Much like any other olfactory note that has achieved widespread mainstream popularity—hello, vanilla—rose perfumes are often unfairly maligned. Hamstrung by its own likeability and familiarity, rose fragrances tend to be dismissed as crowd pleasers, generic, old lady-esque, or, the ultimate modern insult — basic. There’s often also a certain sense of olfactory contrarianism at play, with it being perceived as interesting (edgy, even) to disparage rose perfumes and the somewhat feminine, delicate connotations they may carry. Contemporary perfumers have responded by creating perfumes that see rose demoted down the olfactory note hierarchy, concealing it within a melange of other notes or using its almost universal likeability to temper more avant-garde notes.
But some things are popular for a reason. Your grandmother wears rose perfume — so what? Cleopatra scented herself with rose petals while seducing Mark Antony; Princess Diana wore Cartier So Pretty, a heady luxurious bouquet with rose at its heart; Sophia Loren favoured Emanuel Ungaro’s unabashedly rosey Diva; and Rihanna has long worn rose scents, both in her former favourite By Killian Love, Don’t Be Shy and in her own Fenty Eau de Parfum. Oh, and for what it’s worth, my grandmother is pretty cool too.
We’re hesitant to say rose perfumes are back, for the simple reason that they never really left. However, there’s no denying that rose notes are once again stepping out of the shadows and reclaiming their rightful place at the heart of the action — and on the label. From Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose and Diptique’s Eau Rose to Tom Ford’s Rose Exposed and Jo Malone London’s Taif Rose, the newest crop of rose fragrances want you to know the note is in there.
The best rose perfumes in 2025
From classic to atypical with nary a powdery rose bomb in sight, these are the best contemporary rose perfumes to try.
1. Jo Malone London Taif Rose
There’s something truly addictive about a coffee and rose pairing. A rose perfume for gourmand lovers, jammy, Turkish delight-style Taif rose—found at the foothills of the Arabian mountains—adds a vibrant sense of exoticism to a heady pairing of coffee and amber. While oud isn’t listed as an olfactory note, the combination of coffee and amber result in a heady, warm base with a richness that’s reminiscent of oud. While longevity is a common issue with Jo Malone London fragrances, we’re happy to report that Taif Rose lasts the distance (and can be smelt on your clothes the morning after).
Price: $245AUD
Brand: Jo Malone London
Olfactory family: Oriental Floral
Scent notes: rose, amber, coffee
2. Tom Ford Rose Exposed
Rose with an edge. Rose perfumes can often lean dainty, but Tom Ford Rose Exposed subverts this through the addition of pepper and leather. The rose here is nuanced; not just the petals but the green stems too, thorns and all. On the opening, the rose notes are green, spicy, and slightly sharp — a marked deviation from the traditional Turkish delight or rosewater approach to rose notes. Dark leather quickly comes through, dominating the rose and adding intensity and grit. A rose that’s sexy, not pretty.
Price: $410AUD
Brand: Tom Ford
Olfactory family: Floral Woody Musk
Scent notes: rose, white pepper, black leather accord, cashmeran
3. Parfums de Marly Delina
One of the prettiest rose perfumes on the market, Parfums de Marly Delina is an unabashedly rosey rose. Tart lychee, bergamot, and rhubarb contribute to a bright opening that caresses a Turkish delight-style rose and vanilla, underscored by delicate skin musks, blonde woods, and the faintest hint of earthy vetiver. The rose here is light and fresh rather than jammy and opulent, resulting in a hyperfeminine fragrance befitting of its positively princessy bottle.
Price: $529AUD
Brand: Parfums de Marly
Olfactory family: Floral
Scent notes: rhubarb, lychee, bergamot, rose, vanilla, cashmeran, musk, vetiver
4. Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose
In a way, Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose and Parfums de Marly Delina are like sisters. If Parfums de Marly Delina is the younger, bubbly, carefree sister, Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose is the eldest daughter who will one day become queen. Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose looks to the quintessential English rose—the Tudor rose—and is inspired by the union of the houses York and Lancaster. This rose perfume is airy, delicate, and a touch aloof; it sees rose paired with hazelnut leaf, which adds a creamy, nuttiness to the otherwise fresh English rose. There’s nuance to the rose here, with multiple forms of rose (may rose and rose oil) creating wafts of rosewater and a slightly powdery rose in equal measure. The rose notes last into the drydown, where they meet with wood and vetiver, which extend the longevity of the scent, while allowing it to retain its delicate quality.
Price: $380AUD
Brand: Penhaligon’s
Olfactory family: Floral Woody Musk
Scent notes: hazelnut, tangerine, almond, cinnamon, rose, blackcurrant, red lily, geranium, plum, musk, violet, vetiver, orris
5. Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin
Cold, dark, metallic, and elegant, this is a rose perfume for the gothic girls (and guys). An almost juicy, jammy rose is contrasted by the astringency of thorny green stems, with cool, metallic undertones. Notes of honey, moss, and patchouli contribute to a slightly sweet, damp, earthy scent — like laying flowers on your former lover’s grave just after midnight.
Price: $234AUD
Brand: Serge Lutens
Olfactory family: Oriental Floral
Scent notes: rose, geranium, palmarosa, honey, moss, patchouli
6. Dries van Noten Rosa Carnivora
On a sugar-free diet? Dries van Noten Rosa Carnivora is rose without the sweetness. A decidedly contemporary rose perfume, it dispenses with the notion that roses are inherently romantic. In Rosa Carnivora, the rose is raw, and still partially submerged in the earth — there’s an odd spiciness reminiscent of pepper and anise, underscored by a damp soil, that comes from the vetiver and patchouli.
Price: $520AUD
Brand: Dries van Noten
Olfactory family: Floral
Scent notes: rose, pink pepper, vetiver, florals, patchouli, cistus
7. Creed Eladaria
We lied. This is a powdery rose perfume. And we love it. Contemporary yet nostalgic, Creed Eladaria starts out soft and dewy, with mandarin and pink pepper lending freshness and a hint of zest. It swiftly evolves into a soft powdery, musky scent, with notes of lily of the valley and vanilla coming through. Groundbreaking? No. But very pretty and wearable nonetheless.
Price: $489AUD
Brand: Creed
Olfactory family: Floral
Scent notes: mandarin, bergamot, pink pepper, rose, peony, lily of the valley, powdery notes, musk, vanilla, ambroxan, cashmere wood
8. Kayali Oudgasm Rose Oud
A beautifully rich rose fragrance, Kayali Oudgasm Rose Oud recalls the heady aromas of a Middle Eastern market. Fresh rose is paired with very soft juicy pear and bright lemon notes, which are quickly overtaken by dark, rich oud. Rose and oud is a combination that’s been done several times before, but there’s a reason for that — it works. Dark, opulent, and rich, it’s an intoxicating take on rose.
Price: $251AUD
Brand: Kayali
Olfactory family: Floral Woody
Scent notes: pear, lemon, geranium, rose, peony, vanilla, cashmere wood, oud
9. Ouai Melrose Place
Fresh, floral, and a little fruity, Ouai Melrose Place is a rose fragrance for lovers of the clean girl aesthetic. Sparkling champagne, bergamot, rose, berries, and lychee combine to create a bright, slightly soapy rose scent that evokes that fresh-out-of-the-shower feeling. It doesn’t evolve much on the skin and leans young, but that’s what makes it so wearable.
Price: $108AUD
Brand: Ouai
Olfactory family: Floral Woody Musk
Scent notes: champagne, pink peppercorn, berry, lychee, peony, rose, freesia, jasmine, bergamot, amber, sandalwood, white musk, cedarwood
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