Katrina Rosales
Gardenias are intensely fragrant flowers with creamy, zesty notes and a strong, sweet, floral aroma. They have been cultivated since the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The scent of gardenias is so beloved that many people want to know how to increase it. Gardenias should be planted in a place where they can receive four to six hours of sunlight and plenty of water. They prefer acidic, organically rich, and loamy soil that is well-draining. Fertilizing gardenias in early spring with an acidic, slow-release fertilizer will also help to increase their fragrance. For those who want to bring the scent of gardenias indoors, one option is to make a gardenia extract by infusing the flower petals in alcohol.
How to increase the fragrance of gardenias
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soil | Rich, acidic, and well-draining |
| Sunlight | 4-6 hours |
| Watering | 1 inch of water per week |
| Humidity | 60% |
| Fertilizer | Acidic, slow-release |
| Natural fragrance enhancers | Gardenia flowers can be floated in bowls of water or placed in bud vases |
| Gardenia extract | Can be made by infusing fresh gardenia flowers in alcohol |
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What You'll Learn
Gardenia varieties with the strongest scent
Gardenias are known for their zesty, fragrant, and floral scent with hints of peach and green undertones. The scent of gardenias is distinguishable from other floral scents, smelling more feminine than jasmine, creamier than ylang-ylang, and lighter than tuberose. The unique fragrance of gardenias is due to the molecules linalool and methyl benzoate. Linalool gives gardenia its floral scent and is often used in candles, perfumes, soaps, and household products. On the other hand, methyl benzoate is responsible for the sweet and creamy aroma, and this fruity-scented compound is highly attractive to orchid bees.
- 'Lacey Lady': This variety is known for its large flowers and is considered one of the most wafting fragrant gardenias. It can be heavily pruned in late summer to give a fuller appearance when it flowers the following spring.
- 'Mystery': This is the best-known selection of gardenia, bearing 4 to 5-inch double flowers from mid-to-late spring. It can reach 6 to 8 feet high and wide, making its fragrance more noticeable.
- 'August Beauty': This variety grows 4 to 6 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide, with large double flowers that bloom heavily in mid-spring and into fall.
- 'White Gem': While smaller in size, reaching just 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, 'White Gem' is noted for its fragrance, which can be appreciated even from a single creamy white summer flower.
- 'Veitchii': This compact and reliable grower reaches 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, blooming prolifically from mid-spring into fall with 2 to 3-inch flowers.
To increase the fragrance of gardenias, it is recommended to plant them in an area where they can receive four to six hours of sunlight daily, with some adjustments based on the climate. Gardenias also prefer acidic, organically rich, and well-drained loamy soil. Fertilizing gardenias with an acidic, slow-release fertilizer in early spring and maintaining proper watering can enhance their growth and fragrance. Additionally, bringing gardenia flowers indoors in vases can allow you to enjoy their scent inside your home.
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How to bring the scent of gardenias indoors
Gardenias are beloved for their intoxicating fragrance and attractive, waxy, creamy-white flowers. They are typically grown outdoors in locations that get decent sunlight and in most soils. However, you can bring the scent of gardenias indoors in several ways.
Firstly, you can cut the flowers and place them in a vase or bowl of water. This will allow you to enjoy the scent of the flowers inside your home. However, gardenias have short stems, so you may need to place them in a bowl instead of a vase. Another option is to float the flowers in water, which is a common way to display them.
Secondly, you can create gardenia extract to use in perfumes, lotions, and other cosmetic products. To make the extract, remove the petals from the gardenia flowers and tear them into small pieces. Place the petals in a jar and cover them with alcohol. Seal the jar and store it in a dark place for 8-10 weeks. Check the scent after 6-8 weeks, and if you're happy with it, strain the flowers out of the alcohol. You can then use the scented alcohol in your cosmetic formulations. Alternatively, you can dry the petals and use them to make tea.
Finally, you can grow gardenias as indoor potted plants. They prefer bright light but not direct sunlight, especially during the summer. Place them near a sunny window that gets afternoon shade. Gardenias are acid-loving plants, so use a potting mix with a peat base or add a teaspoon of agricultural sulfur to the planting hole to lower the soil's pH. Maintain a temperature above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and use a humidifier or mist the plant regularly to maintain a humidity level above 60%. Feed your indoor gardenia with an acid-rich fertilizer in mid-March and late June, and stop feeding it in the fall to prevent new growth before winter.
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Gardenia essential oil extraction methods
The captivating aroma of gardenia is rare and unusual, with a complex white floral aroma, a rich, sweet-fruity body, slightly earthy undertones, and light, fresh green top notes. The jasminoides species of Gardenia is known for its warm and hypnotic aroma, similar to Jasmine, with creamier, richer notes and a rounder body.
Gardenia essential oil is challenging to extract, as the flowers do not tolerate steam distillation, and the yield from solvent extraction is very low (5000 kg of flowers for 1 kg of absolute oil). This has resulted in most gardenia oil on the market being synthetically produced. However, one producer uses a modernized enfleurage technique with benign solvents such as fixed vegetal oils and sugarcane alcohol to extract the oil from fresh, organically grown gardenia flowers.
