Fruit tree/bush with nicest scent

[chrisdb]

I thought this might be a fun topic. Which (edible) fruiting plants do people think smell best, or worst? I'm mostly thinking about the flowers, but if there are any which just smell full stop then that's fine too.

Of the plants I grow, probably the ones which smell nicest are:

1. the lemon tree in the conservatory. In fact, we grow it mostly for the scent, since my wife is from Sevilla and the streets in spring there are filled with the same smell.

2. The goumi, Elaeagnus multiflora. I've read some sites describe the smell of goumi as like lilacs, which I'm not sure about, but I do know they smell very pleasantly floral.

I've also heard that the arctic kiwis, actinidia kolomikta, smell nice, but I only planted them this year so I haven't had the chance to check.

[Scarlet]

For me one of the loveliest smell In the garden is my lilac tree. The worst one is the hawthorn tree when it's in flower cos it stinks of cat wee!

[Scarlet]

I've just realised that you were talking about fruit trees! I don't think any I have are that memorable

[yummersetter]

There is a day in Autumn when you open the bedroom window here in Somerset in the morning and the air is full of the perfume of ripe apples.
Its interesting that with most fruit trees apart from citrus, the flowers aren't nearly as scented as the fruits.
The smell of tomato leaves is special though

[Kristen]

Dunno about the Best but in the Worst I would put Durian Tasty though ...

[SkyChild]

I'm with you on the lemon tree!
And the smell of ripe apples mmmhhhhmmmm
Courgettes and tomatoes always smell lovely in the summer sunshine.

I love scented gardens. Poor hubby has virtually no sense of smell and it makes me sad to think I fill the garden with lovely sceneted things (hyacinths, mock orange, herbs, lavender, roses, jasmine, honeysuckle....) and he doesn't get any of it at all!

Sorry. Fruit bushes? strawberry flowers don't smell but I like the smell of the fruits when the sun's on them

[chrisdb]

I'm with you on the lemon tree!
And the smell of ripe apples mmmhhhhmmmm

Apple flowers do smell nice, but only up close. Opposite for pear flowers... again, the scent doesn't travel far, but if I get up close and smell the flowers they're vaguely disgusting. Not as bad as the hawthorns and durians mentioned above I'm sure, but faintly like stale BO.

I love scented gardens. Poor hubby has virtually no sense of smell and it makes me sad to think I fill the garden with lovely sceneted things (hyacinths, mock orange, herbs, lavender, roses, jasmine, honeysuckle....) and he doesn't get any of it at all!

My wife has a much better sense of smell than I do, but I still enjoy wandering around and smelling things up close It all balances out though, because I have a great sense of hearing and can enjoy the bird song etc, whereas she's half deaf.

[DannyK]

Loquat flowers have scent of bitter almonds. Bit too cold to fruit here, but I know of one at West Brompton that fruits heavily.

[veggiechicken]

Apple flowers do smell nice, but only up close. Opposite for pear flowers... again, the scent doesn't travel far, but if I get up close and smell the flowers they're vaguely disgusting. Not as bad as the hawthorns and durians mentioned above I'm sure, but faintly like stale BO.

I've just burrowed my nose into some cherry blossom (very faint scent) and some pear blossom. Not at all BO-ey - pleasantly perfumed - like a flowery deodorant

[chrisdb]

I've just burrowed my nose into some cherry blossom (very faint scent) and some pear blossom. Not at all BO-ey - pleasantly perfumed - like a flowery deodorant

I guess either my pear trees are different or it's just a matter of taste. I can say that both Beth and Concorde smell the same, so it's not specific to a single variety. But for me, there's just something... bad about the smell.

[veggiechicken]

This was Conference. I'll try the others tomorrow and some apples and plums.

[chrisdb]

But apparently there are pyrus species that smell worse! this is what came up when I googled "pear blossom smell":

Your Street Probably Smells Like Semen Right Now--But It Might Not Next Spring - The Awl

Apparently, Pyrus calleryana smells like a combination of rotting fish and... bodily fluids.

[veggiechicken]

I thought the smell of flowering currants was bad but that ^^^ sounds so awful I have this strange urge to find one to sniff

[Moopmoop]

I'm not sure if you'll allow this but it's melons for me, not just the fruit but the whole plant smells gorgeous!!!

[Kristen]

I'm not sure if you'll allow this but it's melons for me, not just the fruit but the whole plant smells gorgeous!!!

Its a great smell when I go to open the greenhouse in the morning (well ... it will be in a couple of months time )