Confession: I’m Not a Rose Person… Or Am I?

generated by Ideogram AI, edited in Adobe Photoshop

I’m going to come right out and say it: I am not a fan of rose-based perfumes.

But here’s the twist: I have owned, worn, and genuinely enjoyed rose-based perfumes. So, what gives? It turns out, it’s all about the amount of rose, the type of rose, and what it’s paired with. And really, the same can be said for my favorite notes like sandalwood, vanilla, and iris: too much or the wrong blend, and it can veer from cozy to overwhelming.

Many of the roses in my collection are unapologetically upfront. They dominate the fragrance from the first spritz to the lingering drydown. But when a rose is balanced, say, with peony, vanilla, musk, or amber, it becomes something truly magical.

Take two of my current favorites: Hayley Kiyoko Hue and ELDO Eau de Protection. Both are rose fragrances I love. Hue pairs rose with peony and musk, creating a soft, playful floral. Eau de Protection takes a different approach: no peony, no musk, just a whole lot of patchouli. And somehow, it works beautifully.

Then there’s the brighter, sunshiny side of rose. Stella McCartney (the eponymous fragrance) is full of citrus, peony, and amber. Gorgeous, uplifting, and sadly discontinued. Bond No. 9 West Side follows a similar formula, peony and amber with a hint of vanilla instead of citrus—warm, sexy, slightly sweet, and a touch too loud, but still a favorite. And Giorgio Armani’s Onde Mystere? A rose that leans into vanilla, amber, and incense, creating a mysterious, smoky floral that I miss dearly.

Other roses I adore:

• Les Parfums de Rosine Viva La Mariée – Neroli, litchi, bergamot, rose, peony, jasmine sambac, magnolia, orange blossom, peach, freesia, vanilla, praline, tonka bean, cedar, musk, sandalwood, patchouli. A complex, whimsical floral that never overstays its welcome. Though the rose has a lot of company in this scent, it is still unmistakably a rose fragrance.

• Ormonde Jayne Ta’if – Pink pepper, saffron, dates, Taif rose, freesia, jasmine, orange blossom, amber, broom. A spicy, elegant rose that feels both modern and timeless, with a generous dose of the company's lovely OrmondeJayne-enade.

• Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose – Hazelnut, tangerine, almond, cinnamon, May rose, rose oil, black currant, geranium, red lily, plum, musk, woody notes, violet, vetiver, orris root. A beautiful soft rose that has no rough edges.

• Penhaligon's Luna – Lemon, bergamot, bitter orange, rose, juniper berries, jasmine, balsam fir, musk, ambergris. A crisp, green rose that flirts with the forest more than the garden.

• Tokyo Milk Parfumerie Curiositie Gin & Rosewater – Citrus, mimosa, mandarin orange, rosewood. I still don’t understand how this evokes gin and rosewater at the same time, but somehow it does, and I love it. Truly an alchemical miracle.

So, maybe I’m not strictly anti-rose after all. Maybe I’m just a rose snob. Or maybe, like so many fragrances, it’s all about the blend, and knowing when a rose is allowed to shine and when it needs a little company.

-----------------------
Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.