When it comes to fragrance, Lilies have few rivals. Their exquisite and lovely perfume combined with the dazzling beauty of their flowers are enough to transport you to tropical climes or lift your spirit when passing by. However, not all Lilies are fragrant. For instance, most of the Asiatic Hybrid Lilies, which are among the earliest to bloom in early-mid summer and the easiest to grow are unscented. Other Lilies emit a subtle scent and are agreeably fragrant while others exude such an overpowering perfume that it is sometimes felt as "overwhelming".

Invariably gorgeous as cut flowers, Lilies have sometimes shockingly bad taste in terms of the scent they exhale. These should not make it inside the house. Among them are Lilium pomponium or the Martagon Lilies which are scarcely bearable indoors. If you are looking for a pleasantly fragrant Lily in the house, you may want to try Lilium longiflorum or lilium japonicum Alexandrae. The delicate fragrance of Lilium neigherrense or the restrained scent of Lilium speciosum make them great candidates for the vase.

Choosing the right varieties of fragrant Lilies may be daunting as there are thousands of them! Here is a list of favorite fragrant lilies. Keep them well watered in a sunny location and you will be rewarded with weeks of abundant blooms from early to late summer with some producing up to 40 flowers per stem!