I have a tree in the front garden that produces a strong scent each evening, and sometimes during the day.

When it is just starting, it smells nice, but after a while it is too much.

Anyone know what it is called?

Somebody came to watch while I was taking the photos:

Something else tried to get in on the act:

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Its called Rart tree; closest I can get in Thai. Usually very pleasant but at times pungent.

This is a member of the Apocynaceae family, scientific name Alstonia scholaris . Some common names are Blackboard Tree (from Java), Indian devil tree, Ditabark tree, Milkwood pine, White cheesewood...in Thailand most people I have asked (jn Chiang Mai) have told me it's called Dtinbphet ตีนเป็ด ("Duck's foot") , but it's also called Payasattaban พญาสัตบรรณ or just sattaban to translate Devil tree.

When I first smelled it, I thought my Indian neighbor was cooking with cardamom, which is what it smells like to me. I love that fragrance, but you're right, it does get overpowering. Some Thai friends of mine don't like it at all. Anyway, at that time, after smelling it for several evenings in a row, I realized it couldn't possibly be my neighbor's cooking every day, and discovered it to be the big tree in my front yard! It's quite a messy tree later after seed pods release seeds on hairy tufts , and then even later when the dried pods keep falling in rain and wind.

Enjoy!

Thanks for all the great information! I can now search for it and read up on it.

The best I can describe the smell is that it is like a perfumed washing powder - OK in small doses, but after a while just too pungent. It has been producing scent all night and is making me dizzy!

Revolting smell especially early evening.Yuk.

Revolting smell especially early evening.Yuk.

Revolting smell especially early evening.Yuk.

Here's a blog you might enjoy

http://www.firstnerve.com/2011/07/smellscapes-of-india-alstonia-scholaris.html

Revolting smell especially early evening.Yuk.

Here's a blog you might enjoy

http://www.firstnerve.com/2011/07/smellscapes-of-india-alstonia-scholaris.html

I didn't realise so much was written about the scent!

I like this description of it: "the stinging fragrance of the flowers".

I wonder if squirrels like it?

Another year, another stinky garden.