I've heard it has a fragrance almost like violets. Does it smell that way to you?

Ingrid

Ingrid, I had not smelled it until we saw the big one, in Tombstone, AZ.
But 2 years later, coming down the hillside path here, I discovered it again, right here in my own garden.

I don't honestly know if it is the scent of violets, but it is extraordinary.

Jeri

The white Lady Banks gets mighty big; we have a mature one on a pergola, paired, as in your case, with a clematis on the other side. Our clematis is a montana, however, and it lags well behind the rose in its development, though it continues to grow. I'm hoping that over the years it too will become huge and come flowering time we'll have a fragrant mountain of pink and white to enjoy.

I just saw and smelled this rose last week in Berkeley, CA (outside restaurant Chez Panisse). The scent is amazing! Rose mixed with violet, I would say.

I am unclear about whether there is more than one white version. I want to make sure I get that smell!

I used to live on a property that had the double white form of 'Lady Banks' growing on the surrounding fences. It's scent is light in strength on an individual blossom, and of violets. On a warm day with high humidity the scent was more moderate in strength, around the bush.
The smaller white flowered Banksiae, c. 1 inch wide, also has, to my nose a violet scent, but it is not as strong as the double form of white "Lady Banks", I smelled the smaller floral form two days ago to make sure of this.
I love the double white form of "Lady Banks" best of all the Banksiae, not only for its' pristine white blooms that to my eyes, have the most elegant form of all the Banksiae, but also for its' very attractive dark green foliage, which makes it an attractive foliage plant as well, and it keeps its leaves late into the Autumn, where I live near San Francisco, Ca., Here the double white form of 'Lady Banks' repeats about 15% of its' Spring bloom, in Autumn. Such a beauty.
Lux.