7 Rose Perfumes That Smell Better Than The Real Thing
The only thing better than a bouquet of roses is smelling like one.
A rose perfume is the little black dress of the fragrance world; no matter what trends come and go, you'll always be timelessly elegant in one. And just like a bouquet of their namesake blooms, rose perfumes also serve as an effortlessly romantic gift. Whether you take your roses fresh and zesty or sumptuous and sexy, these are my very favorite rose scents for date night and every night.
Ellis Brooklyn Rrose Eau De Parfum
Marcel Duchamp toyed with themes of beauty and eroticism through the lens of his female alter ego, Rrose Sélavy — said aloud, a pun on the French adage "Eros, c'est la vie" ("sex, such is life"). There's an irreverence to this scent not unlike its conceptual muse, with a pulpy lemon twist that cuts the soft femininity of rose petals and turns them into something juicier and less expected entirely.
Diptyque Eau Capitale Eau de Parfum
Chypre, ever heard of her? The olfactory family, pronounced sheep-ra, gets its name from François Coty's 1917 perfume Chypre, the French word for the island of Cyprus (the fragrance's raw materials largely originated in the Mediterranean). Chypre scents typically open with citrus and lean into resinous labdanum at the midpoint before drying down to a dry, woodsy finish. In this iteration, inspired by the fragrance house's Parisian roots, you get lush roses at first whiff, then bergamot and bright pink peppercorns underscored by patchouli. It's complex, defiant, at once old-fashioned and avant-garde — kind of like the city itself.
Dior Miss Dior Rose N'Roses Eau de Toilette Spray
Rose scents really sing when a burst of citrus is added to the mix, as exemplified by the brightness of this effervescent eau de toilette. Italian mandarin and bright green bergamot add sweetness and sparkle to a pure, classic rose for an allover lightness that smells like how standing before a kilometers-wide field of fresh pink blooms in Grasse must feel.
Ex Nihilo Rose Hubris Eau de Parfum
With the aromatic spice of fenugreek and the deep earthiness of oakmoss, this sophisticated scent alludes to one often-forgotten component of roses: the dirt they're planted in. Still, the abundance of Rose de Mai keeps it clear, slightly honeyed, and easy to love, even with — or perhaps because of — the unmistakable note of forest floor.
Ouai Melrose Place Eau de Parfum
This clean, high-key rose bubbles over with the velvety Champagne fizz and bouquets of peony, jasmine, and freesia on the tables at an A-list wedding held in Gwyneth Paltrow's backyard; the white musk and sandalwood on the shoulder of a friend who always has a perfect blowout when she leans in for the double air-kiss.
Philosophy Amazing Grace Bergamot Eau de Toilette
Rose tends to be divisive — you either love it or hate it. But if you find yourself somewhere in the middle, enjoying it and appreciating it but not feeling quite ready to jump headlong into it, this fragrance is proof that not only does rose play well with others, but sometimes it even lets them assume the starring role. When bergamot and orange blossom take the lead, the result is more fresh than floral.
Tom Ford Rose Prick Eau de Parfum
Every rose has its thorn — except for a Tom Ford rose, which has its own very distinctive prick. Here, it represents the heat of Sichuan peppercorn and turmeric, which jolt the jammy rose out of its floral comfort zone and render it warm and woodsy. Full-bodied and creamy with a drydown of patchouli and tonka bean, this is so far from a "grandma" rose it's practically laughable
Be sure to try out my new favs just in time for spring. I would love to hear what you think!