The Scentual Garden: Exploring the World of Botanical Fragrance

by Ken Druse, Ellen Hoverkamp (Photographer)

A complete illustrated survey of fragrance in the garden by America’s leading garden writer 

Popular garden writer Ken Druse offers a complete survey of fragrance in the garden, in a major work filled with new knowledge. He arranges both familiar and unusual garden plants, shrubs, and trees into 12 categories, giving gardeners a vastly expanded palate of scents to explore and enjoy, and he also provides examples of garden designs that offer harmonious scentual delights. Ellen Hoverkamp contributes her artful botanical images of flowers and plants discussed in the text. These are accompanied by Druse’s award-winning garden photographs, to create a book that is as beautiful to look at as it is informative and evocative to read. 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Natural History

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2019

Reviews

[Nic]

Exactly the sort of beautiful book I’ve come to expect from Ken Druse. This was such an enjoyable book, the photos are gorgeous as always. Some of the descriptions of scents were hilarious: plastic Barbie doll, child’s dress up perfume, hot garbage…

[Sharron]

A book to own and cherish. I borrowed this title first from the library because I already have a superabundance of garden books but a shortage of shelf space. As a result, I have grown cautious about purchasing more. I will make an exception here as this book is one to have on hand at all times. It’s packed with useful information and is a visual delight, one that I will pick up again and again.

[Servabo]

When I come across a beautiful flower, the first thing I do is lean in to sample its smell. If there is no perfume to share, I find the blossom somewhat lacking. Flowers with fragrance create a full experience. Stroking an herb's leaf, or just brushing against an aromatic plant spilling into the path, transports me to a richer world.

A medieval cloister garden with healing herbs 🌿

1) Portland Rosa Joasine Hanet
2) Common Soapwort Saponaria officialis
3) Spring Bulb Puschkinia scilloides
4) Persian lily Fritillaria persica
5) Hesperis night scented gilliflower
6) Peonies
7) Allium ornamental onion Bulb
8) Striped lily of the valley
9) Night blooming moonflower Ipomea alba
10) Passionflower Passiflora
11) Magnolia grandiflora
12) Freesia tender corm
13) Brunfelsia
14) Oriental trumpet lily
15) Borage borago officinalis
16) Wisteria
17) Daffodils
18) Snowdrop Galanthus
19) Chrysanthemum
20) Alpine strawberries
21) Peruvian daffodil

[Natch]

In the sense that it got me to smell all the flowers in my garden, this was a good book. I mainly bought it for the gorgeous photos, and that was great, but there wasn't a whole lot of valuable content.

[Jennifer]

Well written, informative and readable, but I found myself frustrated at the complete omission of any Mediterranean plants. There are many, many plants from the California chaparral and French maquis, for instance, that are incredibly fragrant.

[Melissa]

This is a beautiful book! It's tough though, because reading someone else's description of scents and smells really only gets you so far. I did appreciate this book for getting me to think about scent as an element of building a garden, which is something that is often overlooked. For that alone, it's worthwhile to pick this book up and flip through it, and think about how different "scent families" are represented in your garden.

I also learned the word "indolic," which is apparently Ken Druse's favorite word.

Overall this feels a bit indulgent (it's clearly the author's passion), but it is a gorgeous book and it's worth flipping through.

[Barbara Kochick]

Good info. Stunning photos.

[Sabrina]

Exquisite.

[Gina Wilson]

Swoon.

[Lauren Patton]

An overall beautiful book, stunning photography. I learned so much about fragrance in plants. It’s very unique.

[Patricia C]

Love it. So interesting. I'm going to need to read again to take it all in.