Their common name is Daffodil and their Latin, botanical name Narcissus. They are a bulb that is part of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae.
If you plant the bulb between September and October of the previous year, it will grow roots before the beautiful yellow and white flowers bloom in the spring, from February to early May. They can be found in borders, containers but also parks and by the roadside.
Their typical height and spread are 5cm (2in) to 50cm (20in). They prefer sun or light shade and are an easy to grow bulb. The plant is very resistant and most sorts survive cold winters to flower for many years.
Flower stalks have green leaves and are either trumpet- or star-shaped and yellow or white. In all, there are about 26 wild varieties but many hundreds of cultivated versions.
Daffodils are divided into 13 groups mainly based on the shape of their flowers:
Daffodils originate from Southern Europe and North Africa, but some varieties can be found in Asia and China. Some people say that narcissus came from Persia and was brought to China by traders on the Silk Road in the 8th century.
A Greek myth says that Narcissus knelt down to look into a pool of water because he was so interested in his own reflection. The flower is linked to this story. Sadly, he toppled into the water and drowned. The Narcissus plant sprang from where he died.
The name likely comes from the Greek word “narke,” which was changed to “narce” by the Romans and meant “numb.” This is because it has a narcotic effect.
Narcissus oil has been used for many things for more than a thousand years, in both ancient Rome and the Middle East:
In the past, the oil was extracted using a method called “enfleurage,” in which the petals were placed on a plate of lard. The fat takes the oil out of the petal, and new petals grow in their place after a few days. This is repeated until the lard is saturated with oil. At this stage it is called the ‘pomade’. The pomade is then filtered and distilled to produce the oil.
Nowadays, the oil is typically extracted using volatile solvents. About 500 kg of flowers are required to produce 1 kilogram of concrete or 300 g of absolute. ‘Concrete’ and ‘Absolute’ refer to different stages of refinement of the natural extract. It explains, however, why natural narcissus oil is so precious and expensive.
Today, the major quantities of natural narcissus essential oil are produced in the Netherlands and in France.
Have you tried smelling a Daffodil or wondered what this wonderful member of the Narcissus family smells like?
There are about two hundred cultivated varieties of daffodils, but only about 26 wild varieties that are incredibly fragrant. Most of the hybrid and over-bred bulbs you can find in garden centers today won’t give off a scent. By extension, this means there are a lot of different smells, but here is the typical smell profile for Narcissus:
The scent of narcissus oil is strong and rich. It reminiscent of dark green leaves with traces of hyacinth and jasmine.
We could also smell some varieties that were “spicy” and others that were “musky” or “vanilllic.”
Narcissus would generally be classified as a ‘green-floral’, together with hyacinth and lily of the valley.
Daffodils are one of the most iconic flowers of spring. With their bright yellow blooms on slender green stems, they evoke images of sunny days and the promise of warmer weather ahead. But beyond their unmistakable visual appeal, daffodils also have another trait that makes them special – their lovely fragrance. So do daffodils actually have a scent, and if so, what does it smell like? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the fragrant nature of these cheerful spring blooms.
The Fragrance Profile of Daffodils
The short answer is yes – most daffodils do indeed have a pleasant floral scent. The fragrance is often described as sweet and fresh, with delicate notes of citrus and spice. Here are some more details on the typical daffodil scent profile:
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Intensity – The fragrance is usually mild or moderate in strength. Some varieties may have a stronger aroma than others but in general daffodil scent is more subtle than overpowering.
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Notes – In addition to the sweet floral scent, hints of fruit, honey, vanilla, grass or herbs may also be detected. The overall impression is a complex, multi-layered fragrance.
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Duration – The scent is strongest when the flowers are in full bloom. It tends to fade as the blooms age.
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Mood – The cheerful, vibrant aroma evokes feelings of optimism and renewal associated with spring.
Factors That Influence Daffodil Fragrance
Several factors can affect the intensity and quality of fragrance in daffodils:
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Variety – There are thousands of daffodil varieties, and some are more fragrant than others. Trumpet double and poeticus daffodils tend to be the most aromatic.
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Weather – Warm, sunny days enable the flowers to release their scent most generously. Cool or rainy weather causes the fragrance to be subtler.
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Time of Day – Scent production peaks during the warmest part of the afternoon. Early morning or nighttime hours bring less fragrance.
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Age of Bloom – Flowers smell strongest when newly opened. The scent diminishes as blooms get older.
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Growing Conditions – Healthy, vigorous bulbs grown in optimal conditions produce the most fragrant flowers.
So the variety, weather, time of day, bloom stage, and cultivation practices can all influence both quantity and quality of daffodil scent.
Fragrant Daffodil Varieties to Try
If you’re looking for daffodils with exceptional fragrance, here are some of the most aromatic varieties to consider:
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‘Carlton’ – A gold trumpet daffodil prized for its strong, sweet vanilla-citrus scent.
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‘Flower Record’ – Creamy white petals and a lemon-yellow cup yield a spicy fragrance.
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‘Sir Winston Churchill’ – The huge double blooms of this creamy white daffodil have an intense, sweet perfume.
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‘Falconet’ – A poeticus daffodil with red-rimmed yellow cups and dreamy lemon blossom aroma.
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‘Geranium’ – This petite variety produces clusters of flowers with a robust, spicy scent.
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‘Thalia’ – The nodding white blooms of this daffodil have a deliciously honeyed fragrance.
Enjoying Daffodil Scents at Home
Beyond admiring them in gardens and fields, there are also ways to experience daffodil fragrance right at home:
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Container Gardening – Plant bulbs in patio pots or window boxes so the scent wafts indoors when they bloom.
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Cut Flowers – Bringing cut daffodil stems indoors to display in vases allows you to savor their aroma up close.
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Forcing Bulbs – Forcing bulbs like paperwhites and daffodils in winter is an easy way to conjure spring scents prematurely.
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Scented Products – Daffodil fragrance is sometimes featured in perfumes, candles, soaps, and other home products.
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Essential Oils – Distilling the essence of daffodil blooms yields a concentrated, luxurious essential oil with the uplifting aroma of spring.
So with a little creativity, you can experience the cheerful fragrance of daffodils even when they’re not blooming outdoors.
The Bottom Line
Daddodil Fields in Great Windsor Park
Go to “Great Windsor Park” (near Windsor) to enjoy the beauty of spring, see acres of daffodils swaying in the wind, and even smell some lovely daffodils.
The fields of yellow you will enjoy, perfectly illustrate this poem by William Wordsworth:
I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of dancing daffodils Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze Daffodils in Great Windsor Park 2 x-small Daffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Stefanos KogkaDaffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Stefanos Kogka Daffodils in Great Windsor Park 3 x-small Daffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Andrea TummonDaffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Andrea Tummon Pairfum London Perfume Blooming Daffodils in Great Windsor Park YellowPairfum London Perfume Blooming Daffodils in Great Windsor Park Yellow Daffodils in Great Windsor Park 5 x-smallDaffodils in Great Windsor Park: natural / organic reed diffusers and refill oils Daffodils in Great Windsor Park x-small Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 11Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 11 Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 12Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 12 Daffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Peter WimberDaffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Peter Wimber Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 14Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 14 Daffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Eberhard GrossgasteigeDaffodil Fragrance Windsor Park Eberhard Grossgasteige Windsor Great Park Daffodils Fragrance Petal SpringWindsor Great Park Daffodils Fragrance Petal Spring Windsor Great Park Daffodils Scent Bloom GrassWindsor Great Park Daffodils Scent Bloom Grass Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 15Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 15 Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 13Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 13 Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 10Pairfum Windsor Woodland Daffodil Home Fragrance Oil 10 Do Daffodils have a fragrance ?Do Daffodils have a fragrance: luxury scented candles, natural / organic reed diffusers and refill oils, room perfume sprays
Daffodils in Home Fragrance
We don’t have a real Daffodil scent at PAIRFUM, but our “Trail of White Petals” does contain Daffodil oil, and this flower perfume has the sweet and green notes that are usually associated with Narcissus. Trail of White Petals can be found in scented candles, natural reed diffusers, perfume room sprays, and a lot of other things.
Bring the scent of spring into your home with Daffodils !
Having a PAIRFUM Flowerwax Candle or Reed Diffuser in “Trail of White Petals” fill your home with the scent of spring is the best thing in the world. Signature Trail of White Petals by Pairfum Natural Wax Candle and Flacon Perfume Room Spray. Signature Trail of White Petals by Pairfum Large Reed Diffuser Bell and Flacon Perfume Room Spray. Signature Trail of White Petals by Pairfum Large Reed Diffuser Bell and Flacon Perfume Room Spray. Signature Trail of White Petals by Pairfum Large Snow Crystal Candle and Flacon Perfume Room Spray. Fragrance Description: Trail White Petals Jasmine Tuberose Ylang.
Caring for Daffodils Before and After They Flower
FAQ
What does a daffodil smell like?
What are the best daffodils for scent?
Do daffodils smell like jasmine?
Do narcissus have a fragrance?
Do daffodils have a fragrance?
Narcissus ‘Moonlight Sensation’ is a very floriferous daffodil cultivar, which produces an abundance of very lightly perfumed flowers. As well as studying the daffodils’ fragrances, I was also looking to find top performing daffodils, plants that produced a large number of flowering stems and flowers, that flowered for a long period.
What does daffodils smell like?
Daffodils have a scent that could be stronger and more noticeable to most people. The fragrance is often described as sweet and delicate, with a hint of honey or vanilla. However, some people may not be able to detect the scent at all. Daffodils are a diverse group of flowers with thousands of varieties that vary in size, color, and shape.
Which daffodil is best scented?
Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus is a beautifully scented daffodil. While Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus produces a musky scent, which is akin to the fragrance of stocks or Matthiola flowers. I adore the fragrance of Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus this daffodil produces a sweet, musky scent.
What is a daffodil flower?
Very fragrant and vigorous, award-winning Narcissus ‘Thalia’, referred to by many as the Orchid Narcissus, is a terrific Triandrus Daffodil, boasting large, gently nodding, very fragrant, pure white flowers in the mid-spring garden. Up to 3-4 per stem, each delicate bloom features slightly arched petals and a dainty cup-shaped crown.