To create a gardenia extract, you can use fresh gardenia flowers and infuse them into alcohol. This extract can be used in formulations for natural perfumes, moisturisers, toners, lotions, and hair scents. The extract has a beautiful scent, just like the flower, and is useful for skin, body care, and massage preparations.
Gardenia Absolute Essential Oil is certified organic, cruelty-free, and free of animal testing and by-products. It is also free of any genetically modified organisms, raw materials, or processing aids. This oil has a rich, sweet floral scent with long-standing aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It is widely used in aromatherapy and can help manage pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms.
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The history of gardenias and their fragrance
Gardenias are a genus of flowering plants that includes about 142 species belonging to the Rubiaceae family, which also includes coffee plants. They are indigenous to the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Gardenia plants can grow from two to twenty feet or more in height in their natural habitat, and their leaves are glossy and dark green, growing from one to ten inches long depending on the species. The flowers of many gardenia species are known for their intoxicating sweet scent, with nuances of earthy mushrooms. They can be white or yellow and develop either a single blossom or a cluster of blossoms.
Gardenia jasminoides, also known as Gardenia grandiflora, originated in Asia and has been grown in China for more than a thousand years. In China, Gardenia jasminoides is called Zhi zi, and in Japan, it is called Kuchinasi. The yellow flowers are used in both countries as a dye for clothes and food. Gardenia jasminoides was introduced to England in the 18th century and was later sourced by Rod McLellan, who, by 1935, had become the leading grower of gardenias, with 80,000 plants. During and after World War II, gardenia corsages became popular, and by 1945, McLellan was shipping 3 million gardenias per year to florists across the country.
The fragrance of gardenias has been captured and celebrated in various ways throughout history. In 1932, an American firm called Tuvache introduced Jungle Gardenia, a perfume that blended gardenia, jasmine, and lily-of-the-valley to create a strong, sweet scent. Today, several manufacturers produce perfumes called Jungle Gardenia, although the ingredients may differ. Gardenia flowers have also been worn as a hair accessory by jazz singer Billie Holiday, who called them her trademark.
The scent of gardenias can be enjoyed in various ways today. Gardenia flowers can be floated in bowls of water, displayed in bud vases, or worn as a corsage. The flowers can also be brought indoors and placed in vases to enjoy their scent inside the home. Gardenia extract is simple to make and can be used in natural perfumes, moisturisers, toners, lotions, and hair scents. The extract is made by infusing fresh gardenia flowers in alcohol and can be added to oil sprays or mists for a long-lasting fragrance. The petals of the gardenia flower are edible and can be eaten raw, candied, or preserved in honey, or the buds can be pickled. They can also be dried and used to make sweet-scented tea.
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How to grow and care for gardenias
Gardenias are beautiful, fragrant flowers with shiny, dark green leaves. They are considered moderately difficult to care for due to their specific water, light, and soil pH needs. However, with proper care, they can live and thrive for many years, often 15 years or more. Here are some tips on how to grow and care for gardenias:
Planting
Plant your gardenia in the spring, in a spot with full sun or light shade. Gardenias grow best in rich, well-draining, acidic soil (pH 5.0-6.5) with high humidity and stable temperatures between 60-75°F (15-24°C). They favour environments with warm days and cooler nights, with day temperatures between 65-70°F (18-21°C) and night temperatures between 60-65°F (15-18°C). If your climate is hotter, you can plant in late winter or early spring, and if your climate is colder, wait until late spring.
When planting, dig a hole as deep as the root ball and add mulch around the base of the plant to maintain moisture in the soil. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch to retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and reduce weed competition. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem to prevent rot. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
Maintenance
Maintain consistent moisture, especially during the first growing season, to help establish the gardenia. Avoid overhead watering to prevent leaf and flower diseases. Fertilize your gardenia every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with an acid-forming fertilizer suitable for acid-loving plants. Reduce feeding in the fall and winter, and do not fertilize from November to February.
Gardenias need humidity to thrive, so create humidity for indoor plants by misting them regularly with a spray bottle of water or placing the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. You can also use a humidifier in the same room as the plant.
Pruning and Blooming
Gardenias can be pruned as far back as you like, but if you only want your plant to become bushier, simply pinch out the tips while it is dormant. Pinching will usually promote a heavier bloom the following year. Whenever you see blooms begin to fade, clip them back to just below the leaf node to encourage continuous blooming.
Increasing Fragrance
To increase the fragrance of your gardenias, you can make gardenia extract by removing the petals from the flower, tearing them into small pieces, covering them with alcohol, and letting them infuse in a dark area for 8-10 weeks. You can then use the extract in perfumes, lotions, or even in the kitchen! The petals are edible and can be eaten raw, candied, or preserved in honey, or you can pickle the buds.
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Frequently asked questions
Gardenias are intensely fragrant flowers with creamy, zesty notes. To increase their fragrance, you can try planting them in a place where they receive adequate sunlight and water, as well as rich, acidic soil. Gardenias also require regular fertilisation and pruning to maintain their scent.
Potted gardenias require similar care to those planted in the ground. Ensure they receive adequate sunlight, water, and fertilisation. Test the soil pH levels regularly to maintain the preferred acidic range of 5.0 to 6.5.
You can bring gardenia flowers indoors by placing them in vases with water. Alternatively, you can create your own gardenia extract by infusing the petals in alcohol and using it to make natural perfumes, moisturisers, or lotions.
