Trust: These Aren't Your Grandma's Rose Perfumes

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Like a bold red lip or your fave little black dress, there's something undeniably classy about rose perfume. While it often gets a bad rap for being old-fashioned, this timeless floral note is legit always in style—and I promise there's a scent out there for you, whther you're a rose lover or rose skeptic.

The key to rocking rose without smelling like ~grandma~ (ILY, grandma!) is finding a fragrance with just a *hint* of brightness. Whether it's a lil' twist of lemon, a sprinkle of rose water, or a subtle whiff of green herbs, the best rose perfumes will have a fresh element that keeps them from feeling too stuffy. And as a self-proclaimed rose enthusiast, I've made it my mission to find the perfect rose fragrance for every nose (seriously, it smelled like a department store exploded at my desk).

This list of editor-tested rose perfumes range from simple soliflores (AKA only one floral note) to complex bouquets, and they cover every scent family imaginable from zesty citrus and powdery musk to smoky oud and cozy vanilla. Even better, I found plenty of perfumes for under $100—including top brands like Jo Malone, Snif, and Bella Hadid's new fragrance line, Orebella—so you won't have to splurge to shop these gorge rose scents.

Ahead, stop and smell the roses—starting at just $22.

Rose de Grasse Rouge Eau de Parfum

I've sampled more than my fair share of rose perfumes over the years, and Aerin's Rose de Grasse Rouge definitely stands out as the best, IMHO. While it's deceptively fruity at first spray (I detect notes of pear even though it's not listed), it dries down into the most stunning, true rose scent that lasts upwards of six hours on my skin. The addition of honeycomb isn't overly sweet, but the subtle sensuality makes this perfume work for day-to-night and year-round wear—which, honestly, is the dream.

• Key notes: Red rose, rose water, honeycomb, violet leaves, musk

• Sizes: 1.7 fl oz for $205

Glowing customer review: "This perfume really captures the essence of the rose: hot, fresh, and simple. It's uplifting, clean, and long-lasting without being overpowering."

Macaron Rosé Eau de Parfum

Not totally sold on rose perfumes yet? Give this affordable pick from Le Monde Gourmand a try. At under $30, it's a great entry point for rose skeptics with its light, refreshing notes. It doesn't smell artificial at all and leaves a noticeable scent trail when applied to pulse points and clothing—pretty darn impressive, given the price point. Despite candied notes of sugar cane and Turkish delight, this scent isn't overly sweet; instead it's reminiscent of a rosy bubble bath.

• Key notes: Rose water, Turkish delight, sugar cane
  

• Sizes: 1 fl oz for $25 or 2.5 fl oz for $36
  

Glowing customer review: "I bought this on a whim because I really wanted a rose perfume. It has easily become my favorite scent now. It's rose with a hint of sweetness and it's not too overpowering."

Red Roses Cologne

When it comes to rose perfumes, sometimes less is more. If you want to smell like garden-plucked roses and (almost) nothing else, then I highly suggest you reach for this chic scent from Jo Malone. With just a few simple notes of red roses, lemon, and honeycomb, it evokes a timeless softness that's great for wearing solo or layering with your other fave scents.

"This is the perfect rose perfume that smells nothing 'like your grandma' or artificial headaches, and instead, like you just pulled up to a rose garden in the south of France," says Siena Gagliano, associate editor.

• Key notes: Lemon, red roses accord, honeycomb

• Sizes: 1 fl oz for $86 or 3.4 fl oz for $165

Glowing customer review: "I cannot live without this perfume. This is a straightforward, classic, and timeless rose scent. The scent is light but bold and crisp."

Portrait of a Lady

Refined yet seductive, this fragrance spices up a classic rose and patchouli formula with clove, cinnamon, and incense. Yes, it's a bit of a splurge, but look: you get what you pay for. Packed with 400 (!) Turkish roses per 3.4 fl oz bottle, Portrait of a Lady exudes a strong scent profile—and you can literally smell the quality. Its stronger scent is ideal for colder months, though its infusion of red fruits makes it equally lovely for spring and summer.

• Key notes: Rose, clove, red fruits, cinnamon, benzoin, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, castoreum

• Sizes: 0.3 fl oz for $100, 1.7 fl oz for $295, 3.4 fl oz for $470

Glowing customer review: "My signature scent that truly does captivate all those around you with its sophistication and wonder. If you could put class in a bottle, this would be it. Lasts forever and smells intoxicating."

Persian Rose

Pacifica is one of my most-loved brands for budget-friendly skin and haircare—and its fragrance line is brimming with hidden gems. At just $22 an ounce, this Persian rose option is the least expensive scent on this list while still packing a serious punch. Both vibrant and sweet, it combines sugary rose with soft violet and tart citrus fruits for a unique yet accessible fragrance.

