Rose in perfume: what it smells like and which FAAN bottles use it

Rose is one of the oldest perfume notes, and also one of the most misunderstood. Many people think it must smell old-fashioned or floral-soapy. In this range it mostly doesn't. Here is what the note is, and where it sits in our bottles.

What rose smells like, and what it does not

A good rose note smells like petals that are still on the flower: fresh, a little green, with a hint of honey or tea. Deeper rose, such as damask rose, is richer and more jam-like. A touch of pepper often shows through.

It does not smell like rose water from a bottle, and it is a different thing from powder. The powdery, lipstick feel people dislike usually comes from violet or iris. Rose is also not tied to gender. Paired with saffron, incense or oud, it is a classic in Middle Eastern style perfumery, and it reads warm and resinous rather than sweet.

How perfumers use rose: top, heart or base

Rose most often sits in the heart, because it has body and lasts a few hours. A rose can also sparkle in the top for a short time. It is rare in the base, where heavier materials do the work. As a heart note it links the bright opening to the dark finish.

Rose in the FAAN range

Four bottles list rose, all in the heart:

• Amjad Honour: rose with patchouli, saffron, orange blossom and geranium. Extrait, projection 4 out of 5.
• Qasida Bakhour: rose with violet, incense and tonka. Eau de Parfum, projection 4 out of 5.
• Qasida Senses: damask rose with bourbon vanilla, iris, coconut, peony and lily of the valley. Eau de Parfum, projection 3 out of 5.
• Amjad Mystery: rose with saffron, Sambac jasmine and osmanthus. Extrait, projection 3 out of 5.

What rose is paired with in these pyramids

• Saffron (Honour, Mystery) pushes rose towards warm, leathery spice.
• Incense and violet (Bakhour) make a smoky, slightly powdery rose.
• Vanilla, coconut, iris and peony (Senses) make a soft, sweet, almost creamy rose.
• Sambac jasmine and osmanthus (Mystery) add a fruity, apricot-like edge, and the tagline calls the rose smoky.

Same note, four different moods. That is why one rose bottle can feel nothing like another.

Wearing advice: season, sprays and who tends to like it

Honour, Bakhour and Mystery are listed for autumn and winter, for evenings and special occasions or date nights. Senses is listed for spring and summer and for daily wear and evenings. The Extraits need less: two sprays of Honour or Mystery is already noticeable. For the Eau de Parfum bottles, three or four.

People who like warm florals, resin or spice usually enjoy these. If you dislike any floral note, start with a paper strip. Also remember that rose in perfume smells different from the flower, so a dislike of one does not rule out the other.

If you like rose, start with Amjad Honour

Honour is one of our best sellers, and its rose is wrapped in saffron and patchouli, so it never turns sugary. Read the Amjad Honour review for the full walk. If you want the rose sweeter and lighter, Senses is the one. If you want it smoky and nutty, Mystery. See the saffron guide and the frankincense guide for the notes that change it most, or see all FAAN perfumes. For help choosing, try which FAAN perfume to choose.

FAQ

Is rose a feminine note?

Not in this range. Honour, Bakhour and Mystery are listed unisex, and rose sits beside saffron, incense and woods.

Which FAAN bottle has the most rose?

The product pages do not rank notes by amount. Mystery calls itself smoky rose in its tagline, and Senses lists damask rose, but Honour is the one we suggest first.

What if a bottle is sold out?

Ask to be notified on the product page. Orders take 3 to 6 working days in the Netherlands and 5 to 8 working days in the rest of the EU.

Related reading

• Saffron in perfume: what it smells like and which FAAN bottles use it
• FAAN Amjad Honour review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• Frankincense in perfume: what it smells like and which FAAN bottles use it