A fragrant flower can make a plant memorable without making its name clear. When buying a shrub sold under Michelia or magnolia names, keep the full nursery identification and cultivar details.
Ask about mature size and growing conditions before choosing by scent alone. Two pleasantly fragrant plants may have quite different habits and requirements.
Check names rather than translating from memory
Older botanical names can remain common in horticulture after classifications change. Preserve the wording on the original label and compare it with a reliable current plant reference rather than replacing it with a guessed English common name.
Photograph the whole plant, mature leaves and open flowers. Note when you noticed fragrance and the conditions at the time. Scent descriptions are useful observations but not a complete identification.
Before planting, assess the available space, exposure and access for maintenance. A small pot on the nursery bench does not show the eventual outline of a woody plant. Keep the name and expected dimensions in your planting record so later pruning, potting and seasonal-care decisions begin with the plant you actually bought.
The NC Extension Magnolia figo profile lists Michelia figo as an earlier name and describes it as an evergreen shrub. Preserve that naming trail instead of translating a fragrant plant into a different species by guesswork.
Related reading: Michelia Figo vs Michelia Alba: Leaves, Flowers and Habit.