It's time to open your olfactory horizons before you dismiss this trend or instantly think of bathroom soap or your granny's fragrance. A cult-classic rose-infused scent is back in style, and its popularity has surged in the last year. Modern and musky or spiked with citrus, editor Trudi Brewer shares her favourite rosy scents and why you need to embrace this renewed classic.
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Like glowing skin, today’s rose perfumes are not too sweet or powdery. Instead, they've hit the spot for rousing nostalgia and smelling musky and modern. That’s because it’s not just the rose oil, or otto, used in perfume making. A pure distillation of rose petals imparts a fresh, green aroma, while, at the other end of the spectrum, rose absolute offers bold, earthy scents through solvent extraction. One thing most rose fragrances share is their mood. Romance is at the heart of many modern rose scents, which are complemented by uplifting fresh notes or mysterious woody aromas. They are fairy-tale-inspired and deliciously indulgent; there is a rose perfume to suit every kind of woman. By incorporating the latest fragrance trends, traditional scents get new life. Add vanilla, skin scents and warm, woodsy notes, and rose takes on an intimate upgrade. Finally, science has helped reinvigorate rosy fragrance. Creating synthetics that mimic any part of the rose, from the leaves to the buds - even roses drenched in dew drops. Today’s rose-infused scents will still smell romantic, but have a fresh, almost carnal appeal.
Here I will help steer you to your perfect rose perfume, an uplifting everyday spritz or something sultry for special nights out. The ideal rose perfume awaits - I promise.
Tiffany & Co Rose Gold Eau de Parfum Intense. 50ml, $229.
I fell in love with Tiffany & Co.'s fragrance from the first whiff in 2017. Each new interpretation adds a modern twist to what has become a floral classic. This time, citrus, spicy pink pepper, jasmine, and orange flowers blended with pure Turkish rose oil make this an enchanting and oh-so-romantic scent. Anchored by patchouli, it will appeal to anyone who likes a timeless fragrance that lingers—to envelope skin like silk. Finally, like all the brand's precious accessories, the mirrored rose gold bottle is a nod to the legendary diamond cuts in the Tiffany & Co. collections.
Chloé L'Eau de Parfum Intense, 50ml, $208.
At the heart of all Chloé signature scents is a rose. Their latest captures the essence of budding roses at dawn, roses in full bloom in the day's heat, and the honeyed scent of an evening rose at dusk. Add juicy raspberry, offset by warm, amber woods that heighten the aroma of cashmeran and cedar. Supremely soft but potent enough to stay on the skin for hours. This vegan formula is also refillable.
Narciso Rodriguez All Of Me Intense, 50ml EDP, $213.
The soft pink colour and feminine curved design fit perfectly in your hand, but the scent is exquisite beyond its aesthetic appeal. Composed of 90 per cent natural origin ingredients, this vegan perfume is a blend of black iris, jasmine sambac, sensual tuberose infusion, geranium, sandalwood, vanilla, French roses and, of course, at the heart of all designer Narciso Rodriguez’s fragrances, musk. The best news is it’s long-lasting. I keep catching subtle wafts of its powdery goodness all day. It's safe to say Rodriguez has created yet another magical designer perfume.
BYREDO Rose Noir EDP, 5oml $338.
This stormy rose scent is not what you would expect from a traditional rose fragrance. It’s the perfect blend of flowers, spice and fruit. Think cardamom, freesia, grapefruit, red berries, lily of the valley, raspberry, violet, jasmine, moss, musk, and patchouli spiked with musky, honey-like Damask rose. The brand says to expect a modern twist on a classic floral scent. We agree.
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume Wild Rose 50ml, $82.
If you haven’t tried the Gisou collection, you’re missing out. This hair perfume captures the scent of fresh wild roses, comforting vanilla, and the sweet notes of the brand's signature Mirsalehi Honey from their wildflower bee garden in the Netherlands. That is boosted with argan oil, it will refresh dull, dry hair between washes or after styling and leave it smelling divine. Although marketed for hair, we also spritz it on our skin.
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