It's time to open your olfactory horizons before you dismiss this trend or instantly think of bathroom soap or your granny's scent. A cult classic rose-infused scent is back on trend, and its popularity has bloomed this year. Modern and musky or spiked with citrus, editor Trudi Brewer shares her favourite rosy scents.
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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 adds a fresh, green aroma, while at the other end of the spectrum, rose absolute is responsible for bold, earthy scents thanks to a solvent extraction method. Finally, science has helped reinvigorate the scent of roses. Creating synthetics that mimic any part of the rose, from the leaves to the buds - even roses drenched in dew drops. Once blended with fruit and woods, today’s rose-infused scents can smell romantic, fresh and carnal. 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. Every new interpretation brings a modern spin on 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 precious accessories from this brand, 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, which is offset by warm, amber woods, that help 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 aesthetics. 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. Safe to say, Rodriguez’s 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 Gisou’s wildflower bee garden in the Netherlands. Boosted by argan oil, it will refresh dull, dry hair between washes or after styling and make it smell divine. While marketed for your hair, we spritz it all over.
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