On average, humans take 23,000 breaths everyday, taking in the scents of the surrounding environment. Even at this time of year, a myriad of flowers are being planted purely to delight our sense of smell.

"Having scented flowers in your garden at any time of the year is great, but in the winter it can really give your flower garden that much needed lift," says Awapuni's gardening guru Tod Palenski.

For an easy way to liven up the fragrance of your garden, Tod says you can't go past a mix of fragrant flowers.

"Awapuni's Fragrant Flower mix, available in most garden stores and supermarkets as well as online, is an inexpensive way to add gorgeous scent to your garden.

Included in the mix are sweat Peas, Brompton stock and Virginian stock. Tod says as well as smelling great, they're great for filling up bare spots in the end-of-winter garden.

"Sweet peas are great for hiding unused bean frames as they grow tall and provide hot pink, purple and soft lilac flowers. Add some lime to the soil to make it sweeter and increase the pH."

Stock grows well in flower beds or pots and, if planted by a door or window, can provide a pretty scent indoors as well as out.

"If you grow them near the house or down a driveway you'll get maximum enjoyment from the smell."

Tod says stock is also good for filling in gaps and brightening up dark areas.

"Stock can be planted in shaded areas around the garden and can add both height and colour to bare beds."

For a bouquet of scents, Tod suggests planting daphne or camellias in a large pot then underplanting with Viginian stock.

"The result is a riot of colour and smell, which can be moved to wherever you want to add some interest in the garden. Because they don't need a lot of light, they're perfect for brightening up a dark courtyard or a back door with limited sun."

To ensure you get the most out of your flowers, Tod says it's important to use a good quality potting mix and add peat or bark mixture to garden beds to lighten the soil and create good drainage.

Humans aren't the only creatures attracted to pretty smells. Unfortunately slugs and snails are too. Tod's top tip for keeping them at bay is to get them tipsy.

"They're really attracted to the smell of beer as well, so fill a tin with beer and bury it in the garden so the top sits flush with the soil. They prefer drinking beer to nibbling flowers so they'll leave your plants alone."

Modern breeding methods often mean that flowers lose their scent in favour of bigger flowers. But Tod says old-fashioned plant varieties still tend to be the most strongly fragranced.

"Think of the plants your grandma may have had in her garden. The smell of lavender, old fashioned roses, sweet peas and stock can all evoke wonderful memories."