Finding the best rose perfumes can be overwhelming; there are so many different varieties to choose from! The right perfume can accentuate your natural scent and transform your everyday normal into an occasion-worthy one. However, finding the right perfume, especially when it comes to choosing rose fragrances, might seem like a difficult task. I’d say rose is one of the trickiest floral notes.

This blog post is all about rose perfumes. Whether you prefer deep, opulent rose fragrances or lighter versions, chances are you’ll find your perfect rose scent that will make you smile, and if you keep reading, at the end of this post you’ll find a list with my top 10 rose perfumes, and a YouTube video where I go over my favorite rose perfumes. Now, not all the fragrances mentioned in the video are the same you’ll see included in the list since the video is two years old, but it’ll still give you an idea of other rose fragrances you can test.

THE BEST ROSE PERFUMES

If you’ve ever walked past a rose bush, you know what a beautiful sight they can be. Whether they’re in full bloom or in more subtle shades of pink, whites, and reds, roses are a beacon of beauty and the perfume industry knows it.

When it comes to the queen of the garden, there’s a huge variety of blending options, leave it up to master perfumers and they’ll create a magnificent rose fragrance that will make you swoon. Many renowned designers including Chanel and Dior cultivate their own roses in Grasse, in the French Riviera, and for a good reason. There are thousands of perfumes that have rose in the composition, and the variety can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right one, not only scent-wise but also in style.

Traditionally, the magical and romantic flower has been associated with sensuality and femininity, and it has always been one of the top notes used in perfumery to make fragrances appealing to a female audience; however, in the Middle East, it’s very common that also men wear rose fragrances and more and more we see men wearing rose-dominant fragrances also in the Western countries. Now, let me tell you, the few times I sniffed a rose fragrance on a man it blew me away… rose smells absolutely amazing on them!.

The Most Common Roses Used in Perfumery

By far, the most common ones are the Rose de Mai which is the one cultivated mainly in Grasse, France, also called “Rose de Grasse” and “Rose Centifolia” because it has 100 petals. This rose is harvested only during May, hence the name.

It’s pink, sweet, and clean, and together with the Damascena Rose also known as “Damask Rose” or “Turkish Rose” mainly cultivated in Egypt, Turkey, and Bulgaria, is the rose preferred by the perfume industry.

The Rose de Mai is extremely delicate, in fact, it’s harvested in the early morning hours before the sun rises to avoid damaging the precious flowers. As soon as they’re harvested, they are first treated with a solvent and then distilled using a vacuum distillation process to obtain a substance called “Concrète”, which is then further processed to obtain the “absolute”, the coveted rose essence used in perfumery.

It’s sweeter with a light honeyed, dewy aspect than the Damascena or Turkish Rose which is fruity and more powdery, in fact, most powdery rose fragrances that remind us of a make up powder case have Damascena Rose in the composition. These type of  rose which is steam-distilled, it’s richer in oils than the Rose de Mai, and its essential oil is called “Rose Otto” which is has a very rich concentration, and it’s also used in the cosmetic industry, for therapeutic treatment, and aromatherapy, given it’s healthy anti-inflammatory as well as calming properties.

What Makes the Perfect Rose Perfumes?

In all honestly, there’s no right or wrong. The best rose perfume is the one that’s best and perfect for you, just for you, nothing else matters.

Now, “rose perfumes” is a topic of its own, that’s why I wanted to write this article since it can get a bit controversial because there are many people who love the flower but not necessarily the rose note including myself a while ago.

My mom and I have very similar taste in fragrances, but there are two notes that set us apart: leather, and rose. She never liked leather fragrances, and I’ve never been a fan of rose perfumes. However, over time, I realized that what I didn’t like was a very particular type of rose perfume and not so much the note itself.

I was convinced I didn’t like rose fragrances, but what I didn’t like were what I call the typical “rose-y rose” perfumes, those that are super clean, ethereal, more like tea roses; like a watered-down rose essence, or when they smell like old tapestry; you know when you start wondering if it’s actually the fragrance that smells that bad, or if it’s spoiled due to exposure to light or bad storage conditions? THOSE were the type of rose scents I never liked.

Over time, as I dove deeper in the perfume world, I discovered a myriad of fragrances that have rose in the composition that I LOVED, and I couldn’t even pick the rose, so I realized that most of my favorite rose perfumes (as ironic as it sounds), are those where you can’t smell the roses. I became an “expert” in these type of fragrances, and I can even write a list of “rose fragrances for non-rose lovers”, but here is where it gets tricky.

