As classic fragrances go, rose perfume is the undisputed and long-reigning champion but you shouldn't let memories of old-fashioned, powdery scents put you off. Modern blends and complementary notes bring out the best of our pick of the top rose perfumes.
An olfactory favorite, rose perfume is one of the most classic floral fragrances on the beauty shelves. It’s a scent that often provokes memories, whether it’s reminiscent of your grandmother’s classic scent or brings you back to an English summer garden, rose perfume seems to be the ever-stylish Little Black Dress of the perfumery world.
It can be tricky to find a rose perfume that you love without knowing how to buy fragrance online. Rose scents often get a bad reputation for being old-fashioned, cloying, or outdated, but rose is actually incredibly versatile: It’s suitable for blending with other notes or holding a fragrance on its own and while it can be powdery, with the right blend, it can also be fresh, light and uplifting.
So, if you’re searching for a new rose perfume to become your signature scent or you’re looking to dabble in this classic fragrance for the first time, these are our picks for the best rose perfumes, from classically powdery to fresh and modern.
The best rose perfumes, as chosen by our experts
Like freshly cut stems. Modern, bright, and light, this fragrance is for those looking for the classic scent of rose without feeling dated. Added green notes make for a small botanical leaning but in general, it's a very fresh, light, and authentic rose scent. The mix of juicy blackcurrant and lychee make it a little fruitier than your average rose perfume so if you're looking for a more floral offering, you may want to try something else.
Just like a bouquet of fresh red roses, this fragrance is the epitome of rose perfume. It’s floral and romantic but the hint of lemon cuts through the powdery-ness for a more up-to-date take on a traditional rose scent.
Traditionally rose does tend to become powdery on the skin but the additional sharpness of the honeycomb base, as well as the citrus notes, give a lot more depth to this cologne without being heavy.
It's truly a special, romantic fragrance and a very common scent for brides on their big day.
An expensive fragrance but one that will last for hours. Its blend of fresh rose with spicy pepper and heady amber make it a bit deeper than your average rose scent. It’s incredibly feminine with a touch of rebellion.
Although this fragrance does dry down to a more powdery finish, it is still beautifully modern and the added depth of fragrance means it should last a bit longer on the skin.
A vibrant, modern take on rose, this fragrance is youthful and incredibly clean smelling. If you like fresh, green scents and would love to find a rose scent that suits you, this will be it. The crisp bergamot, juicy pear, and fresh rose petal notes make a lovely blend.
It's contemporary and playful but not overpowering in the slightest. The only drawback? It probably won't last as long on the skin for its lack of deeper accords.
Delicate rose absolute and spicy cinnamon give this floral fragrance an elegant scent. It’s grounded by vetiver and musk and will linger on the skin for hours.
According to the brand itself, "The Tudor rose, symbol of Elizabethan England, is immortalized in this airy scent." And we couldn't agree more. It certainly has an air of regality and has amassed a cult following since it first graced the shelves in 2018.
Dior’s younger sister, Miss Dior, has taken rose scent and made it warm, sweet, and unbeatably feminine. This might be considered more of a youthful scent but if you are looking for a fragrance that's sweet, musky, and full of rose petals, this is the one for you.
It can become quite powdery when dried down and this does make for a clean, soapy-smelling perfume, but the touch of white musk and grasse cuts through just enough to make it wearable.
Eye-wateringly expensive? Perhaps. But Gucci fragrance bottles are something of a collector's piece. The fragrance inside could easily be unisex as it’s not too sweet, and the base of wood and musks make for a deep, intoxicating scent.
It's most notably a bold and modern take on rose perfumes and has a depth that could be considered quite manly—which is perfect, if you're after a fragrance that isn't sickly or too feminine.
An unmistakably feminine scent, Rosa Nobile instantly transports you to a sunny, Mediterranean garden with beautiful blooms. The citrusy blend of tangerine, earthy cedarwood and classic rose make this scent a formidable rose fragrance and could be a little overpowering to some noses.
If, however, you like a touch of powdery-ness and the iconic smell of rose mixed with some freshness, you will love this. We think it's best suited to a hot summer's day where its citrus notes can really stand out.
Lively Sichuan pepper and aromatic turmeric have been blended with notes of rose to create a scent that lingers on the skin for hours. It dries down to a musky base with patchouli and Tonka bean giving an earthy, seductive base.
This unisex fragrance isn't one for the faint of heart and might be a little overpowering or powdery to some, but if you want a standout scent that is instantly identifiable, Rose Prick will come up trumps.
Emma North is the Beauty Writer at Future Publishing working across print and digital titles including woman&home, Woman, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Own, Chat and GoodtoKnow.
Before pursuing a career in beauty journalism, Emma worked as international cabin crew for over 4 years. Travelling around the globe and working night flights across several time zones at once, she is the perfect person to judge whether makeup and skincare claims actually hold up. If you want to know which foundations last 18+ hours or how to keep your lipstick looking flawless in 40º weather, she’s your go-to girl.
Emma’s flying career came to an end when she realised that beauty journalism was her true passion and she undertook internships across publications including Vogue, Elle, The Telegraph and Glamour. She was then taken under the wing of Funmi Fetto, Contributing Beauty Editor at Vogue where Emma assisted with Funmi’s debut beauty book, Palette.
Her big passion is finding truly beneficial skincare but, when she’s not testing out the latest products, you’ll find her trying to muscle her way into London’s best restaurants or relaxing at home in Devon with her dogs.
-
-
What does a normal vagina look like? A no-nonsense guide to vaginas and vulvas
It's time to break the taboo and get to know what's normal for your vagina and vulva
By Amy Hunt •
-
The important R Kelly documentaries to watch following his guilty verdict
R Kelly was convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering on Monday
By Emma Dooney •
-
These are the best Jo Malone fragrances as voted by customers
We all have our best Jo Malone fragrances—but does it make the top five?
By Lucy Abbersteen •
-
The top five benefits of retinol eye cream
Want to know what retinol eye cream can do for you? Here's everything you need to know—plus the best retinol eye creams that won't cause irritation
By Ayesha Muttucumaru •
-
The 13 beauty benefits of Argan oil and how to use it in your routine
With a myriad of skin and hair benefits, Argan oil has found itself in many beauty products. Here's why we love it
By Eunice Lucero-Lee •
-
These iconic makeup looks from every decade still resonate today
In recent history, some iconic makeup looks have lasted the test of time and still complement any complexion
By Emma Stoddart •
-
The best drugstore eye creams that offer high-end results
The best drugstore eye creams do it all—tighten, brighten, and smoothen—all for under $25
By Ayesha Muttucumaru •
-
The best hair straightener brushes for sleek, shiny, volumized hair
The best hair straightener brush for you could replace your hair straighteners to become your new go-to for smooth, sleek locks
By Aleesha Badkar •
-
Home highlight kits that will give you salon-worthy results
Here’s how to use home highlight kits to color your hair—whether you have blonde hair, brunette hair, or dark hair
By Aleesha Badkar •
-
Linda Evangelista's coolsculpting treatment left her 'disfigured' and a 'recluse' for over 5 years
As a result, the supermodel is now filing a lawsuit against Zeltiq Aesthetics
By Rylee Johnston •
