The best places for roses are not just in the garden, scrambling over a pergola, or in a crystal vase. Behind the ear and on the pulse points are ideal locations, too. Roses have never gone out of fashion among gardeners, but rose perfume did go out of fashion for a while. Classic, fail-safe scents often carry that lingering what Grandma wore all the time association.
But, with perfumers creating new accords, roses are back. And you can choose what rose buds you want to wear. Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile EDP centres on centifolia roses handpicked from an organic site in Piedmont.
Terry has its Rose Infernale, a smoky-floral scent made by Terry de Gunzberg with Turkish rose, oriental frankincense, and Haitian vetiver.
Oud Ispahan was created by perfumer Francois Demachy from pink damask Rose d’Ispahan (Pompon des Princes), named after a city in Iran. It is part of Dior’s exclusive high-end luxury collection.
The Champs-Élysées in Paris is a good place to pick up some rose perfumes. Pierre Montale offers Attar, Rose Elixir, Rose Night, and Rose Musk Limited.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian L’Eau a la Rose is fruity as well as floral. Uncloying, it’s like carrying around a bouquet of freshly-cut roses all day.
Francios Kurkdjian became famous back in 1995, after he created one of the world’s best-selling fragrances of all time — Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male. He has just created Dioriviera.
A la Rose is a declaration of love translated into a fragrance. It is my ode to femininity.
New York is a rose-filled city. D.S. & Durga Rose Atlantic EDP is the creation of self-taught Brooklyn nose David Seth Moltz. Daphne Bugey is behind Le Labo 31 Rose. Narciso Rodriguez Music Noir Rose.
Swedish brand Byredo’s Rose of No Man’s Land pays homage to the nurses of the First World War. Diptyque Eau Capitale EDP by Olivier Pescheux uses Turkish and Bulgarian rose petals as well as ylang-ylang from the Comores off the east African coast, Indonesian heart of vetiver, and Haitian flora.
Bloomingdale’s sells Prada Les Infusion Rose Eau de Parfum. L’Artisan offers Christopher Reynaud’s Memoire de Rose, while Tom Ford has Rose d’Amalfi and Rose Prick (with Rose de Mai, turmeric, and tonka bean ).
Fragrance di Bois Siberia Rose, Atkinson’s Rose in Wonderland by Fabrice Pellegri and Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre Edouard Flechier are other best-sellers.
Perhaps the most lush and lux and very, very special occasion rose EDPs are Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose and Serge Lutens Sa Majeste La Rose.
Try Matiere Premiere Radical Rose by Aurelien Guichard and/or Douglas Little’s sublime Heretic Dirty Roses.
Descend into a world of untamed passion with the decadent scent of Dirty Rose. A bed of crushed Damascena Roses, a touch of Pink Pepper, a kiss from Vanilla lips, and the prick of a thorn. This one is for the lovers, poets, and heartbreakers.
Floris in London even has a rose mouthwash. Made with pure rosewater, adding six drops to water every morning and night, perfumes your breath and makes a sophisticated alternative to overpowering peppermint.
We all need more Aurelien and Otto (rose oil) in our lives. For the best kisses. Roses are a must. In and out of beds.
