Looks like Osmanthus to me :-)

Thanks Ispahan, I did a google search for Osmanthus pics and found alot of pics... none looked like mine though... some had simular leaves but blooms didnt match, or blooms matched but leaves didnt match. Thanks again.

Any other suggestons?
Thanks
CJ

Might be Ilex opaca listed down below.
kevin
p.s. did a search on "fragrant plants of N.C."

Here is a link that might be useful: holly

Thanks CP... Thats the one! :-D Wonder why it took so long to blossom? Its a well established tree. I must be doing something wrong in the care I take seasonaly. Any suggestions? Thanks
CJ

i say osmanthus. holly would not be flowering this time of year but osmanthus is. fragrance of osmanthus reminds me of apricots.
check out the photo linked below of osmanthus x fortunei's juvenile leaves - spiny and reminiscent of holly.

Here is a link that might be useful: osmanthus x fortnuei - juvenile leaf form

It's highly unlikely to be an ilex, since they flower in spring. It's much more likely to be osmanthus delavayi, which is fall blooming -- take a look at the link below

Hope this helps solve the mystery!

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: O. delavayi leaves and flowers

Thanks Jeff and Jim... Mine looks like the pic Jeff referred to. Many simular breeds apparently... how do I pin point mine? :-D Blosoms ?
Thanks
CJ

i think the leaves of yours are too large for o. delavayi. that one has leaf and flower of approx. the same size (very small). most species of these that i am familiar with are fall bloomers, except for x burkwoodii.
o. fragrans and o. heterophyllus are probably the most frequently planted in the southeast and the difference in leaf form of juvenile and adult leaves may make it difficult to i.d. for the average gardener. i would just tell folk that "i have a tea olive shrub". :-)

This plant comes from the large Osmanthus family. It is a sibling of the Osmanthus fragran, but it is not the "sweet olive". The sweet olive has more smooth leave edge. The blooming time of this family varies greatly and some are ever-blooming.

In general, holly leaves are more waxy, darker, with veins less showy and irregular spikes. Also the hollies should bear berries now.