Discover the health benefits of a scented garden - and how to keep it flourishing - with tips from aromacologist Danièle Ryman and celebrity plantsman Chris Collins from PlantForLife. Read their tips on scented plants to grow in your garden and how best to use them to benefit your health

For your health: Roses have been an important scent throughout history. The Romans scattered rose petals from ceilings at their banquets and placed roses on the statues of their favourite gods. The Egyptians also used rose petals at important religious ceremonies.

Rose is a calming scent and can help ease nerves. Try making a rose infusion by adding a handful of rose petals to half a pint of boiling water and leave to simmer for five minutes. Let the mixture cool, and then breathe in the fragrance for ten minutes for a calming effect.

In the garden: Roses come in all shapes and colours and there are many varieties to choose from. When planting roses in your garden, consider the look and feel of what you would like to achieve - from creating excellent focal points, to framing certain areas of your garden.

Type: Charles de Mills
Colour: Bright pink
Soil: Loam
Environment: Open, sunny site
Chris's suggestion: Plant in groups

For your health: Lavender is most commonly known for providing relaxation, aiding sleep and relieving stress. The Romans even added it to their bath water to benefit from its amazing properties. In Elizabethan times ladies would also sew lavender into their skirts for the scented perfume. For a stress-busting remedy add a large pinch of lavender to half a pint of water and boil for ten minutes. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and then, placing a towel over your head, breathe in the steam from the mixture.

In the garden: These plants look best in numbers. To create a traditional British garden, use lavender around the edge of a rose bed to create a hedge. Keep them tidy by cutting back the flower heads with hedging shears.

Type: Lavendula ‘Munstead'
Colour: Blue
Soil: Loam, well drained
Environment: Full sun
Chris' suggestion: Use as hedging round a border

For your health: In the Victorian language of flowers the hyacinth flower symbolised sport or play, and the blue hyacinth signifies sincerity. Their scent is perfect for lifting your mood during the cold, winter months.
To help lift your mood simply place approximately five hyacinth flowers in a small bowl or vase and breathe in the scent for five to ten minutes.

In the garden: Hyacinths are better planted together in groups, rather than straight rows. They also make great houseplants. After flowering, allow the plant to die back naturally. This will help it to flower year after year.

Type: Delft Blue
Colour: Blue
Soil: Loam, sand, chalk, well drained
Environment: Need lots of sun
Chris' suggestion: Can be planted in borders or pots

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For your health: Jasmine is a stimulant and the perfume is so exquisite, women in China would roll jasmine blossoms into their hair to keep it smelling fragrant for days.
To stimulate your body and mind plant jasmine near windows to perfume the air, but be careful not to plant near your bedroom as the smell is a stimulant.

In the garden: This plant is a climber and will need support, so add wires to the wall or trellis or even try growing it through another plant. Don't worry if it loses its leaves during the colder months as these will grow back in the spring.

Type: Jasmine officinale
Colour: White
Soil: Peat, clay, loam
Environment: A sunny south facing wall using a trellis.

For your health: Gardenia flowers have long been associated with passion and have been given as gifts to loved ones throughout history. It can be used for relaxation and can help calm nerves.
Try making a relaxing pot pourri mixture by drying out the flowers. Place them in a pot and leave around the house for a relaxing and calming scent.

In the garden: This plant should be grown indoors as it struggles with temperatures below 15 degrees and needs to be kept moist.

Type: Gardenia jasminoides ‘Fortuniana’
Colour: White
Soil: Loam
Environment: A houseplant so avoid direct sunlight.

For your health: The scent of Lily of the Valley helps to combat tiredness. To fight fatigue, place a small bouquet of flower cut from the garden next to your bed. Lie down and relax, enjoying the scented benefits of the plant.

In the garden: Lily of the valley is a low growing plant and doesn't grow higher than 45cm. Plant under trees in a shady area for ground coverage in the garden.

Type: Convallaria majalis ‘Flore Pleno'
Colour: White
Soil: Any soil type
Environment: Should be grown in partial shade.

For your health: The flowers of the chamomile plant were sacred in ancient Egypt due to their amazing healing properties. This plant has been used to help with a number of ailments from digestion to headaches and has also been used as an antiseptic. Its most common use is for relaxation and many people drink chamomile tea for its calming properties.

In the garden: This plant is best grown in bulk - why not try growing as a section of the lawn?

Type: Anthemis nobilis
Colour: Dark green with daisy like flowers
Soil: Sandy
Environment: Should be grown in full sun.

For your health: Rosemary has many amazing properties, including providing energy, stimulation and conditioning hair. The Greeks and Romans also used it to improve their concentration.

In the garden: Try making your own hair rinse by adding a large pinch of rosemary to a bowl of hot water, stir, and leave to cool for 20 minutes. After washing your hair rinse with the mixture to give your hair an extra shine.

Rosemary is extremely drought-resistant, however, it should be watered regularly until the plant has established. This means it should be watered regularly in its first season.

Type: Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Miss Jessopp's Upright'
Colour: Blue
Soil: Loam, sandy
Environment: Well-drained, sunny position

For your health: Thyme was used by the ancient Egyptians as part of the embalming process. Romans also used it in medicine and before battle as they believed it encouraged bravery.

Including thyme in your diet is said to help ease aches and pains and smelling the plant can ease tiredness and lift your mood.

In the garden: Thyme releases a lovely pungent scent when the tiny oval leaves are crushed and helps attract both bees and butterflies into the garden. Try taking up one of the patio slabs and filling it with thyme for an additional garden feature.

Type: Thymus ‘Porlock'
Colour: Green foliage with pink or white flowers
Soil: Loam, sandy
Environment: Sunny position
Chris' suggestion: Best grown on the edge of a path where it can be brushed past to release scent.

For your health: Most people are aware that mint can help settle the stomach, but many are unaware that when used in a bath it can help to soften the skin. Add a handful of mint leaves to a hot bath to enjoy the wonderful scent, ease tiredness and condition the skin.

In the garden: Mint can be grown in a border or in a pot, but it can spread very rapidly so it is best grown in an enclosed area. While the plant is still growing, try pinching the tips to keep it healthy.

Type: Mentha x gentilis ‘Variegata'
Colour: Mauve
Soil: Loam, sandy
Environment: Sunny position
Chris' suggestion: Best grown on the edge of a path.