The Five Different Types of Rose Fragrance

When we plant roses, we think first with our eyes when we consider the colour and form of the bloom. Certainly choosing one’s favourite colour or the perfect hue for that magical colour combination is extremely important. Next, since we’re talking roses, we should think with our noses. Roses are not just famous for their visual beauty but also their fragrance. Roses can have strong, medium strong, light, or no fragrance, depending on the cultivar. But beyond the intensity of the fragrance, roses also offer different types of fragrances to choose from. Let’s explore the different types of scents offered by the world of roses.

There are five distinct fragrances used to describe roses:

The experience of rose fragrances can be complex. Some roses might offer a combination of these five main types of perfumes. Also, what one person smells and experiences when they put their nose deep into the petals of a beautiful rose might not be the same as the next person. We also all have different olfactory capabilities in terms of the sensitivity of our noses to detect fragrances in general and then to appreciate the different nuances within them. Though experiencing fragrance can also be learned. You need to keep smelling the roses!

People who are sensitive to fragrance can choose to plant roses with strengths from light to strong while people who have a weaker sense of smell should choose roses listed as having a medium to strong fragrance. After that, decide which are your favourite types of fragrances and how you want to enjoy them. Do you want to smell your roses as you walk about the garden or sit on your patio? Do you want to use your roses for baking or to scent your bath water? Or do you want to cut your roses to enjoy in a vase indoors?


Tranquility has a strong and romantic old rose fragrance.

The beautiful, deep crimson rosettes of Darcey Bussell have a delightful fruity fragrance.

The beautiful, pure pink blooms of Gentle Hermione have a strong fragrance which is a mix of myrrh and old rose.

The glowing magenta-pink flowers of Princess Anne fade to rich pink and lavender pink and exude a lovely perfume of tea.

Lichfield Angel’s lovely white and yellow flowers offer a light musk perfume.

Golden Celebration is another example of a rose that mixes different fragrance types. Its glowing golden flowers offer a lovely tea fragrance mixed with the fruity notes of citrus, lychee, and strawberries!


Here is a list of the five different types of rose fragrance and different cultivars that offer these heavenly perfumes. All of these roses are ones that we usually offer in our Great Rose Pre-Order that runs from summer through winter for pick-up and shipping each spring and that are then also available for in-person shopping at the nursery through the spring, summer and fall as potted plants.

Old Rose Fragrance
Brother Cadfael
Desdemona
Eglantyne
Gentle Hermione
Gertrude Jekyll
Harlow Carr
Honeymoon
Julie Andrews
Melody Parfumee
Silas Marner
Summer Romance Parfuma
Tess of the D’Ubervilles
Thomas A Becket
Tranquility
Westerland
Yves Piaget

Fruity Fragrance
Anne Marie
All Dressed Up
Arctic Blue
Beverly Anne Clay
Bliss Parfuma
Bolero
Bordeaux
Cinco de Mayo
Cinderella Fairy Tale
Crown Princess Margareta
Darcey Bussell
Dee-Lish
Double Ambre
Earth Angel Parfuma
Elegant Fairy Tale
Emily Bronte
Eustacia Vye
Forever Amber
Full Sail
Gabriel Oak
Gold and Great
Honey Dijon
Honeymoon
Hot Cocoa
Imogen
James L. Austin
Jump for Joy
Kiss Me Kate Arborose
Lavender Crush
Life of the Party
Livin’ Easy
Love at First Sight
Melody Parfumee
Moonlight in Paris
Moonlight Romantica
Olivia Rose Austin
Pop Art
Princesse Charlene de Monaco
State of Grace
Summer Romance Parfuma
Sweet Mademoiselle
The Poet’s Wife
Top Cream
Violet’s Pride
Westerland
Yves Piaget

Myrrh Fragrance
Anne Marie
Bathsheba
Boscobel
Claire Austin
Distant Drums
Gentle Hermione
Harlow Carr
Honey Perfume
Hot Cocoa
Julia Child
Julie Andrews
Mary Lou Whitney
Melody Parfumee
Polka
Queen of Sweden
Sceptr’d Isle
Strawberry Hill
Summer Romance Parfuma
The Generous Gardener
The Pilgrim
Wollerton Old Hall

Tea Fragrance
Beloved Bill
Burst of Joy
Charlotte
Colette
Devotion
Emily Bronte
Golden Celebration
Graham Thomas
Leonardo da Vinci
Molineux
Port Sunlight
Princess Alexandra of Kent
Princess Anne
Roald Dahl
Summer Song
Teasing Georgia
The Lady Gardener
The Pilgrim
Vanessa Bell

Musk Fragrance
Lichfield Angel
Malvern Hills

Roses with a Complex Mix of Different Fragrance Types
Emily Bronte
Golden Celebration
Honeymoon
Hot Cocoa
Julie Andrews
Melody Parfumee
Summer Romance Parfuma
The Pilgrim
Westerland
Yves Piaget


Give Your Garden the Phoenix Perennials Touch:

At Phoenix Perennials we offer over 5000 different plants every year for in-person shopping at our garden centre and plant nursery in Richmond, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver. Additionally, we offer more than 3000 different plants each year for mail-order shipping across Canada. Stay connected with our diverse offerings and all things Phoenix Perennials by signing up for our E-Newsletter and Alerts and engaging with us on social media. Happy gardening!