Strange question....probably belongs in gardening forum, but it's about Ohio. Anyway....

[Briolat21]

We have a huge hedge of honeysuckle along a creek at the back edge of our property. Yes, when you're up close, it has a faint smell. However when the weather is just right and the wind is blowing the right way - the smell just knocks your socks off. As the rest of our neighborhood is essentially cedars and horsepasture - I know the smell is coming from the honeysuckle. So believe me, they really can be that fragrant!

Though I'd never describe it as peppery... just kind of a lush sweetness. Not quite as floral as gardenia or jasmine, but definitely delicious!

[aquila]

See, that's what I don't understand. I've smelled honeysuckle before, and this is really throwing me off. It could be honeysuckle, and maybe "peppery" isn't the correct word, but there is a distinct sharp nuance to it...almost like a strong orange blossom smell (if that makes sense). So I'm having trouble believing that it's honeysuckle. But then again I smell weird things all the time, so maybe my nose is off!

[aquila]

Hmmmm....just looked at the photos I took today, and did another search online, and I'm fairly sure I've discovered the source of the fragrance.

Wild grape vines! They are apparently very fragrant when they are blooming, and I've noticed wherever I smell that fragrance, there is an outgrowth of vines meandering their way through the honeysuckle and other shrubs...and the leaves & flowers (if you can call them that, since they are all green) look like the following:

Wild grape leaves and flowers

I'm pretty sure that's what it is...but if not, then it's got to be the Locust Trees. I honestly don't think it's the honeysuckle, because it's not blooming anymore.

[Ohiogirl81]

That's funny ... I never thought about grape vines having flowers, although they must.