Source: Pexels

February is the month of love and romance, characterized by chocolates and sweets, gifts, cards and flowers. Roses are one of the most popular options and they are the basis for a lot of fragrances. For Valentine’s, rose scented perfumes are a go-to option for gifts as they combine flowers, gifts, scents and sweetness.

There are a lot rose scented fragrances with different infusions and effects and with so many choices, it is difficult to choose the best options. You might also feel that rose scented perfumes are too traditional, old, plain or simple. Rose scented perfumes however come in different variants – they can be sexy, they can be simple and conventional, they can be beautiful, elegant and rich, they can also be fresh, airy and light.

Rose is really an essential ingredient for a lot of scents but it is a versatile element that can be transformed in different ways to suit the quality that is needed.

Rose scented fragrances are also believed to be feminine but this is not quite right. While a lot of female fragrances are rose scented, but there are also many male fragrances that are rose scented because it is such a beautiful and transformative element that brings out amazing qualities in other elements of the perfume.

There is a rose scent for every need – it can be bold, subtle, youthful, luxurious, sophisticated, playful and much more. If you are wondering what options to consider, here are a number of options to play with and go through that give off different effects.

• Diptyque Eau Rose

This is a spicy, rose-scented fragrance with woody, fruity, floral and aromatic elements. This floral and fruity perfume labelled Eau Rose, which literally translated means rose water, is a moderate scent for women. It features blackcurrant, lychee, jasmine, bergamot, musk, Virginia cedar, white honey and of course, rose.

It is a mysterious French fragrance with damask and centifolia roses that brings together floral and sensual with the infusion of musk, cedar and honey.

Eau Rose is a majestic scent, much like the flower, that is also fresh, delicate, and unique. It was created to stand out even amongst other rose scented fragrances. It is suitable for use at all times of the day, usually changing as time goes by. In its true likeness to natural roses, it blossoms over time, mixing with the scent of its wearer.

It is light, lovely, and sweet. If you would rather stay away from heavy scents and might be avoiding rose scented perfumes for that reason, this is a good try for you as there are not many other elements that clutter it up and make it too much.

While delicate, it is quite long-lasting, emulating the lifespan of a rose and going from tiny scents similar to the bud up to full bloom.

It is clean, pretty and warm. My review of this fragrance is available here. I mentioned that this light and compelling scent delivers on its promise by being straightforward and authentic rather than overly complicated.

• Guerlain Nahema

This is a floral, woody, sweet and balsamic scent. Made for women, it was created in 1979 and as the official site says, it aims at painting a portrait of roses dedicated to a woman. Its creator, Jean-Paul Guerlain is said to be a lover of roses up to the point of adoration and this comes through heavily in this rich fragrance. It is a majestic force to be reckoned with as I explained in my earlier review.

This scent is best explained as bold and dramatic. It speaks opulence and grandeur, gradually transforming into a sumptuous, enigmatic and haunting presence. You definitely cannot ignore this one. So if you want something rose scented but usually go for the bold, statement fragrances, this is definitely a must try for you.

It is not a comfortable or simple fragrance and might therefore be more suited to occasions than for everyday wear. It is feisty and unusual. It is also quite rare and hard to find as most department stores do not carry it. It carries not just the rose but also peach, jasmine, lilac, lily of the valley, vanilla, passion flower, sandalwood, bergamot and more.

Nahema is a classical yet provocative, passionate and intense scent that seeks to represent different feminine sides. If you can get your hands on this one, you have something unique in your hands.

• Gucci Flora

I have reviewed this vivacious fragrance on the blog before  and as the name implies,  Flora, mixes floral scents with a strong citrus element. It is a fresh, light, and breezy fragrance aimed at the younger woman. It is enriched with citrus, peony, rose, osmanthus, patchouli and sandalwood.

It is sexy in an airy, youthful and free manner than can be enchanting. This is a gorgeous scent that can be likened to sparkling juice, simple but enticing.

Gucci Flora is suitable for everyday and casual wear as it is not dramatic or for effect. It reflects the delicate loveliness of women like others in the Flora Garden Collection.

If you need something light and simple but nevertheless attractive, this is the rose fragrance for you.

• Van Cleef & Arpels First

I have talked about this one a number of times on the blog and it falls into a number of categories for me. I mentioned that it was one of my favorite vintage perfumes here. For me, it has a special place in my heart as I have mentioned on those occasions as it holds a timeless and nostalgic quality for me. It was the first venture into perfumery by the acclaimed jewelers and they definitely put some effort into this.

First is a creative but immense floral bouquet of scents with magnolia, raspberry, jasmine, peach, sandalwood, carnation, amber, vanilla, bergamot, tuberose and of course, rose. It is a beautiful combination of fruity and flowery with a sparkling aldehydic note.

It has been around for a while – since 1976 – and this is because it is a really exceptionally unique fragrance that is amazingly layered.

If you want an interesting and perfectly orchestrated perfume, First is a good choice for you.

• Chanel No.5

This is a classic we all know. It was the first on my favorite vintage perfumes list and I have a full review too. It is described as the now and forever fragrance for a reason. This masterpiece fragrance although reformulated a number of times, has continued to be a hit and you might not even realize that is rose scented. It definitely isn’t what comes to mind when you think about rose scented as it is so much more.

This fragrance also includes amber, vanilla, sandalwood, iris, lily of the valley, musk, patchouli, neroli and so much more. It is an elegant and provocative fragrance that speaks opulence, luxury and affluence. It has over 80 ingredients in the mix so it is understandable that it is not your first pick when you think about rose scents.

Chanel No 5 is always a hit when you talk about fragrances with a hint of rose. It is perfect as a gift for the provocative as well as the classic woman. It has the depth, complexity and qualities anyone would seek in a fragrance.

Put simply, this is a masterpiece that should make it to every list.

• Lancome Trésor

My blog review of this fragrance points to the important characteristics to note here – love, romance, elegance. The scent is built around these qualities aiming to evoke radiance and everlasting love.

This fragrance is named after the word treasure and is indeed something to be treasured. It is created for the woman who understands how precious time is. It is based on rose scents but not in an intense manner. It is a paradoxical modern classic that is vibrant, eternal, sweet, and fruity.

It is one of the most popular, best selling scents around the world with its warm and oriental qualities. It comprises of rose, apricot, iris, peach and more.

Trésor, by the fabulous Lancome brand, is a long lasting, full blooming fragrance, much like the eternal love it evokes. It mimics a glowing, full blooming radiance in its wearer.

• Stella McCartney Stella

This fragrance by designer Stella McCartney is the last but not the least in this list of rose scented fragrances. It has a strong feminine scent and as I said in my review on the blog earlier, it celebrates the youthful woman, highlighting her natural confidence, radiance and youthful nature.

This scent carries amber, rose, violet, lemon, peony and mandarin elements. I noted it as amongst my preferred spring fragrances which is ideal for warm weathers and can be worn all day.

Rose scented fragrances are definitely not outdated but can be an amazing and sophisticated scent to carry through your day. It can empower, envelop you and fill your day with a beautiful and exquisite feel.

This is a unique and modern take on what might be perceived as an outdated element such as roses. Stella is much more than just another designer fragrance. 

Over to you! Do you enjoy rose-centric fragrances or is there another type of perfume that you favor? If so do let us know.

*This site contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.