Rose in perfume can recall fresh petals, sweet jam or a dark blend of leather and spice. If you have disliked one rose fragrance, another may surprise you.
These five perfumes show how different rose can be. Hollyrose and Accrodisiaque pair it with leather, Oha with tea and tonka, Rose Trombone with pear and musk, and Brera with spices and patchouli.
Choosing your style of rose
It helps to start with notes you already enjoy. Try Rose Trombone for clean musks, Brera and Oha for patchouli and spice, or Hollyrose and Accrodisiaque for leather.
Rose smells different in each of them. In some it is fresher and softer; in others, leather or spices give it warmth and intensity.
Five rose perfumes to compare
Room 1015 Hollyrose
Hollyrose combines blackcurrant and black pepper with rose and orchid. Leather and patchouli give it a darker, warmer scent, while blackcurrant adds fruity sweetness.
It is worth trying if you enjoy rose with leather and patchouli. Accrodisiaque also pairs rose with leather, but adds more green tea notes.
Teo Cabanel Oha
Oha opens with bergamot and tea, followed by rose, jasmine and cardamom. Tonka, patchouli and white musk give it a warm, soft finish.
Tea and bergamot freshen the flowers, while tonka adds sweetness. Oha may appeal if you enjoy a rose fragrance that feels both fresh and warm.
Versatile Paris Accrodisiaque
Accrodisiaque combines rose with matcha, blueberry, dill and a leather accord. Tea and dill bring out its green side. Read more about this combination in our matcha perfume guide.
Accrodisiaque Roll-On is an alcohol-free perfume oil. Apply it directly to skin to notice how the rose changes alongside tea and leather.
L'Orchestre Rose Trombone
Rose Trombone pairs rose with pear, rum and a clean accord. White musk, sandalwood and vanilla give it softness and a little sweetness.
If you enjoy clean musky perfumes, Rose Trombone may be a good introduction to rose. Here it feels softer and fresher than in the leather fragrances in this selection.
Milano Fragranze Brera
In Brera, bergamot, chilli and saffron accompany rose, jasmine and geranium. Patchouli, labdanum and vanilla add warmth. The sweet, spicy rose can suggest rose jam.
Brera is more likely to appeal to lovers of spices and patchouli than to those seeking a light scent of fresh petals.
Choosing rose for yourself or as a gift
If you are choosing a gift, think about what the person already wears. A leather lover may enjoy Hollyrose, while someone who chooses clean musks may prefer Rose Trombone. That tells you more than whether they like the smell of a bouquet of roses.
When choosing for yourself, try the perfume on skin and smell it again once the opening has settled. If you enjoy fresh, soapy scents as well as rose, explore perfumes that smell clean.
