The best rose perfumes, grouped by the note that sits beside the rose
Rose changes character with its partner. Fourteen rose perfumes grouped by that partner, from oud and fruit to musk, vanilla and spice, and how to wear yours before buying a bottle.
Quick answer
The best rose perfume depends on the note beside the rose. Ombre Nomade pairs it with oud for a dark, smoky result, Chloé Eau de Parfum is bright and juicy with fruit, and Delina is soft and clean with musk and peony. Try a 3ml first.
Rose, partner by partner
Twelve of the fourteen rose perfumes in this guide, from oud to spice, in the order they appear.
- 1Best overall
Dark: oud and raspberry over rose, saffron and geranium, with frankincense and benzoin.
from €21.513 ml
Read the pick - 2
Dark and resinous: pear and hazelnut, then rose, osmanthus and saffron over sandalwood and vanilla.
from €15.123 ml
Read the pick - 3
Dark and resinous: rose water and pink pepper over rose and osmanthus, with sandalwood and cypriol.
from €19.173 ml
Read the pick - 4
Fruit: litchi, freesia and peony over rose and magnolia, with amber and cedar.
from €9.633 ml
Read the pick - 5Best fruity pick
Fruit: black cherry and bitter almond over Turkish rose, with vanilla and tonka bean.
from €21.963 ml
Read the pick
Show all 12 picks
- 6Best for summer
Fruit: citron, mint and black currant over apricot and rose, with fig and dates.
from €18.633 ml
Read the pick - 7
Musk: litchi and rhubarb over Turkish rose, peony and musk, with cashmeran and cedar.
from €14.853 ml
- 8
Musk: pear and peach over jasmine, rose and tuberose, with musk and cedar.
from €7.833 ml
Read the pick - 9
Vanilla: lavender and bergamot over iris and rose, with Tahitian vanilla and sandalwood.
from €8.373 ml
Read the pick - 10Best sweet pick
Vanilla: coconut and plum over rose and jasmine, with almond, vanilla and musk.
from €8.373 ml
Read the pick - 11
Spice and leather: bergamot and iris over rose, with vanilla, incense and leather.
from €8.103 ml
Read the pick - 12
from €6.843 ml
Read the pick
In this guide
The best rose perfume depends less on the rose than on the note beside it. With oud, as in Ombre Nomade, rose turns dark and smoky; with fruit, as in Chloé Eau de Parfum, bright and juicy; with musk and peony, as in Delina, soft and clean; with vanilla, as in Mon Guerlain, warm and sweet. Fourteen rose perfumes follow, grouped by partner note, to try as a 3ml first.
What rose smells like, and why the partner matters
A rose on its own in a perfume can read green, lemony, honeyed or soapy, depending on the variety and how it is extracted. Turkish and Bulgarian roses are the two names you will see most on note lists, and rose water appears too, usually as a lighter, dewier touch. Every one of them is a floral note that sits in the heart of a fragrance, where it shapes the character for hours after the opening has gone.
That is why so many people think they dislike rose. What they dislike is usually one old pairing: rose with heavy powder and soap. Put the same flower next to a smoky wood, a tart berry or a sweet almond and it becomes a different perfume. Our rose note page lists every rose perfume we carry; this guide sorts the strongest options by what surrounds the flower.
A quick way to read the groups below:
- Oud and frankincense make rose dark, resinous and evening-ready.
- Fruit makes it playful and modern, from light and fresh to deep and boozy.
- Musk and peony make it clean, soft and easy to wear by day.
- Vanilla, almond and cacao make it sweet and enveloping.
- Spice and leather make it warm, bold and a little rough around the edges.
Open the full-size image in a new tabQuick comparison
| # | Perfume | Label | Main notes | Lasts | Trail | Season | 3 ml | 10 ml | per ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ombre NomadeLouis Vuitton | Best overall | Geranium, Rose, Saffron | Eternal | Strong | Winter | €21.51 | €57.24 | €5.72 |
| 2 | GuidanceAmouage | Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus, Rose | Eternal | Strong | Autumn | €15.12 | €42.93 | €4.29 | |
| 3 | Guidance 46Amouage | Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus, Rose | Eternal | Strong | Autumn, Winter | €19.17 | €56.43 | €5.64 | |
| 4 | Chloé Eau de ParfumChloé | Lily-of-the-Valley, Magnolia, Rose | Moderate | Moderate | Spring | €9.63 | €28.62 | €2.86 | |
| 5 | Lost CherryTom Ford | Best fruity pick | Jasmine Sambac, Plum, Sour Cherry | Moderate | Moderate | Winter | €21.96 | €73.71 | €7.37 |
| 6 | Pacific ChillLouis Vuitton | Best for summer | Apricot, Basil, Carrot Seeds | Moderate | Moderate | Summer | €18.63 | €50.40 | €5.04 |
| 7 | DelinaParfums de Marly | Musk, Peony, Petalia | Long lasting | Moderate | Spring | €14.85 | €40.05 | €4.01 | |
| 8 | J'adoreDior | Freesia, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley | Moderate | Moderate | Spring | €7.83 | €22.50 | €2.25 | |
| 9 | Mon GuerlainGuerlain | Iris, Jasmine Sambac, Rose | Moderate | Moderate | Autumn, Winter | €8.37 | €25.11 | €2.51 | |
| 10 | Hypnotic PoisonDior | Best sweet pick | Brazilian Rosewood, Caraway, Jasmine | Long lasting | Strong | Winter | €8.37 | €23.85 | €2.39 |
| 11 | Shalimar Eau de ParfumGuerlain | Iris, Jasmine, Patchouli | Long lasting | Strong | Winter | €8.10 | €23.13 | €2.31 | |
| 12 | 1 MillionRabanne | Best value | Cinnamon, Rose, Spicy Notes | Long lasting | Strong | Winter | €6.84 | €18.00 | €1.80 |
Show all 12 picks
Community votes
Rose with oud and frankincense
Oud is a dense, resinous wood, and rose is its oldest partner in perfumery: the flower lifts the wood, and the wood gives the flower weight. Add saffron and frankincense and you get the richest roses in this guide. Our guide to what oud is explains the wood.
Ombre Nomade by Louis Vuitton
- Top notes
- Oud, Raspberry
- Heart notes
- Geranium, Rose, Saffron
- Base notes
- Benzoin, Frankincense
- Time of day
- Night out
Ombre Nomade puts oud and raspberry together in the very first spray, so dark wood and tart berry arrive at once. Rose, saffron and geranium form the heart, and frankincense and benzoin settle underneath as it dries down. Smoky, spiced and deep, it is the most shadowed rose on this list. It launched in 2018 and is presented as unisex. Most community voters rate its longevity eternal. On sillage, most voters choose strong, so go easy with the trigger. Community voters most often pick it for winter nights.
Guidance by Amouage
- Top notes
- Hazelnut, Olibanum, Pear
- Heart notes
- Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus, Rose, Saffron
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Labdanum, Sandalwood, Vanilla
- Time of day
- Night out
Guidance begins with pear, hazelnut and olibanum: soft fruit, a toasted nut and a thin thread of resin. The heart pairs rose with osmanthus, saffron and jasmine sambac, and the base brings sandalwood, akigalawood, ambergris, labdanum and vanilla. Here the rose feels golden and creamy rather than dark. It launched in 2023. On longevity, most community voters choose eternal. Community voters most often pick it for autumn and winter evenings.
Guidance 46 by Amouage
- Top notes
- Bitter Almond, Frankincense, Hazelnut, Pear
- Heart notes
- Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus, Rose, Saffron
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Ambrette, Cypriol, Georgywood
- Time of day
- Evening
Guidance 46 followed in 2024 with the same heart of rose, osmanthus, saffron and jasmine sambac. Its opening adds rose water, bitter almond, pink pepper and frankincense beside the pear and hazelnut, so the rose shows from the first minute. The base widens too, with ambrette, georgywood and cypriol joining sandalwood, vanilla and labdanum. If the first Guidance feels a little sweet to you, this is the woodier, more rose-led version. Community votes on its sillage lean strong, then enormous.
Rose with fruit
Fruit is the quickest way to make rose feel young. A tart note such as litchi or black currant cuts through the petals, while cherry and plum push it towards something richer and more dessert-like.
Chloé Eau de Parfum by Chloé
- Top notes
- Freesia, Litchi, Peony
- Heart notes
- Lily-of-the-Valley, Magnolia, Rose
- Base notes
- Amber, Virginia Cedar
- Time of day
- Daytime
Chloé Eau de Parfum is the lightest of the fruity roses. Litchi, freesia and peony make up the opening, rose, magnolia and lily-of-the-valley the heart, and a short base of amber and Virginia cedar holds it together. Fresh, petal-bright and simple to wear. It launched in 2008. Community voters most often pick it for spring, for day and office wear. Most community voters rate its sillage moderate, which suits a shared desk.
Lost Cherry by Tom Ford
- Top notes
- Bitter Almond, Black Cherry, Cherry Liqueur
- Heart notes
- Jasmine Sambac, Plum, Sour Cherry, Turkish Rose
- Base notes
- Benzoin, Cedar, Cinnamon, Cloves
- Time of day
- Night out
Lost Cherry hides a rose inside a cherry. Black cherry, cherry liqueur and bitter almond open it; sour cherry and plum join Turkish rose and jasmine sambac in the heart; and vanilla, tonka bean, Peru balsam, cinnamon and cloves make a warm, spiced base. The rose plays a supporting role, adding a floral edge to boozy, almond-sweet fruit. It launched in 2018. Community voters most often pick it for winter and autumn. They reach for it at night.
Pacific Chill by Louis Vuitton
- Top notes
- Black Currant, Citron, Coriander, Lemon
- Heart notes
- Apricot, Basil, Carrot Seeds, Rose
- Base notes
- Ambrette (Musk Mallow), Dates, Fig
- Time of day
- Daytime
Pacific Chill is the rose for hot weather. Citron, lemon, orange and mint open it, with black currant and a green lift of coriander. Apricot, basil and carrot seeds circle a quiet rose, and fig, dates and ambrette carry the dry-down. Juicy and cool rather than floral in the traditional sense. It launched in 2023 and is presented as unisex. Community voters most often pick it for summer days.
Rose with musk and peony
Musk gives rose a clean, close-to-the-skin softness, the effect people describe as "fresh laundry" or "warm skin". Peony adds a pink, airy floral note that makes the pair feel lighter still. This is the group to start with if you want rose for the office, and our guide to white musk perfumes goes further into the musk side.
Delina by Parfums de Marly
Delina puts Turkish rose in the centre and surrounds it with peony, musk, petalia and a touch of vanilla. Above it, litchi and rhubarb give the opening a tart pink sparkle, with bergamot and a pinch of nutmeg. Cashmeran, incense, cedar and Haitian vetiver make a soft, woody floor. The house released it in 2017. For longevity, community votes lean long lasting, then moderate. Spring is the season its community voters choose, for the daytime and the evening alike.
J'adore by Dior
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Magnolia, Mandarin Orange, Melon
- Heart notes
- Freesia, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Orchid
- Base notes
- Blackberry, Cedar, Musk, Vanilla
- Time of day
- Daytime
J'adore is a bouquet where rose is one voice among many, sharing the heart with jasmine, tuberose, freesia, violet and orchid. Pear, peach, melon and magnolia make the start juicy, and musk, vanilla and cedar leave a clean, soft trail. Launched in 1999, it reads as polished and made for daylight. Most community voters rate its sillage moderate. Community voters most often pick it for spring days.
Rose with vanilla and sweetness
When vanilla, almond or cacao sits under a rose, the flower loses its sharp green edge and turns round and warm. These are the rose perfumes for people who think they only like sweet scents.
Mon Guerlain by Guerlain
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Lavender
- Heart notes
- Iris, Jasmine Sambac, Rose
- Base notes
- Australian Sandalwood, Benzoin, Coumarin, Licorice
- Time of day
- Daytime
In Mon Guerlain rose is a powdery middle layer between lavender and vanilla. Bergamot and lavender lead; iris and jasmine sambac soften the rose; Tahitian vanilla, coumarin, licorice and Australian sandalwood give the base its glow. It launched in 2017. Most community voters rate its sillage moderate. Its community voters favour the colder months, autumn and winter. They wear it by day, at the office and in the evening alike, which makes it the most flexible rose in this group.
Hypnotic Poison by Dior
- Top notes
- Apricot, Coconut, Plum
- Heart notes
- Brazilian Rosewood, Caraway, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley
- Base notes
- Almond, Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla
- Time of day
- Night out
Hypnotic Poison wraps rose in almond and vanilla. Coconut, plum and apricot open it; a heart of rose, jasmine, tuberose, Brazilian rosewood and caraway follows; and vanilla, almond, sandalwood and musk form the base. You feel the rose more than you smell it: it keeps the sweetness from turning flat. It launched in 1998. Community votes on its sillage lean strong, then moderate. Winter is the season community voters most often pick for it.
Good Girl by Carolina Herrera
Good Girl opens on almond and coffee, brightened by bergamot and lemon. Bulgarian rose sits with tuberose, jasmine sambac, orange blossom and orris, and the base is dense with tonka bean, cacao, praline and vanilla. Dark, sweet and floral at the same time. It launched in 2016. Community voters most often pick it for winter and autumn. After dark is when they wear it.
Angel by Mugler
Angel is here for anyone who wants rose buried deep in sweetness. Cotton candy, pineapple, cassis and melon open it; honey, red berries, plum and peach fill the heart, where rose and orchid sit quietly; and patchouli, chocolate, caramel and vanilla make a heavy base. It launched in 1992. On sillage, community votes lean enormous, then strong, so begin with a single spray.
Rose with spice and leather
Spice warms rose from the inside, and leather gives it grit. These two sit at opposite ends of the calendar from Pacific Chill: both are for cold evenings.
Shalimar Eau de Parfum by Guerlain
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Cedar, Citruses, Lemon
- Heart notes
- Iris, Jasmine, Patchouli, Rose
- Base notes
- Civet, Incense, Leather, Musk
- Time of day
- Night out
In Shalimar Eau de Parfum, rose belongs to a powdery heart with iris, jasmine, vetiver and patchouli. Bergamot, lemon and mandarin orange give it a bright start, but the base is where it lives: vanilla, incense, leather, opoponax, civet and tonka bean. This is rose for people who like a little shadow and a lot of warmth. It launched in 1990. Community votes on its sillage lean strong, then moderate. Community voters most often pick it for winter and autumn.
1 Million by Rabanne
- Top notes
- Blood Mandarin, Grapefruit, Mint
- Heart notes
- Cinnamon, Rose, Spicy Notes
- Base notes
- Amber, Indian Patchouli, Leather, Woody Notes
- Time of day
- Night out
1 Million shows that rose is not reserved for women's perfume. Blood mandarin, grapefruit and mint open it, cinnamon and rose warm the heart, and amber, leather and Indian patchouli finish it. The rose gives the cinnamon a smooth, slightly jammy edge. It is presented as a men's fragrance and launched in 2008. Its longevity votes in the community lean long lasting, then moderate. Cold nights in winter and autumn are when voters most often wear it.
How to wear rose so it feels modern
- Pick the partner, not the flower. If you know you like smoky woods, start with the oud group; if you like fruit, start there. The rose will follow.
- Go lighter by day. The musk and fresh fruit roses suit the office. Save the oud, spice and gourmand roses for the evening, when a richer scent feels right.
- Follow the soft side. If you like the powdery, soapy side of rose, our guide to powdery perfumes collects more, and our guide to the best Jo Malone perfumes shows how one house handles lighter florals.
- Try it in a pair. A clean rose layered under a vanilla, or a fruity one over a woody base, gives you a new rose without buying another bottle. Our perfume layering guide has pairings to try, and if you are weighing a house such as Amouage against a bigger name, niche vs designer perfume explains the difference.
Wear your rose before you buy the bottle
A rose that seems perfect in the first minute can turn soapy, sharp or too sweet an hour later, and you only find that out on your own skin. So choose by partner note, then wear the shortlist for real.
- Choose one rose from each of two or three groups. Oud, fruit and musk make a good first set because they sit furthest apart. Each 3ml gives you around 60 sprays, so every rose gets a proper week on your skin.
- Judge it at the dry-down. Rose changes most once the opening has faded, so decide in the afternoon, not at the first spray.
- Move to a bigger decant when one rose wins. Around 200 sprays in a 10ml decant covers weeks of daily wear. Around 600 in a 30ml decant is for the rose you keep coming back to, and it is the best value per ml.
Buying scent online for the first time? Reading a note list gets easier with our guide to choosing perfume without smelling it, and the women's perfume page gathers more floral options. For a sense of how far a small bottle goes, see how long a 10ml perfume lasts.
The bigger picture: Chypre perfume and the other fragrance families, explained.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best rose perfume?
- It depends on the note you like beside the rose. Rose with oud, such as Ombre Nomade, is dark and smoky; rose with fruit, such as Chloé Eau de Parfum or Lost Cherry, is brighter; rose with musk, such as Delina, is soft and clean; and rose with vanilla, such as Mon Guerlain, is warm and sweet. Choose the partner first, then the perfume.
- What is the best rose perfume for women?
- Delina, Chloé Eau de Parfum, J'adore, Mon Guerlain and Guidance are all presented as women's perfumes with rose in the heart. Delina and Chloé are the fresher, daytime choices, while Guidance and Mon Guerlain are warmer and suit autumn and winter.
- How do I find a rose perfume that does not smell old-fashioned?
- Look at the note that sits beside the rose. Rose with heavy powder and soap is the pairing most people think of as dated. Rose with fruit such as litchi or black currant, with musk, or with oud and saffron reads far more modern.
- Is rose perfume only for women?
- No. Ombre Nomade and Pacific Chill are presented as unisex, and 1 Million, a men's fragrance, has rose in its heart beside cinnamon. Rose works in any perfume; its partner notes decide whether it reads soft or bold.
- How can I try rose perfumes without buying a full bottle?
- Wear them as small decants filled from the original bottle. Each 3ml gives around 60 sprays, a proper week of wear; a 10ml decant holds around 200; and a 30ml decant around 600, for the rose you already know you love.
- What roses are used in perfume?
- Mostly two kinds: the Damask rose, grown above all in Bulgaria and Turkey and sold as Bulgarian or Turkish rose, and the Centifolia or May rose, grown in Morocco, Egypt and France, notably around Grasse. Perfumers also build rose notes from the molecules that give rose its scent, such as citronellol, geraniol and phenylethyl alcohol. In this guide, Delina and Lost Cherry list Turkish rose, and Good Girl lists Bulgarian rose.
Wear it for a week, not ten seconds.
Designer and niche fragrances in 10ml decants, so you can live with a scent before you commit.
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