Rose Perfume

Roses have long been associated with love, beauty, and romance. But what do they actually smell like? What is it about this enigmatic essence that so many writers, poets, and perfume makers have tried to capture down the years?

For all their beauty, roses conceal more than a few secrets within their lush blooms. To the discerning nose, however, some things are clear as day. For instance, we know that rose scents are (surprise, surprise) floral in tone. But delve deeper, and you’ll discover it has nuances of powder, wood, and fruit as well. Some say that roses smell like love itself – a sweet, intoxicating fragrance filled with a burning passion. Others say roses have a more subtle scent – much like a delicate floral garden that gently teases – well aware of the allure it holds.

Perhaps you can’t know for sure until you smell it for yourself. But no matter what you think roses smell like, there’s no denying it’s one of the most enticing scents available today, and certainly well worth the attention it garners.

Here are our favorite rose scents to enjoy in the spring and summer, or simply anytime you need a fresh boost of flower power.

In classics like Chanel’s No. 5 Parfum, roses have always been prominent. But this scent isn’t just about roses, quite the contrary. This iconic perfume is a vibrant blend of aldehydes and practically every flower in existence, including ylang-ylang, jasmine, lily of the valley, and iris. Amber, musk, patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver form the base of this flower bouquet. Next, be sure to try Le Labo’s Rose 31 Eau de Parfum. The scent exhibits flawless control of rose and never overwhelms its other aroma compatriots – warmer notes like cumin, cedar, and amber, among others.

Then there is, of course, the aptly-named Les Sables Roses Eau de Parfum, a very unique rose perfume from Louis Vuitton. This intriguing, pink musk-rose blend is both a hot and a cold fragrance at the same time, striking the perfect balance of rose and oud. Finally, we have Tom Ford’s Rose Prick Eau de Parfum, a full-bodied rose perfume loaded with aromatic Sichuan pepper and an array of roses – May Rose (straight from Grasse), Bulgarian Rose, and Turkish Rose.

Honorable mentions include Miss Dior’s Rose n’ Roses Eau de Toilette, Jo Malone’s Red Roses Cologne, Byredo’s Rose Of No Man’s Land Eau de Parfum, and Byredo’s Eau Rose Eau de Toilette.

In its best form, a rose perfume should be evocative, romantic, and even surprising. But above all, it shouldn’t cost a fortune to wear. Enter: Dossier’s high-quality perfume dupes. Through careful olfactory engineering, we’ve recreated some of the world’s most recognizable rose scents – sans the hefty price tag. Shop Dossier now for the best rose fragrances at the best prices.