Here are some of the many uses for your garden's fragrant beauty, lavender. Lavender is one of the best smelling flowers around and also has many uses: teas, soaps, potpourri, insect repellent and even an anti-inflammatory. Lavender grows best in sandy, loose soil. This mediterranean is drought-tolerant and doesn't need a lot of moisture. It thrives when planted on a sloping hillside. Lavender comes in different varieties and colors. The distinctive smell peaks just before it starts to bloom. Dry flowers in a dark space, then bring inside to enjoy year round.