Following my top 50 iris fragrances, I present a lush platter of rose fragrances. Below, you will find 40 of my favorite roses and recommendations. Followed by 10 rose fragrances that I don’t know well enough to speak on, that might be worth highlighting. A lot of these fragrances have been reviewed, which you can check out by clicking on their names. I tried ranking them in order from my favorite to lesser, but most of them are interchangeable. This list could easily be twice as long, so I left out some fragrances that contain rose, but that don’t wear like rose fragrances to me (for example Fragrance du Bois Sahraa, Andy Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain or Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule). I invite you to add your favorite rose picks in the comments below the list!
01. Amouage Epic 56
The top spot for a rose fragrance goes to Epic 56. This entry also accounts for Epic Woman, which is much more affordable and Rose Aqor, which is warmer and even more expensive. The three are all made by Cecile Zarokian and they share a lot of their DNA, but Epic 56 would be my first recommendation. A greener, aromatic rose with an oily texture and impeccable performance.
02. Jazeel Ghala
One of my favorite discoveries in 2023. Ghala is a skankier oud-rose, but at the same time it has the most beautiful oily citrus. If you like the lemon-citronella edge to your rose, Ghala is a must try.
03. Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady
This used to be my favorite rose for several years. It’s still one of the best perfumes ever made, with a stunning vibrant and bright rose. It moves into patchouli quickly and my bottle has grown sweeter over the years.
04. Frederic Malle Une Rose/Rose Tonnerre
In the past year, Rose Tonnerre has started to win me over and it’s not trailing far behind Portrait Of A Lady anymore. A more substantial, oily rose.
05. Etat Libre D’Orange Experimentum Crucis
One of the most unique options on this list. An unnatural smelling bright rose with cumin. For a greener take that feels similar, Quintin Bisch’ other ELDO, Hermann A Mes Cotes, is an interesting release as well.
06. Guerlain Rose Centifolia Extrait 1
This was my favorite from the 2023 Guerlain Les Extraits Signature line. Offering up a lot of different facets of the rose, albeit it at a high price point.
07. Matiere Premiere Radical Rose [#AD]
One of the purest rose scents to me. I imagine this to be vivid red and it has a great balance of floral, earthy and sweet tones. Unfortunately, my bottle of this has also grown a tad sweeter than it used to be over the years.
08. Maison Tahite Coffee Bomb
This is an upgrade over Montale Intense Cafe, at a great price, which is why I left that one off the list. A slightly metallic feeling rose, mixed with roasted coffee. All elements here are better than in the Montale in my opinion and it’s less overdosed in vanilla.
09. Roja Parfums Taif Aoud Parfum
A brighter and more rosey take on the Amber Aoud and Musk Aoud style by Roja. Making this more versatile and warmer weather appropriate. I was suprised how much I liked this one.
10. Cartier Declaration D’Un Soir
A softer, greener rose, with a fresher opening. A subtle scent that is often presented as one of the best rose offerings for men (who may not be accustomed to the note) and I fully agree. An office staple in my collection.
11. Ostens Impression Rose Oil Isparta [#AD]
A lively, fun take on rose. There’s a sparkling, lemonade-like edge to this and the ingredients really shine as they do in most of the Ostens releases.
12. Xerjoff 40 Knots
This one may not register as a real rose scent to some at first. I can say after wearing it a lot, that I’ve come to see it more and more as a rose. A briny edge and oily texture with extraordinairy performance as bonus.
13. Guerlain Gourmand Coquin/Feve Gourmand
A very sweet rose, with the tiniest hint of booze and a lot of chocolate. This walks the fine line of being elegant and being opulent & quirky at the same time. I haven’t tried Feve Gourmand yet; according to Thierry Wasser the formula has not been changed.
14. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood
This one needs no introduction. I slightly prefer the scent of the EDP, but it is even louder than the Extrait. A rare occassion where I wish the performance was a bit less strong. The fruity, lychee rose with the oudy backdrop is iconic for good reason.
15. Kilian Rose Oud
Speaking of rose ouds. There will be several on the list and frankly, I’ve grown tired of some of them, because it’s a popular style with a lot of redundancy. For that ‘common’ variant, Kilian’s take is one of my favorites. For this reason I left Armani Rose D’Arabie off the list.
16. Roja Parfums Rose Parfum
An underrated and not often seen Roja these days. Taking cues from the greener, mossier roses of the past, in particular Guerlain’s Nahema, hence I left that out of this list.
17. Tom Ford Noir de Noir
A darker take on rose, with earthy tones and a non-gourmand chocolate. I have to wear this again, but I know it left a lasting impression on me when I first smelled it.
18. Electimuss Pomona Vitalis [#AD]
Which brings me to Pomona Vitalis, which I feel is occupying the same spot as Noir de Noir. A more minty opening and definitely more focus on the patchouli with the rose being subtle.
