Help to select fragrant orchid species

[Dr. Dave 4u]

Beginner here wanting*to build up my orchid collection. Since I have limited window space I'd like to collect orchids which have a strong fragrance and hope *you all can suggest some types and possibly good growers to buy from.So far I have an Oncidium Sharry baby, Pot. Dick Smith aloha spirit cattleya and some sort of purple dendrobium which are all fragrant.*Any suggestions to further my collection would greatly*be appreciated!
BTW, I have a good eastern lighted windowsill , light from sunrise till about noon, and regular room temperature.

[Mr.Fakename]

If you're into Phalaenopsis, Phal bellina and violacea are the #1 popular choice.
Sumatrana is another great option, rarely seen but so cool.(also found under the name of Phal zebrina)

[camille1585]

In Europe, Phal Sweet Memory is a rather popular fragrant Phal. It's a hybrid of Phal violacea, and has the advantage of being far more temperature tolerant than the species.

Oncidopsis (ex Burrageara) Nelly Isler is also very fragrant, and a beautiful red color. It needs similar care as your Onc. Sharry Baby.

Still in the Onc family, Oncidium Twinkle is also fragrant, and this hybrid can be found is several different colors.

Neofinetia falcata (now Vanda falcata) is also very fragrant, though the flowers are short lived. You could also look for crosses of this species, like Neostylis Lou Sneary

[Keysguy]

The Twinkles are an excellent suggestion and they are very small plants.
I think my most fragrant plant is Epicyclia Serena O'Neill. Plus it's gorgeous! Mine is huge but if you can demonstrate better restraint than I and limit it to just a few pseudobulbs, I bet you could grow it indoors.
My #2 is probably Trichoglottis geminata but that's going to be a bigger challenge in the house.

Both hold their flowers for at least a couple months.

[Leafmite]

If you buy fragrant orchid species, be certain that they are truly fragrant. Some of them have been selectively bred for the appearance of their flowers and have lost their fragrance.

Some of my favorite fragrant species are Phal bellina 'Star', Brassavola nodosa, Haraella rectrocalla, Dendrobium auriculatum and Angraecum magdalenae. I also have an Encyclia phonecia which is still young but should have a great fragrance (but, alas, it only blooms once a year, unlike the others). I cannot yet recommend it as it has not bloomed and I have never had the chance to smell one.

[aliceinwl]

I have a Phal. Sogo Pony 'Montclair' that is really fragrant. Most of my fragrant Phalaenopsis don’t smell unless you stick your nose in the flower when grown in the low 70s, but this one I can smell from several feet away. I also have a Zygopetalum mackeni that has an amazing fragrance. If your conditions are right, there are also many fragrant Miltoniopsis: mine are all NOIDs that I picked up at various box stores because I couldn’t resist their scent.

[Keysguy]

It's interesting that people are always listing B. nodosa as being fragrant. I must have a dud because I have NEVER gotten a whiff of anything from it and I've had it 10+ years.

Another fragrant species I have but will be a challenge to grow in the house is Rhynchostylis. I have a gigantea alba in bloom now that I just walked bye and reminded me. Any and all of the Rhyncho's are very fragrant.

[Leafmite]

I had a Brassavola nodosa that had no fragrance, too, but the flowers were really nice. I found a new home for it and now have a new one that has that wonderful nightly fragrance. That is why it why, if an orchid species has been in cultivation for a time, sometimes it is best to go with a clone that is known to be fragrant.

[SouthPark]

Dr Dave ----- the variety of fragrant/scent from orchids is quite amazing.

Not only will there be a level/intensity (how powerful) ------ but also will be a kind/type of scent --- lemon, vanilla, or something undescribable ..... all the way to ultra pleasant subtle designer perfume ..... to other perfume that is ok, but not fantastic.

For some orchids - the scent can be strong at certain times of day or none at other times of the day - depending on say temperature etc.

One of my mini-phals has one of the best subtle elegant perfume scents ever. But even then - just like food and colours etc ....... the preferences of one person may be different to that of another.

But that's ok ------ that's the thing with orchids. There's usually enough variety for at least some orchids (scent, appearance etc) to cater to pretty much everybody out there.

[Paphluvr]

One of my all time favorite fragrant orchids is Prosthechea radiata (which I knew as Epidendrum radiatum). Another that I had was Phal. schilleriana (smelled like roses in late morning) but a plant of it that I have now has very little fragrance.