• Key notes: Bulgarian rose, violet, myrrh, fruit

• Sizes: 1 fl oz for $22
  

Glowing customer review: "This is my all-time favorite scent. It's light but retains richness and depth. It feels like a garden glowing in the sunset on the summer solstice."

WINDOW2SOUL Parfum

Celebrity perfumes don't always live up to the hype (there, I said it!), but Bella Hadid's fragrance line really did deliver some incredible scents. On top of its eccentric packaging and skincare-forward formulas, this Orebella fragrance offers a subtle rosy scent with bright pops of lemon and mint.

"It's like a rose perfume for people who'd think they'd hate rose," says Cosmo Beauty Editor Beth Gillette. "It's not mature at all—actually, I find it to smell really fresh. Spritz it on your skin (not your clothes!!!), then dab it on....I find the scent lasts a very long time."

• Key notes: Geranium, mint, lemon, Damask rose, jasmine, tonka bean

• Sizes: 0.33 fl oz for $35, 1.7 fl oz for $72, 3.4 fl oz for $100
  

Glowing customer review: "I absolutely adore this scent...When you first put it on, it has a beautiful rose smell. As it wears off, the smell lightens and smells amazing! It's so soft and delicate!

Delina Royal Essence Eau de Parfum

IDK about you, but Parfum de Marly's Delina has been allll over my TikTok feed recently, and after trying it myself, I completely understand why: its addictive blend of romantic roses and juicy lychee will have you smelling like a straight-up snack. It's one of the longest-lasting fragrances in my collection and projects like crazy—so you'll be getting compliments all day.

"I used to hate rose perfumes because I associated them with really powdery, antique scents, but Delina is so fresh and delicious," says Shopping Editor Hannah Oh. "The rose notes are balanced out by sweet citrus and it literally lasts F-O-R-E-V-E-R, especially if you spray it on clothing."

• Key notes: Turkish rose, lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, peony, vanilla, cedar, cashmeran

• Sizes: 1 fl oz for $220 or 2.5 fl oz for $375

Glowing customer review: "Delina is my signature scent. I always feel very feminine and royal wearing this scent. Everywhere I go, I always get compliments and make heads turn."

Rose & Basil Bliss

Dossier is best known for its spot-on imitations of popular perfumes, but I personally think the brand's original scents deserve way more hype. My fave is this heavenly blend of Bulgarian roses with peppery basil, red fruits, cedar, and vanilla. It smells wayyy more expensive than it is, and lasts longer than many designer perfumes I've tried.

• Key notes: Basil, orange, red fruits, Bulgarian rose, geranium, cedarwood, heliotrope, vanilla

• Sizes: 1.7 fl oz for $34
  

Glowing customer review: "This smells so darn good! I'm not usually a fan of rose scents but the opening is so green and fresh and the dry down is creamy, sweet, and unique. This may be in my top 5 list of all time fav perfumes ever."

Atomic Rose Eau de Parfum

My secret weapon for date night? This major compliment magnet from Initio. Atomic Rose oozes sex appeal, thanks to Bulgarian and Turkish roses steeped in warm vanilla, indolic jasmine, spicy pink pepper, and soothing amber. It's a bit of a splurge, but hear me out: this scent boasts outstanding performance compared to other fragrances—meaning you only need a few spritzes to be surrounded by a sultry cloud of roses and vanilla that lasts all day and night.

• Key notes: Pink pepper, bergamot, Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, vanilla, amber

• Sizes: 1.6 fl oz for $240 or 3.04 fl oz for $380

Glowing customer review: "I own and love quite a few Initio fragrances, but this by far, for me, has to be the standout. It's a rich, luxurious rose fragrance that's warm and not too sweet."

PunkStar IntenScenual Eau de Parfum

The perfume equivalent of a vintage leather jacket, PunkStar is a smoky-sweet bomb of ripe dark berries, earthy saffron, aromatic incense, and fragrant roses—plus a bunch of other notes that don't sound like they would go together but smell incredible (trust!). While this bold scent isn't for the faint of heart, it's a cool-girl fragrance that's bound to turn heads.

• Key notes: Apple, black currant, raspberry, incense, saffron, rose, cedar leaves, vanilla, tonka bean, leather
  

• Sizes: 0.33 fl oz for $30 or 1.57 fl oz for $98
  

Glowing customer review: "This is the perfect edgy unisex scent. Starts off fruity but dries down smoky and hot. Feels like a leather jacket rockstar babe bottled into a fragrance."

