Some of the fragrant crApe myrtles:
'Apalachee' - widely reported as fragrant
'Biloxi' - at least one source reports this one as fragrant
'Muskogee' - at least one source reports this one as fragrant
'Natchez' - at least one source reports this one as fragrant
'Near East' - a few sources list this one as fragrant
'Whit I' (Raspberry Sundae) - widely reported as fragrant

I think quite a few crApe myrtles have a light scent if you stick your nose up in a flower cluster, but few have a strong scent that you would smell when just walking by.

Most people think you spell it with and "e". We had a discussion on one of the forums about growing under them. Everyone who commented, except me, used the word, "crepe", I think.

I like that "crApe". It draws attention.

bk

Apparently, both spelling are becoming accepted. Crape (with an "a" was the original spelling and still the clear choice among professional and researchers. The "e" spelling seems common among "the masses". I've noticed that spelling it with the "a" tends to improve search results in many cases, by including reliable info and excluding some of the chitchat. But, spelling it with an "e" ain't really wrong.

Natchez here does have a slight, pleasant fragrance. Other crapes don't seem to have any I can smell.

Our 'Catawba' seems to have a mild fragrance when in full bloom. But I think it takes a LOT of blooms to even get a faint fragrance.

I've run across some that smelled amazing. I was at our local garden center, and the lady that worked there didn't believe me. I had to physically walk her over to smell the variety. She was shocked- had no idea. I had a photo of the tag in my old phone, but it went kaput. Sure wish I could remember what the name of it was.

While that one smelled amazing, I've come across a few others that have a light nice scent.

This is an interesting thread. I’ve grown them for 25+ yrs at various houses, have been around them my entire life, and have never once noticed a scent. I’m intrigued. Will check my current ones later. :)

Burgundy Cotton is extremely fragrant with pale pink flowers in my Southern California climate with sandy pH 7 soil. Beautiful red spring and fall foliage