In short: rose smells rich, sweet and velvety, with a fresh, slightly lemony top and, depending on the rose, a spicy, honeyed or fruity side. It is the classic flower smell.
What rose smells like
Rose is far more varied than people expect. A dewy garden rose is fresh and green, almost like lychee or raspberry. An old-fashioned damask rose is deep, honeyed and a little spicy, like clove. Dried rose petals smell dusty and tea-like. In perfume, rose can feel romantic and vintage or dark and dramatic, depending on what it is paired with.
Where it comes from
Two roses supply most of the world's perfume:
- Damask rose (Rosa damascena), grown in Bulgaria's Rose Valley and in Turkey, is steam distilled into rose otto, which is fresh and honeyed.
- Cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia), grown around Grasse in France and in Morocco, is usually made into an absolute, which is richer and closer to the flower.
The petals are picked by hand early in the morning, when their scent is strongest, and it takes several thousand kilograms of petals to make one kilogram of rose oil. That is why real rose oil is so costly. Our candles use fragrance oils built around the rose note.
How it is used
Rose is a heart note, and it sits at the center of more perfumes than almost any other flower. It blends with nearly everything, from citrus to woods to resins.
What it pairs with
- Oud and saffron, for a rich Middle Eastern style
- Patchouli, for a dark, romantic rose
- Sandalwood and amber, for warmth
- Jasmine and other flowers, for a full bouquet
Our candles with rose
- Rosings Park: roses with sandalwood, palo santo, cardamom and amber, for a stately English estate.
- Arcane Library: roses climbing through an abandoned library, with leather, patchouli and old wood.
- Thornfield Hall: sweetbriar rose and jasmine from the gardens of Jane Eyre.
- Moonflower Nectar: rose with cherry blossom, pear and amber.
Common questions
Why do some rose scents smell old-fashioned? Rose was a staple of perfume for generations, so a strong, powdery rose can remind people of a grandmother's dresser. Pairing it with citrus, woods or patchouli makes it feel modern.
Is rose too feminine for a man's space? Not necessarily. Rose with leather, oud or wood reads as dark and rich rather than sweet.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Floral candles.