Unique aromatic plants will treat your senses every time you walk outside.

Imagine walking into your yard. Close your eyes, still your mind and take a deep breath. Now envision how you can elevate that feeling of peace through the sense of smell.

We love the seasonal smells of a garden: delicate aromas ranging from sweet to zesty, spicy to woodsy. Some scents linger close to the blossom, while others get picked up by the breeze. Brush past a sage, chaparral or rosemary, and the minty-musty scent lingers on your hands or clothes.

California native plants have their own distinctive fragrances. Customize your outdoor retreat with some of these aromatic favorites:

• Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii): This plant produces showy lavender flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees. But it’s the leaves that produce a very intense fragrance. Stems may be cut for indoors, but keep in mind that even a single sprig can overpower a small space.
• Mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii): These blooms have a lilac shape and produce a wonderfully sweet fragrance. They are great for cuttings and can be mixed in a bouquet with sage.
• San Diego yerba buena (Clinopodium chandleri): This native evergreen is a member of the mint family and its name translates to the “good herb.” Commonly found in local nurseries, it flowers in spring and summer, and its oils are frequently used for perfumes or potpourris.
• Brickell bush (Brickjellia californica): Considered to be one of the best-smelling California native plants, the seemingly insignificant flowers of this plant emit an especially powerful, sweet fragrance on balmy evenings in summer and fall. Their scent can travel 300 feet.
• Woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum): Beautiful clusters of fuzzy purple flowers make this a very showing shrub, and its leaves give off a sage-like fragrance.

Plant these and other varieties where you can catch a whiff as you walk by — near your front door, along a garden path or by the patio. Plan for a variety of scents so that as you pass through your Yardtopia, you can smell a staggered palette of aromas, which will change with the seasons.

What aromatic plant took your Yardtopia to the next level? Send photos to yardtopia@IRWD.com and be featured in our Inspiration gallery and social media.