Rose Perfumes: A Guide to the Roses Used in Perfumes

Article Published: 05 April 2023

Explore rose perfumes & the fragrance used in perfumes. Learn the notes to layer with rose and why rose centifolia is one of the best roses in perfumes.

The rose is one of the most classic and timeless flowers dating back to the Middle Ages in Europe – it has been a symbol of exquisite femininity, splendor, and passion – often immortalized through various forms of art and seen as a symbol of romance. The rose was the first symbol of Lancôme and now the rose is intimately linked to Lancôme – as Lancôme is to the rose. Our founder Armand Petitjean labeled the rose as his favorite flower and was a source of inspiration that never left him – as such the iconic flower was at the very core of 2 of the 5 original fragrances that Lancôme launched with and continues to be an icon of our products to this day.

In 1973, Georges Delbard a world-famous horticulturist and rose breeder developed a new variety of rose for Lancôme. The Delbard family has been cultivating roses since 1935 and the beautiful Maison Delbard roses are bred by hand-pollinating thousands of seeds and undergoing a thorough selection process to release only a handful of new varieties to the market each year.

Lancôme’s iconic rose is a unique variety: an elegant long-stemmed fuchsia beauty with a cylindrical bud and up to 40 thick, shiny petals on each bloom. It is a robust, adaptable rose but visual and sensory beauty is not its only asset.

What does rose smell like in perfume?

The rose is appreciated in perfumery for its rich and sensual olfactive profile, with more or less sweet notes. Rose can easily be associated with other notes and layered in among other florals, spicy notes, and warm bases of vanilla or musk — It has the specificity of being very versatile and allows all possible combinations. Used in overdose or with finesse, rose is very faceted and brings an elegant floral tone to any fragrance.

The rose can also be modern and fresh, although a classic flower, it can show up as fresh and modern when paired with certain notes – especially when layered with earthy greens or zesty fruits.

What are the different types of roses used in perfumes?

For our Lancome perfumes we focus on the Rose Centifolia to give our perfumes a beautiful rose scent. Our iconic roses used are the Rose Centifolia Absolute from Domaine de la Rose, Rose Centifolia Absolute from Grasse, and Isparta Rose from Isparta.

Small, round, pink and full of petals (each flower contains over 100 rose petals) the Centifolia Rose is sometimes called the “may rose” – it is picked at this time of the year, during its period of its full bloom to ensure the intensity of the rose scent.

Synthetic Rose Scents

With the development of synthetic rose scents – fewer than 50 dedicated rose farms remain.

Lancôme focuses its perfumes on the rose centifolia and for good reason.

The Centifolia Rose is a pure rose that’s scent simply cannot be recreated – there is no equivalent.

Centifolia Rose is the highest quality of roses in existence. Sensual, faceted and intensely floral, this rose embodies the elegance of timeless femininity. Rose centifolia is a rare and complex scent due to its olfactive profile – and the Rose Centifolia is made of more than 300 molecules, many of which are impossible to copy.

Lancôme: The Roses Used in Perfumes

Rose Centifolia Absolute from Domaine de la Rose

Our rose from the Domaine de la Rose brings out the fresh petally floral facets of the rose compared to the damascena, spicier and more animalic. The rose scent offers a slightly fruity accord with facets of pear, almost creating a slightly tea-like rose scent with complexity and elegance. In comparison to a traditional rose centifolia it’s more vibrant than the classic rose petal notes thanks to its subtle fruity accord.

Rose Centifolia Absolute from Grasse

The rose centifolia absolute from Grasse used in our perfumes is a rose with depth and complexity. The rose brings the rich and sensual notes of a voluptuous bouquet of roses. Deeply floral, this rose embodies the elegance of timeless femininity. The rose centifolia helps bring roundness and sensuality to a perfume. Its effect is more powdery with a slight sweetness of honey for a sensual accord.

Isparta Rose Petals from Isparta

Our Isparta Rose Petal Essence was crafted exclusively for Lancôme – and sourced in the cradle of rose cultivation in Turkey. The carefully crafted rose accord intensifies the refreshing facets of the classic rose – but with an interesting warmth. As this rose blooms in the warmth of the Turkish sun – surrounded by lakes and sunshine, the essence of Isparta Rose radiates a velvety aroma as their soft warm petals are sensually heated by the sun. The rose petals from Isparta which feature in our fragrance Idôle support this family-based industry of roses in Turkey by helping to improve agricultural practices and work conditions.

Our Rose Perfumes

Our Iconic Idôle perfume collection is centered around the rose and features as a note in each perfume. Our Idôle line of perfumes is centered around the rose. For a total immersive rose experience which is both verdant and tender, fresh and voluptuous our Idôle features four exceptional rose accords: two essences, an absolute and a rose water come together to form the heart of Idôle for a beautiful rose scent.

Idôle Original — our original scent which features the rose at its heart. With four different roses – our Idôle scent is the queen of roses. Like a kaleidoscope of roses modern, radiant and youthful roses are layered with jasmine for a unique rose perfume with a hint of freshness as white musk and vanilla sit at the base to create a clean floral fragrance. Wear it as your everyday scent: clean, confident — Idôle is for women who are daring, pursuing new horizons and paving a new path.

Idôle Nectar — our decadent, sweet and delicious Idôle nectar contains what we call a “rose soufflé” with a faceted bouquet of roses. The scent features the signature Idôle rose perfume blend with hand harvested Isparta Rose, Centifolia Roses from Grasse in addition to Rosewater and Rose absolue extract. These rose perfume notes are layered with a caramel popcorn accord and bourbon vanilla for a decadent, irresistible, and perfectly balanced sweet floral perfume. Wear it for a burst of energy – on those days you wish to feel fun, spontaneous, and unique.

Idôle Aura — our energizing and comforting scent and features a trio of rose scents: notes of Damascena Rose from Isparta, Centifolia Rose from Grasse, and Lancôme’s Rose Absolue. The essence of our iconic roses are layered with fresh jasmine and warm salted vanilla for a sun-kissed floral fragrance – wear it when you want to feel warm, open, and be reminded of a warm summer day (at any time of the year)

Shop rose perfumes.