'taylor's perfection' flowers start opening like that but they take on a different form when fully opened. compare yours at a later stage of development with that one. it is almost unmistakable at that stage.

also, 'pink perfection' can somewhat resemble your flower in the early open stage but keeps the formal double form at maturity.

there are just so many pink camellias that nurseries could easily get one mislabeled.

The flower opened. Maybe, it is a little peony-like form, but not any fragrance.

I love fragrant flower very much. I bought it because on the following thread, several people voted the SEK is the most fragrant camellia. But now I am very disappointed. (And the flower is very small, only 2".)

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1780697/most-fragrant-camellia

That is starting to look better! Now about the smell... I have to admit that, regardless what was said in that post, some noses will not react the same way. Many times, I do not smell anything out of those named camellias that I have seen for sale locally. And the few that have a detectable scent, the scent is just so-so and I detect it only early in the morning and then, I just detect a little.

I concluded that those references to scent are nowhere close to what I smell in many roses.But at least, this shows that hybridizers are working on 'adding fragrance' to camellias and I expect stronger/better smells in future years.

So, bottom line, do not feel 'alone' since I too have the same problems with many of these scented camellias. To me, it seems best to try and smell them early in the morning when there is little wind and not too much sun. So far, not even the cinnamon-scented ones have made me want to buy them so I continue purchasing based on looks alone.

Luis

PS - suggestion: some fragrant camellias need to grow more to be more scented so give yours a few growing seasons to see if that helps improve the scent. I also try buying these scented varieties in person so I can 'smell' the blooms and decide (ie, I do not buy scented camellias by mail order unless the bloom looks by themselves would make me buy it).

As Luis says, the blooms may become more fragrant with maturity. As for the shape, most camellias are at least pretty variable. 'Pink Perfection' and others of that sort do a good job of turning out cookie-cutter blooms (no disrespect intended- it's a gorgeous sight to behold), but most camellias like to vary the program a bit.

Also, when it comes to scent, it matters about your conditions... generally, we can detect flower fragrances best in the mornings and when it's warm and not windy. Try picking a bloom and bringing it indoors... many flowers whose fragrance gets lost outside can get their scent across in an enclosed space.

It's a lovely flower, and it (along with the foliage and buds) looks like photos I've seen of 'SEK'.

Virginia

Where were you able to find 'Sweet Emily Kate' online? I've been searching for this variety & cannot find it anywhere for purchase.