hi all
I can't post a pic, so I will describe. The most notable aspect of this herb is its fragrance. Very clean, somewhat like those things one uses to wash the floor with, like a disinfectant, but very pleasant. Someone gave it to me and I forgot the name and she is gone.
It is perenniel, very hardy. Green like most herbs. I've never seen it flower. It grows in long tendrils from the center.
If anyone has an idea, I'd appreciate it. People always ask me what it is cuz its fragrance is so distinctive.

thanks,
ellenr

Sorry fragrence descriptions are a matter of opinion. The description needs more. Are the leaves thin? Wide? Is it more grass like? Are the salks/stems thick, woody or thin and tender?

oh you ask hard questions.
I'm going to go out and look at the herb with your questions in mind.
The reason the fragrance is significant is that the woman who gave it to me told me that some ingredient in products like Lysol come from (or used to come from) this plant.

ellen

hmmm, what an interesting puzzle this is...the only thing that leaps to mind here for me is lemon balm, though "grows in tendrils" isn't a good fit. It does have a clean fresh scent though.

Here is more info:
The stems grow out of the center of the plant. After a couple of years the stems are very woody near the center, less woody, more flexible near the end of the stem. The stem or tendrils (?) grow about 3 feet long. The 'leaves' are not leaves they are feathery, similar to the foliage of the California poppy or the foliage of artemisia [image-http://www.erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=wormwood/artemisia_absinthium_leaf__i2004e0149_disp.jpg]
At the end of the season, seed pods from all along the tendril.

Appreciate any idea, or a website of images of herbs.

thanks,
ellen

I found it!
It is Southernwood, also known as Southern Wormwood. In the Artemisia family. [Duh - why it resembles my other artemisia, Wormwood.] The smell is of camphor. Doesn't sound pleasant, but if you like aromatic herbs I recomend it. I love the smell.
Here is a picture. http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/field-wormwood:artemisia-...tris-photo-6385.html

Thanks to all who tried to help me. It was driving me crazy! I knew when I was sitting in the libe going thru an herb book, and smelling the aroma (in my mind), it had gone too far.

ellen

It is definitely a member of the Artemesia family, as Southernwood, Wormwood, silver artemesia,Silver Mound, among many others are a member. Also Silver Queen and Silver King Artemesia come to mind. My Southernwood doesn't have those "Tendrils" but it could be that mine is a "Different" version. Mine is very strong, but it does remind me of "Lestol" or "Pinesol".