouquet all day long!”

Photo 1. Form over Function via Real Weddings Magazine,  Photo 2 and 3 Form over Function by Photos By Jay, Photo 4 Form over Function

Alicia of Form Over Function “Bouquet number one contains a luscious collection of blooms in shades of lavender to deep purple and is the perfect winter bouquet for brides who have a love for look and scents of spring. It contains kale, green & mauve parrot tulips, privet berry and dusty miller – and for scent, we added sweet pea, blue moon roses and  lavender. Are we allowed to say yum?

Bouquet two contains masses of garden fresh David Austen roses – each and every bloom scented loveliness. An enduring classic. Bouquet three is a delicious spring time bouquet of scented blooms which includes carnations, freesia, jonquils & vendella roses.”

Photos by Blooming Brides

Rita of Blooming Brides “Roses – long the favourite of perfumers and soap makers. Some delicate, creamy and soft, some bitey and spicey.  All delicious. Teamed with herbs and lavender creates a classic summer fragrance cocktail

Lily of the Valley –sharp, crisp, elegant fragrance.

Boronia and Geralton Wax – adds the best smells of the Australian bush to a bouquet. Geralton Wax has rich smell of honey,  while boronia offers a refreshing earthy, lemony zing. My favourite, along with roses and blue gum. Brownie brown and pink varieties.

Hyacinth – like oriental lilies, loved or loathed. Very strong fragrance. Loathed by me! And I can’t stand lilies!!

Stephanotis – strong summer white flower fragrance in the same heady classification as gardenia: very strong elegant perfume. Total class.

Sweet pea – so sweet, fresh and gardeny. Edible.

Magnolia flower: light woody, lemony perfume. Seriously sexy late winter flower.

Fruit blossom: the definitive floral fragrance of spring!… especially with jars of freesia and associated sneezing!”

Photos by SugarBee Flowers

Youki of SugarBee Flowers “For a best smelling bouquet, you just cannot go past David Austin roses!! Their scent is just intoxicating, they are just so amazingly heavenly!! Let alone they look so so so pretty!!

Viburnum flowers have a sweet, yummy scent to them too.  It’s a shame that I don’t have any pics of lilac or lily of the valley!! They smell really good too!!”

Photos by My Violet

Myra of My Violet “Best fragrant flowers for me would have to be lily of the valley, tuberose, and stephanotis. My favourite fragrance would have to be David Austin roses, its intoxicating and I’m reminded of licorice and mango sorbet, always leaves a smile on my face. I would recommend if getting married in Summer or Spring to opt for any of the above , make the most of the David Austin rose and add one of the others. If its an autumn /winter wedding, hyacinth, sweet peas and Daphne are equally just as beautiful and deliciously scented.

Samantha and Mark married in March, I created a gorgeous collection of blown David Austin and garden roses, (and for) bridesmaids David Austin roses and Julia rose. The most amazing fragrance came off these posies, the bride requested a wild collection of blown roses with a touch of vintage. For their reception at the Gunners Barracks, Samantha asked for a wild collection in a mix of bright and soft colours of blown roses and wild vines.”

Photos by Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions via Always Fabulous Flowers

Sandee of Always Fabulous Flowers “Flower girl posies of individually wired hyacinth with gem highlight and (the next) image is of a bride’s posy bouquet with hyacinth and freesias.”

Photo 1 & 4, 5 by Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions via Always Fabulous Flowers

“David Austin rose bouquets (plus freesias in the second photo and plus hyacinth in the third (image). Bouquets with stephanotis (and gardenias as well, in the fourth photo).”

Photos by Always Fabulous Flowers

“Posy of Gardenias and also a composite lily posy (top images). Frangipani bouquets (images above) – all real and very fragrant.”

From our florists and my own research, here’s a quick rundown of the best smelling flowers:

  • Roses  including varieties David Austin, Parfume De Grande, Glamis Castle, Julia, Perdita & Belle Story
  • Peonies
  • Lillies
  • Sweet peas
  • Freesias
  • Paperwhites
  • Jonquils
  • Lily of The Valley
  • Lilacs
  • Hyacinths
  • Frangipanis
  • Stephanotis
  • Gardenias
  • Bouvardia
  • Geraldton Wax Flowers
  • Magnolias
  • Fruit Blossoms
  • Tuberose
  • Daphne
  • Lavender
  • Jasmine
  • Vibernum