Jasmine is a climbing plant known for its small, star-shaped white or yellow flowers that release an intensely sweet fragrance, especially at night. The scent is so powerful and pleasant that jasmine has been prized for thousands of years in perfumes, teas, and ceremonies around the world.

If you've ever walked past a jasmine vine on a warm evening and suddenly smelled something wonderful, that's jasmine doing what it does best: filling the air with one of nature's most beloved scents. The flowers are delicate and beautiful, but it's the fragrance that makes jasmine special. In many cultures, people plant jasmine near windows or porches so the scent drifts into their homes.

Jasmine tea, popular in China and other Asian countries, is made by mixing jasmine flowers with green or white tea leaves so the tea absorbs the floral aroma. The name “jasmine” also appears in perfumes, oils, and even as a popular name for girls, inspired by the flower's beauty and sweet smell.

The plant itself is a vigorous climber that can cover fences, walls, or trellises with glossy green leaves and clusters of blossoms. Different species of jasmine grow in warm climates around the world, from Asia to the Mediterranean to the southern United States.