If you know someone who likes rose fragrances and you want to buy this person a gift, the safest way to go is with a typical rose fragrance because most rose fragrance lovers like the typical, photo-realistic rose scent, so my best advice is to never blind buy a rose fragrance, especially when it’s for someone else, if it doesn’t smell like roses. In this case, it’s safer to stick to the classics that you know for a fact, are rose-prominent perfumes.

Now, in the “rose perfumes for non-rose lovers” realm you have to be careful because it can get extreme. There are many extremely artificial rose perfumes where you can’t smell the roses at all, but you can’t smell anything in particular either, like a wishy-washy sweet-smelling thing and that’s it. They tend to be heavy, often times sickly sweet, bubble-gummy (especially when they have tuberose in the composition), or like hard candy, sugary drinks, and desserts, crossing the line to the gourmand territory. For this reason, it’s important to point out that if you buy a rose perfume with the rose note in disguise, highly likely a typical rose-lover won’t like it.

Here’s a list of my top 10 rose perfumes. They are all different, in fact, very different, but all of them have a dominant rose note.

Take into account that this is a 100% subjective opinion based on my experience and what I’ve tried over the years. These are just a few of my favorite rose perfumes. I have no doubt that I’m leaving off of this list many amazing rose fragrances,  but I have to narrow it down to my top 10, and here they are in no particular order:

MY LIST OF TOP 10 PERFUMES

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1) Oud Bouquet by Maison Lancôme – A strong Jammy rose fragrance, very sweet yet not tooth-achingly sweet, syrupy and addictive. I’ve heard the entire Maison Lancôme has been discontinued including this beauty, so if you find it, grab it before prices go up due to scarcity.

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2) Delina Exclusif by Parfums de Marly – An ultra-feminine perfume that became a cult favorite in the last couple of years, just like the original Delina. It’s very addictive, sexy, flirty, and slightly bubble-gummy, and it’s almost guaranteed that whenever I wear this fragrance, someone will ask what I am wearing.

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3) Rose Poetique by Manos Gerakinis – One of the best rose fragrances I’ve ever tried. Sweet, luxurious, and super sophisticated. Its previous formula was considered one of the top 5 best rose perfumes in the world, and the house went above and beyond to create something equally beautiful. I think Rose Poetique has been the blueprint and inspiration for many rose fragrances we find on the market.

4) Oud Satin Mood EDP and Extrait by Maison Francis Kurkdjian – Luxurious rose/oud combo, opulent, voluptuous and one of the most expensive-smelling rose fragrances on the market.

5) A Kiss From a Rose by Kilian – A green, dewy rose that smells like a fresh plucked rose from your backyard; a very photo-realistic rose perfume.

6) Radical Rose by Matiere Premiere – Exquisite and strong rose fragrance with great lasting power. If you love roses, this is a MUST try.

7) Rose D’Arabie by Armani Prive – The epitome of sophistication and class, and just like I mentioned above when I briefly described Rose Poetique, this fragrance in my opinion has also been the inspiration for many rose perfumes in modern perfumery.

8) Les Sables Roses  by Louis Vuitton – An absolutely stunning, unisex rose fragrance. If you like Radical Rose by Matiere Premiere, or Rose D’Arabie by Armani Prive, highly likely you’ll like this one. It’s drier, less feminine, stronger, and slightly more astringent than the typical rose perfumes, and also incredibly long lasting. I’d say it’s the longest lasting rose perfume I’ve every tried.

9) AERIN Rose de Grasse – One of the most photo-realistic rose fragrances you can find. In terms of scent, I haven’t found a more realistic rose perfume than this one. Simply stunning.

10 ) Black Rose Oud by Trish McEvoy – Dark, misterious, sexy, and velvety; a night time fragrance that I’d wear when I want to knock everyone socks off and then some more 😉

Conclusion: Which Rose Perfume is Right for You?

The rose is one of the most popular flowers for growing in gardens, and it’s one of the most popular flowers in perfumery. With the right rose perfume, you can experience the romance and beauty of roses all year round because it’s a very versatile note that fits in all age groups and occasions.

While many rose fragrances can be considered classy perfumes, other rose scents are more edgy and contemporary. Some are delicate, angelic, and bride-appropriate, while others are perfect for teenagers or for a more mature population. Others instead are dark, velvety, and mysterious, or gourmand jammy, sticky and even syrupy. The possibilities are endless, and luckily for us, we live in an era where scents from nature are celebrated as much as artificial, lab-created ones which allows to expand the perfumer’s creativity.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these and what’s your favorite rose fragrance. Looking forward to hearing from you! 😉 – By the way, if you like floral perfumes, and if you haven’t yet, check my previous post about the best floral perfumes .