19. Maison Sybarite Bed Of Roses
A water-based fragrance with a super milky texture. This is the more common milky, iris, sandalwood style with a rose twist.
20. Lorenzo Villoresi Musk EDT
Despite the name, this always felt more like a sandalwood fragrance to me. There is a hint of musky babypowder, but also a soft, inoffensive rose.
21. Les Abstrais La Douleur Exquise
This reminds me of a rose-oud, with a contrasting brighter rose and stronger leathery edge. I love how resinous the drydown gets.
22. Dusita Rosarine [#AD]
A true honeyed rose. I find the rose itself to be slightly heady and extremely oily, but the honey covers it like a blanket.
23. Boadicea The Victorious Blue Sapphire
I haven’t smelled this in a while and frankly, I don’t remember the exact role of the rose here. However, it’s a remarkably complex and rather unique scent that’s been on my wishlist for ages.
24. Amouage Lyric Man
Besides the Epic Woman DNA, Amouage’s Lyric offers a great take on the note as well. I highlight the brighter lime-rose from Lyric Man here, but the darker rose from Lyric Woman is worth exploring as well.
25. Dior Gris Dior
One of my favorite bright roses. Gris Dior smells like the inside of a make-up bag mixed with a rose water.
26. Xerjoff Astaral
When I started diving into fragrances, Xerjoff More Than Words was a rose-oud staple for me. Now, I think Astaral has done that style better.
27. January Scent Project Smolderose
To me, this has a similar sparkling bright rose as Ostens Rose Oil Isparta, mixed with a tartness and a much heavier base. I didn’t get the promised seashells, salt or aquatic notes in my testing.
28. Tobba Rose On The Shore
One of my newer discoveries. This reminds me a lot of Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre, hence it’s lower on the list, but a great option for a rose scent in that style.
29. Bohoboco Yellow Rose Incense [#AD]
This was easily my favorite from this brand. Yellow Rose Incense reminded me a lot of Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady, but has a more oily, resinous core.
30. La Closerie Des Parfums Rose Petale Cardamome
Both Rose Bois Muscade, which drydown reminds me of Epic Woman, and this Rose Petale Cardamome are stellar options.
31. Les Indemodables Rose de Jamal
I’m not the biggest fan of minty fragrances, but Rose De Jamal offers a really nice minty note with a subtle rose. The quality of this house is second to none.
32. Armani Rose Milano
A fresher rose by Armani. You can’t really go wrong with this one if you’re looking for a light rose to wear to any occasion, maybe perfect for a ‘white shirt’ look. The Different Company Kashan Rose offers this as well.
33. Ormonde Jayne Indus
Indus is a very sweet and modern styled rose. Like a lighter Oud Satin Mood with more lasting focus on the fruitiness. The sweetness can definitely border on being cloying the way Oud Satin Mood does as well.
34. Les Eaux Primordiales Superose [#AD]
Quite similar to Ormonde Jayne Indus, is this Harrods exclusive. Also featuring pear. A fruity, bright, rose that smells very contemporary.
35. Perris Rose De Taif
Taif Rose is known to be rich and opulent and that’s what you get in this Perris. Vibrant, focused rose. Perris also has a Rose de Mai.
36. Tom Ford Rose Prick
This was met with a mixed reception, but I ended up really liking it. More than the 3 Private Rose Garden releases that followed it (Rose de Chine, Rose de Russie & Rose D’Amalfi). Quite thick with a bit of pepper.
37. Ramon Monegal Hazy Roze
This one renewed my interested in this brand. Hazy Rose is a very dewy rose, mixed with sweet and spicy elements.
38. Areej Le Dore Ottoman Empire
I’ve only smelled Ottoman Empire III, but I assume I & II are quite similar. The opening was too much for me, with a (barbecue) smokiness. The drydown however, is magical.
39. Stephane Humbert Lucas Rose de Petra
An underrated one from SHL, also because the pricing is not too shabby compared to some others from the house. The drydown leaves something to be desired for me, but I love the opening.
40. Dior Oud Ispahan
I figured I should put this on the list, with an explanation. Oud Ispahan used to be the reference rose-oud for me, but it has grown overly sweet in my bottle and in the last one that I smelled in-store. As of now, I think fragrances like Diptyque Oud Palao or Penhaligon’s The Uncompromising Sohan preserve this style better.
As mentioned in the introduction, here are 10 more offerings that I don’t know well-enough to rank or speak on, that are generally considered as interesting or great rose perfumes.
41. Moschino Toy Boy
42. Elegantes Rose Musk
43. Le Labo Rose 31
44. Hiram Green Philtre
45. Shalini Amorem Rose
46. Aedes de Venustas Amnesia Rose
47. Initio Atomic Rose
48. Louis Vuitton Les Sables Roses
49. Widian Liwa
50. Liquides Imaginaires Dom Rosa