Do all J. officinale/grandiflora smell the same?

12 years ago

I ordered this as "French Perfume Jasmine" and it smells a lot like J. polyanthum to me and I really detest it for that Paperwhite Narcissus-like smell.

Admittedly, a single flower is mightly strong. According to my senses, is has more wafting power than any J. sambac variety I have smelled (Logee's flore pleno, Maid of Orleans, and Grand Duke).

And I kid you not, I think one single flower rivals a spray of Cestrum nocturnum flowers in my experience. This could be due to environmental factors causing it to retain more projectile power here than the other more notorious wafters.

Anyways, this was not the type of scent I was expecting. I was hoping for something sweeter and less musky. Do these temperate species pretty much all smell the same or should I continue seeking other strains with potentially better scents?

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Comments (4)

Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
12 years ago
Hmmm...this is the second post I've read about people finding this jasmine's scent disagreeable.
The first was from mehitabel back in August.

Makes me a little nervous since I've got one in the ground and am hoping it will survive the winter and bloom for me next year.

-Robert

Here is a link that might be useful: Stinky Poet's Jasmine?
Dar Sunset Zone 18
Original Author
12 years ago
Robert I may have been passing judgement on this jasmine too soon. A while after i posted this I went to go sniff a newly opened flower and it was much sweeter and had a gardenia-like note to it. This was quite pleasing. While the first two had the musky smell but mellowed out. I think this plant may be playing tricks on me. Unbelievable right?
Dar
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Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
12 years ago
Ha! I've never heard of plants playing tricks on us. ;)

I'm still on the fence with Jasminum azoricum. During the summer the fragrance didn't wow me but now that I've shoved it down in the basement under the lights the scent has intensified and I'm able to wow guests by plucking a few blooms for them to smell.
Have you tried Jasminum molle? It might be too strong for you (a friend thought it smelled too 'old lady') but I love the scent...sorta musky gardenia?

-Robert
friedabyler
12 years ago
Personally, I find that scents from fragrant plants vary according to soil moisture, temperature, humidity, soil culture, ect. [including jasmines] I grew one in a pot last summer, and one in a hollowed out cedar stump, and although they both smelled nice, the one in the stump had a fresher, more agreeable fragrance. Purchased together, same variety, same place, both spent the summer outdoors. ???