Rose Fragrance

A rose fragrance is often the second most interesting characteristic that people notice about roses, besides the brilliant blooms.  It’s a mysterious trait that puts it above many other flowers.  After all, the common phrase isn’t “stop and smell the tulips”!  It’s because of this that we have wonderful perfumes, oils, lotions, and water products.

It’s been well-known in history that the scent is often mixed in with romantic overtones.  It was a favorite tool of Queen Cleopatra when wooing Marc Anthony.  Rose petals and scents are often spread around at weddings to give it that loving glow.

Scents can come on many different types and varieties, but most horticulturalists and scientists have broken them down into specific flavors.  Yes, there are actually pHd who analyze fragrances for a living!  When you hear people talk about scents as “citrus” or “clover” or “spicy”, they are actually talking about these things.

The colors can often give you clues as to the scent you might get.  Red and pink varieties most often have the traditional rose smell.  Orange will have more of a citrus or spicy scent.  Yellow and white types are more anise or lightly citrus.  A darker color or a fuller, thicker flower are generally good signs that you have a good scented version on your hands.  If you are looking to head out to your garden to enjoy the smells, a sunny and warm weather day stimulates the scent production.

Of course, many roses, especially the hybrid teas, are bred specifically to really light up with fragrances.  And many of them certainly do.  Anything with the word “fragrant” in it will be a good scent.  Of the other varieties, damasks are known to be fragrant, and they were the source of the first perfumes made in the Middle East.