Not every member of this family produces citrus-type fruit, but all have oil glands in their leaves that emit a fragrance when crushed or brushed against.
One genus is even named after this characteristic - the Greek word for divine is "dios", and smell "osme", giving us Diosma.
The following species belong to a group of shrubs in the rue family, which are collectively known by the locals of the southern cape of Africa as buchu, (bu'ku).
Their five petals are arranged in a star shape and flowers are present almost all year round, blooming most prolifically during winter and spring.
The evergreen bushes are naturally tidy and rounded, but do benefit from a light prune after the main flush of flowers.
Buchu thrives in full sun in a well-drained soil with added compost.
They make splendid additions to the shrub border, are great for coastal conditions and add scent when used in floral arrangements.
Acmadenia heterophylla becomes smothered with tiny bright pink flowers at the tip of each stem.
Each flower has a darker pink stripe down the centre of the petal, which acts as a guide to insects, pointing the way to the nectary.
The tiny leaves have a fresh aroma with a hint of lemon, and cover the hairy reddish stems on the 40cm high shrub.
The larger and glistening white flowers of Adenandra uniflora are flushed pink, with a deep pink landing strip.
Growing to 50cm tall, the reddish stems contrast beautifully with the light green leaves.
Make use of the strong distinctive fragrance by using dried leaves in potpourri.
Coleonema album (previously known as Diosma ericoides) forms a 1m-high heath-like dome of tiny flowers which are crowded on the stem tips, giving it the common name, "breath of heaven".
The needle-like leaves have a more subtle fragrance, and are sometimes rubbed on bedding by campers to deter mosquitoes and ants.
See them in the southern African garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Robyn Freeth is the collection curator of the rock, water and alpine collections at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
