Rose Perfumes Can Have A Bad Rep—but I Think These Are Beautiful

December 12, 2020 at 04:06AM

Rose might just be the marmite of fragrance and who would have thought that such a beautiful flower could be so divisive. While, a delivery of 28 stems of red roses will hardly ever be refused, bottles of perfume touting rose as the main note are often subject to some deliberation. 

I’m very into rose and I’m here to convince you to do the same. I’m often sipping on rose teas, clogging up my sink with rose petals from my bath or adding rosewater to my hot chocolate. Yet, my favourite way to use rose has to be in perfume. 

Sure, for many people rose perfumes conjure up nostalgic scenes of great aunt’s wearing floral dressing gowns, but trust me, they’ve come a long way. 

I picked out my favourite rose perfumes to tempt you with, so keep reading and prepare to be persuaded. 

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There’s some people who just have a mysterious vibe about them, they’re very sweet on the surface but underneath there’s something a bit darker going on. Something that’s hard to define. That’s exactly what this perfume feels like. On first spritz it smells exactly like a sparkling rose lemonade before giving way to a sensual hit of deep spice and woods. The olfactory equivalent of a “to be continued”. 

This bright take on a rose perfume is the ultimate antidote to dreary days. It’s vibrant, spring-like and reminds me of carefree days in my childhood spent frolicking around my grandparent’s garden. We honestly get so few opportunities to frolic as adults, so this Damascena rose mixed with fruity cassis, tangerine and a dash of comforting vanilla, is a wonderful alternative. If you’ve been anti-rose, this is the one that’ll change your mind. 

While it may not smell like Turkish delight, it somehow manages to capture the plump, pillowy, bounciness of a Turkish delight as it’s so full and well-rounded. There’s three variations of rose packed into the bottle, creating a scent that’s as spicy as it is sweet with notes of turmeric and Sichuan pepper ensuring it doesn’t stray too far into dessert-like territory. This assumption breaking scent is beyond anything you thought a rose perfume would be. In the best possible way. 

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When the Secret Intelligence Service realise their mistake in not recruiting me earlier, this is what I’ll be wearing in our clandestine meeting at midnight. It basically smells like a smoke-tainted leather jacket that’s been stored with a rose and patchouli drawer freshener. It’s incredibly dark and woody and whenever I wear it, I find myself playing a game of “guess what’s in it?” when people ask about it. 

This is guaranteed to bring a smile to your lips and maybe even a self-hug. Rose is the star of the show and meets up with a bright and sunshine-filled blend of tangerine and blackberry. There’s no better scent for pairing with a floral printed dress and a springtime walk around a botanical garden. 

So, apparently it’s possible to bottle an entire rose. The rich earthy soil, green stems, fragrant petals and the wood from the trees nearby. You can smell it all. I find myself reaching for this complex scent when I’m lazing around the house, about to head to bed, going out and anything in between. This modern ode to the rose is such a rarity as there’s something in here to delight everyone. 

If you want a rose in its purest form, this is exactly it. It’s simple, fresh, delicate and also pretty fruity. When I daydream about spending my days writing on a Parisian balcony with red lipstick and a crisp white shirt, this is what my signature scent would be. Elegant and uncomplicated is such a mood and this fragrance is all you need to get there.

This perfume is water-based and it’s rather fancy. When I went to Marrakesh all I wanted to do was bring home the divine spicy aroma that can be found in the souks and medinas. Luckily for me, that’s exactly what’s been bottled here and its surprisingly spot on. Rose, saffron and oud instantly grab your attention before the perfume dries down into warming amber and vanilla. A scented treat for the senses without wracking up the air miles. 

If you find rose perfumes to be too intense, this refreshing take on the classic prioritises gentleness. The light fragrance is everything you want from a fruity floral that lingers on the skin and gets even better as it wears. It’s honestly like scented air and you’ll want to stay in it all day.

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Both clean and peppery, this reminds me of coming home to a freshly cleaned apartment and the gratitude of a bouquet of white roses decorating your coffee table. Paired with the scent of lemon drop sweets, this is a zesty way to add some rose into your life. 

This is the stuff that late nights and a whole lot of mischief are made of. This decadent fragrance is seriously grown-up. The kind of grown-up who can have a velvet sofa and wear white without spilling on it. You know exactly what I mean. With a blend of spices and woods that move in synchronicity with the rose absolue, this investment buy won’t come with any regrets. For something a little sweeter Atelier Cologne’s Rose Anonyme Extrait (£164) is a great shout too. 

There had to be an unapologetic powerhouse red rose on here and this is the best one around. For the scent of rose in its purest form, you can’t beat this. It brings to mind every single word, image and memory associated with roses and it’s an absolute classic. I like layering this with an intense wood or oud perfume to add some softness. 

Up next, the unisex perfumes that have one editor hooked. 

Author Giselle La Pompe-Moore | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC