Fragrance note guide

What Does Rose Smell Like in Perfume?

Rose in perfume usually smells floral, fresh and softly sweet, but it can also have green, fruity, honeyed or spicy sides. Some rose notes feel light and dewy, while others are rich, warm and velvety. The result depends on the type of rose, the extraction method and the other notes around it.

Fresh pink and cream roses with green leaves

What Does Rose Smell Like?

Rose is more complex than a simple sweet flower smell. Natural rose materials can contain fresh petal notes, touches of fruit, soft spice, honey and green stems. Rose absolute often feels deeper and warmer, while rose oil can seem fresher and more lifted. Perfumers may also build rose accords from several fragrance materials to create a cleaner, darker or more modern effect.

Where Does Rose Come From?

Several types of rose are used in perfumery, especially Damask rose, Rosa damascena, and Centifolia rose, Rosa centifolia. Rose oil is commonly produced through steam distillation, while rose absolute is made through solvent extraction and further purification. These methods capture different parts of the flower’s character.

How Rose Is Usually Described

  • Floral
  • Fresh
  • Sweet
  • Green
  • Fruity
  • Softly spicy

How Is Rose Used in Perfume?

Rose is usually placed in the heart of a fragrance, although brighter rose materials can also influence the opening. It blends naturally with jasmine, citrus, spices, patchouli, woods, amber, oud and musk. A small amount can add softness and body, while a stronger amount can make rose the main feature of the perfume.

Notes Commonly Paired With Rose

White jasmine flowers and green leaves against a soft blue green background
Fragrance note

Jasmine

Jasmine in perfume usually smells rich, sweet and floral. It can also seem creamy, green, fruity or slightly spicy, depending on the type of jasmine and the other...

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Whole almonds, cracked shells and white almond blossoms on a light pale blue background
Fragrance note

Almond

Almond in perfume usually smells sweet, nutty and slightly creamy, with a marzipan-like character. It can also have bitter, powdery or cherry-like sides, especially when the accord is...

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Golden labdanum and benzoin resins used in amber perfume accords
Fragrance note

Amber

Amber in perfume usually smells warm, sweet and resinous, with soft vanilla, balsamic, powdery or slightly smoky sides. It is not normally taken from fossilised amber. In perfumery,...

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Open ambrette seed pods, dark seeds, green leaf and pale yellow flower on an apricot-grey background
Fragrance note

Ambrette

Ambrette in perfume usually smells soft, musky and slightly fruity, with floral, powdery, nutty and sometimes cognac-like sides. It is a plant-derived musk rather than an animal musk....

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Fresh green and red apples, one sliced in half, with leaves on a light sky grey background
Fragrance note

Apple

Apple in perfume usually smells crisp, juicy and fresh, with green, sweet and slightly tart sides. Green apple accords tend to feel sharper and more energetic, while red...

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Ripe golden apricots, one sliced fruit and green leaves on a pale pistachio background
Fragrance note

Apricot

Apricot in perfume usually smells soft, fruity and velvety, with sweet, tart, creamy and sometimes lightly leathery sides. It is generally less juicy than peach and can feel...

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Golden benzoin resin pieces with natural tree bark and green leaves on a light dusty blue background
Fragrance note

Benzoin

Benzoin in perfume usually smells sweet, warm and balsamic, with vanilla-like, creamy, powdery and slightly resinous sides. It can also suggest caramel, cinnamon or warm cereal depending on...

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Fresh bergamot oranges with glossy green leaves
Fragrance note

Bergamot

Bergamot in perfume smells fresh, bright and citrusy, with a soft floral character and a slightly bitter green edge. It is less sharp than lemon and often feels...

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Ripe blackberries with green leaves, thorny stems and a pale flower on a sage-grey background
Fragrance note

Blackberry

Blackberry in perfume usually smells dark, juicy and tart, with sweet, green, wine-like and softly woody sides. It is generally deeper and less sharp than blackcurrant. Some blackberry...

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Ripe blackcurrants with green leaves and unopened buds on a pale sage background
Fragrance note

Blackcurrant

Blackcurrant in perfume usually smells dark, tart and juicy, with green, leafy and slightly sharp sides. It can suggest ripe berries, crushed leaves or a rich fruit syrup,...

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Green cardamom pods, opened pods and dark seeds on a light pale peach background
Fragrance note

Cardamom

Cardamom in perfume usually smells fresh, green and spicy, with citrusy, aromatic, woody and slightly cooling sides. It is lighter and fresher than many warm spices, so it...

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Pale wood, soft natural fibres and warm amber-toned stones representing the character of Cashmeran
Fragrance note

Cashmeran

Cashmeran in perfume usually smells warm, woody and musky, with spicy, powdery, amber-like and slightly earthy sides. It may also show soft animalic, fruity or pine-like qualities. Cashmeran...

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Pale wood, soft fibres and amber-toned stones representing the warm character of cashmere wood
Fragrance note

Cashmere Wood

Cashmere wood in perfume usually smells soft, warm and woody, with musky, ambery, spicy and velvety sides. It is not a natural tree or one fixed ingredient. The...

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Deep red and dark cherries, one sliced to show the stone, with green leaves on a pale mint-blue background
Fragrance note

Cherry

Cherry in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and fruity, with tart, almond-like and sometimes liqueur-like sides. A bright cherry note can feel fresh and playful, while black cherry...

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Cinnamon sticks, curled bark and green cinnamon leaves on a light pale lilac background
Fragrance note

Cinnamon

Cinnamon in perfume usually smells warm, sweet and spicy, with dry, woody and sometimes slightly hot sides. It can feel comforting and smooth in one fragrance but sharper...

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Sliced lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime and bergamot with green leaves on a pale sky-blue background
Fragrance note

Citrus

Citrus in perfume usually smells bright, fresh and zesty, with juicy, bitter, green and peel-like sides. The term does not describe one fruit because lemon, bergamot, orange, mandarin,...

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Fresh clary sage with textured green leaves and pale lilac flowers on a warm grey-blue background
Fragrance note

Clary Sage

Clary sage in perfume usually smells herbal, aromatic and floral, with lavender-like, hay, tea, amber and softly tobacco-like sides. It is smoother and warmer than ordinary culinary sage....

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Dried clove buds beside glossy green leaves and unopened clove flower buds on a pale yellow-grey background
Fragrance note

Clove

Clove in perfume usually smells warm, sweet and spicy, with woody, powdery, smoky and slightly medicinal sides. It is sharper and more intense than cinnamon, with a recognisable...

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Coriander plant with white flowers, green leaves and dried seeds on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Coriander

Coriander in perfume usually smells aromatic, spicy and lightly citrusy, with floral, peppery, woody and softly sweet sides. The perfume material normally associated with this character comes from...

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Cumin plant with fine leaves, white flowers and dried seeds on a muted lavender background
Fragrance note

Cumin

Cumin in perfume usually smells warm, dry and spicy, with earthy, herbal and softly animalic sides. In small amounts, it can add realistic warmth and depth without smelling...

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White, yellow and pale lilac freesia flowers on a light sky grey background
Fragrance note

Freesia

Freesia in perfume usually smells fresh, airy and softly floral, with green, citrusy and slightly peppery sides. It is lighter and more transparent than rich white flowers such...

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Pear, peach, berries, plum and pineapple representing fruity notes in perfume
Fragrance note

Fruity Notes

Fruity notes in perfume can smell juicy, sweet, tart, green, creamy or syrupy depending on the fruits being represented. The term is a broad category rather than one...

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Fresh ginger roots, one sliced, with green leaves on a pale lavender-blue background
Fragrance note

Ginger

Ginger in perfume usually smells fresh, spicy and zesty, with lemon-like, woody, earthy and slightly peppery sides. It feels lively and sparkling rather than simply hot. Fresh ginger...

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Guaiac wood, bark and lightly charred fragments on a pale warm grey background
Fragrance note

Guaiac Wood

Guaiac wood in perfume usually smells smoky, warm and woody, with balsamic, rosy, tea-like and softly creamy sides. Its smoke is generally smoother and less tarry than birch....

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Translucent petals, jasmine and lemon peel representing the airy floral character of Hedione
Fragrance note

Hedione

Hedione smells airy, transparent and floral, with jasmine-like, citrus and softly green qualities. It is a laboratory-created fragrance molecule rather than a flower or plant extract. Hedione may...

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Golden nectar-like droplets and white flowers representing the warm floral character of a honey perfume accord
Fragrance note

Honey

Honey in perfume usually smells sweet, warm and golden, with floral, waxy, balsamic and softly animalic sides. It may feel light and nectar-like or darker, richer and almost...

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Cream and pale yellow honeysuckle flowers with green leaves on a dusty lilac background
Fragrance note

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle in perfume usually smells sweet, floral and nectar-like, with jasmine, honeyed, green and softly creamy sides. It can feel like warm evening flowers with a fresh leafy...

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Pale blue and purple hyacinth flowers with green leaves on a warm peach-grey background
Fragrance note

Hyacinth

Hyacinth in perfume usually smells fresh, green and floral, with watery, earthy, slightly spicy and dewy sides. It has more leafy sharpness than many soft spring flowers. Some...

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Pale frankincense resin pieces with Boswellia tree bark and green leaves on a pale lavender-grey background
Fragrance note

Incense

Incense in perfume usually smells resinous, smoky and woody, with warm amber, dry spice and sometimes fresh citrus or mineral sides. It does not always smell like thick...

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Purple iris flowers, green leaves and iris rhizomes on a light warm grey background
Fragrance note

Iris

Iris in perfume usually smells powdery, soft and floral, with woody, earthy, violet-like and sometimes buttery sides. The perfume material does not normally come from the fresh iris...

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Natural smooth leather, grained leather and suede textures on a light cool-stone background
Fragrance note

Leather

Leather in perfume usually smells dry, warm and slightly smoky, with woody, animalic, tarry or soft suede like sides. It does not normally come from untreated animal hide...

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Pale purple and white lilac flowers with green leaves on a pale yellow-grey background
Fragrance note

Lilac

Lilac in perfume usually smells fresh, floral and powdery, with green, dewy, almond-like and softly sweet sides. It can suggest cool spring air and clusters of pale purple...

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White lily-of-the-valley flowers with broad green leaves on a light misty aqua background
Fragrance note

Lily-of-the-Valley

Lily-of-the-valley in perfume usually smells fresh, clean and green, with watery, dewy and softly sweet floral sides. It can suggest small white spring flowers, cool air and fresh...

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Ripe pink lychees, one peeled open, with green leaves on a pale mint-grey background
Fragrance note

Lychee

Lychee in perfume usually smells juicy, floral and tropical, with rosy, watery, sweet and slightly tart sides. It can suggest translucent white fruit, rosewater and fresh tropical juice....

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Ivory magnolia flower and bud with deep green leaves on a pale pistachio-grey background
Fragrance note

Magnolia

Magnolia in perfume usually smells fresh, floral and softly creamy, with green, fruity, citrus-like and lightly spicy sides. It is often more transparent than tuberose and less indolic...

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White marshmallows with vanilla pods and pale petals on a lavender-grey background
Fragrance note

Marshmallow

Marshmallow in perfume usually smells soft, sweet and powdery, with vanilla, sugary, creamy and fluffy sides. The perfume note normally represents the confection rather than the natural marsh-mallow...

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Ambrette seed pods and white flowers representing soft musk notes
Fragrance note

Musk

Musk in perfume can smell soft, warm, clean and slightly powdery, often with a smooth quality that is compared with fresh skin or clean fabric. Some musk notes...

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Natural myrrh resin pieces and a leafy myrrh branch on a dusty blue background
Fragrance note

Myrrh

Myrrh in perfume usually smells warm, resinous and balsamic, with smoky, earthy, liquorice-like and softly sweet sides. Some myrrh materials feel dark and medicinal, while others are smoother,...

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Whole nutmeg seeds, an open nutmeg fruit with red mace and green leaves on a pale mint-grey background
Fragrance note

Nutmeg

Nutmeg in perfume usually smells warm, dry and gently spicy, with woody, aromatic, sweet and slightly earthy sides. It is generally softer and rounder than black pepper and...

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Natural oakmoss lichen on weathered oak branches against a light warm-grey background
Fragrance note

Oakmoss

Oakmoss in perfume usually smells earthy, green and woody, with damp, mossy, slightly salty, leathery or forest like sides. It can create the impression of shaded woodland, wet...

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White bitter orange blossoms, glossy green leaves and flower buds on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Orange Blossom

Orange blossom in perfume usually smells rich, white floral and softly sweet, with citrusy, honeyed, green and slightly creamy sides. It can feel bright and fresh in one...

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Pale purple orchid flower with unopened buds and green leaves on a warm grey background
Fragrance note

Orchid

Orchid in perfume usually smells creamy, floral and softly sweet, although there is no single natural orchid smell. Different orchid species can smell fruity, spicy, green, powdery, vanilla-like...

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Dried iris rhizomes with pale purple petals and green leaves on a peach-grey background
Fragrance note

Orris

Orris in perfume usually smells powdery, floral and woody, with violet, buttery, earthy and velvety sides. It comes from iris rhizomes rather than the fresh iris flower. Natural...

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Dark agarwood chips with natural resinous streaks
Fragrance note

Oud

Oud in perfume usually smells dark, woody and resinous, with smoky, leathery, sweet or animalic sides. Some oud notes feel dry and medicinal, while others are smooth, warm...

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Fresh green patchouli leaves and natural stems
Fragrance note

Patchouli

Patchouli in perfume usually smells earthy, woody and deep, with herbal, slightly sweet and sometimes camphor like sides. It can feel dark and damp in one fragrance but...

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Ripe peaches, one sliced in half, with green leaves on a light pale lavender background
Fragrance note

Peach

Peach in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and fruity, with a soft velvety or creamy texture. Some peach notes feel fresh and slightly green, while others are richer,...

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Fresh green pears, one sliced in half, with glossy leaves on a light dusty pink background
Fragrance note

Pear

Pear in perfume usually smells juicy, fresh and softly sweet, with crisp green, watery and sometimes slightly floral sides. Some pear notes feel like a firm green pear,...

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Black peppercorns on a green pepper vine with fresh leaves on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Pepper

Pepper in perfume usually smells dry, fresh and spicy, with aromatic, citrus-like and woody sides. It can create a lively tingling sensation without necessarily smelling hot like food....

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Fresh pineapple partly sliced with green leaves on a soft aqua background
Fragrance note

Pineapple

Pineapple in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and tropical, with tart, green and lightly creamy sides. Some pineapple accords are bright and freshly cut, while others feel riper,...

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Pink peppercorn clusters, loose berries and green leaves on a light mist-blue background
Fragrance note

Pink Pepper

Pink pepper in perfume usually smells fresh, sparkling and gently spicy, with rosy, fruity, citrusy and slightly woody sides. It feels brighter and softer than black pepper and...

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Luxaro Perfumes With Rose as a Heart Note

These fragrances reveal Rose through the central body of the scent.

Related Fragrance Notes

Rose geranium with textured green leaves and small pale pink flowers on an apricot-grey background
Fragrance note

Geranium

Geranium in perfume usually smells rosy, green and aromatic, with minty, leafy, herbal and lightly fruity sides. It resembles rose but generally feels sharper, fresher and more strongly...

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Pale pink and white peony flowers with green leaves and stems on a light misty sage background
Fragrance note

Peony

Peony in perfume usually smells fresh, airy and softly rosy, with green, watery and lightly fruity sides. It is normally cleaner and more transparent than a rich rose...

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Pink rose petals and translucent petals representing the floral character of Petalia
Fragrance note

Petalia

Petalia smells fresh, rosy and petal-like, with soft floral, fruity, airy and slightly green sides. It is a proprietary laboratory-created fragrance material rather than a natural flower extract....

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Accords and Fragrance Families Connected to Rose

Rose, jasmine, peony, tuberose and orange blossom representing a floral accord in perfume
Fragrance accord

Floral

A floral accord can smell fresh, green, airy, powdery, creamy, sweet or intensely rich depending on the flowers and materials used. Rose may add a fresh, fruity or...

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Jasmine, rose, tuberose, orange blossom, vanilla and warm resins representing the Floral & Warm fragrance family
Fragrance family

Floral & Warm

Floral & Warm fragrances typically smell floral first or have a clearly noticeable floral character, with a softer and deeper background that prevents the scent from feeling purely...

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