Melrose Place Eau de Parfum

Effervescent champagne and berries mix with a bouquet of florals—rose, peony, freesia, and jasmine, to be exact—in this summer-y fragrance from Ouai. It's reminiscent of a fruity body spray in a good way, but it's grounded by deeper notes of amber, sandalwood and cedar to keep it from feeling too sweet. I've been spritzing on Melrose Place before the gym, and it provides the perfect pick-me-up when I need a little refresh.

Key notes: Champagne, berry, lychee, peony, rose, freesia, jasmine, amber, sandalwood, and cedarwood

Sizes: 0.34 fl oz for $26 or 1.7 fl oz for $64

Glowing customer review: "The scent is fresh, feminine and the main note I smell is rose. It was a decent price for the size and quality."

OUDGASM Rose Oud Eau de Parfum Intense

Kayali's Oudgasm Rose Oud celebrates—you guessed it—oud, a rich and smoky fragrance oil derived from the agarwood tree. This statement-making fragrance incorporates sparkling pear and opulent Rose Damascena for an intoxicating scent that can last for over eight hours on your skin. Pro tip: layer it with Kayali Vanilla 28, Cosmo editors' top vanilla fragrance, for a touch of sweetness—you'll thank me later!

• Key notes: Lemon, geranium, pear, rose, peony, oud

• Sizes: 0.34 fl oz for $38 or 1.7 fl oz for $140

Glowing customer review: "Normally, I am not a fan of perfumes that have a rose essence to it but, this scent is different. It is very sensual, seductive, and warm. I literally can’t stop smelling myself."

Rose Era Eau de Toilette

If you gravitate towards fruity scents but want something a liiiitle more elevated, give this option a try. Rose Era marries mouthwatering pear, raspberry, and strawberry with innovative notes like clean laundry accord and orcanox. Together, it creates a musky yet inviting scent that's equal parts playful and grown-up.

• Key notes: Ambrette seeds, pear, saffron, strawberry, raspberry, clean laundry accord, orcanox, musk

• Sizes: 1 fl oz for $65

Glowing customer review: "I don't usually go for fruity or floral perfumes, but this one feels like the perfect summer fragrance. To me, it's fresh and bright at first with the berries and rose, then settles into something more soft and creamy after it dries down."

Rōzu Eau de Parfum

Notes of sandalwood, ylang-ylang, minty shiso leaf, and guiac wood—plus an infusion of silky-smooth roses, ofc—make this bougie fragrance come to life. While it's intensely green upon first spritz, it dries down into a subtle woody rose. Its balance of lighter and earthier notes make it a great option for any season, but I'm especially looking forward to wearing this during the fall and winter—it practically screams sweater weather.

• Key notes: Rose, pink pepper, shiso, guaiac wood, jasmine, vetiver, patchouli, myrrh

• Sizes: 1.6fl oz for $200
  

Glowing customer review: "This is the most stunning rose scent: it is fresh with green notes and one of the most unusual and addictive takes on a rose fragrance. It’s really easy to wear for daytime."

Eau De Toilette Lefko

If you ask me, Korres has a *severely* underrated fragrance line, and Lefko is one of my top scents of the bunch. This lily of the valley, musk, and sandalwood rose perfume exudes all the warmth and freshness of a fresh load of laundry, lightly kissed with delicate blooming florals—making it the perfect signature scent if you're a fan of the clean girl aesthetic.

• Key Notes: Lily of the valley, rose, peony, musk, powder, white sandalwood

• Sizes: 1.7 fl oz for $58
  

Glowing customer review: "Such a light and clean scent! Absolutely perfect for everyday, I get so many compliments on it."

Rose of No Man's Land Eau de Parfum

"Byredo's Rose of No Man's Land is a fragrance I could wax poetic about for hours," says Commerce Editor Sarah Maberry. "The scent of roses is super nostalgic to me, but this one smells less like the floral perfumes my grandmother wore and more like the rose garden itself: fresh, sweet, and warm like a summer afternoon."

• Key Notes: pink pepper, Turkish rose petals, raspberry blossom, Turkish rose absolute, papyrus, white amber

• Sizes: 1.7fl oz for $225, 3.4 fl oz for $320
  

Glowing customer review: "This is a unique modern rose fragrance that can be worn year round. I've received compliments from the first day I started wearing it!"

Eau Capitale

In case you do have a soft spot for those classic "grandma" scents (slowly raises hand), then we have to talk about Diptque's Eau Capitale. Its vintage-inspired combination of roses and patchouli is brightened with just a touch of bergamot and pink berries, making for a warm and evocative scent. It also comes in a hair mist that offers the same dreamy scent—for a third of the price, FYI.

• Key notes: Rose, bergamot, pink berries, patchouli

• Sizes: 2.5 oz for $230
  

Glowing review: "This is a beautiful example of a modern floral chypre. The deep, almost jammy rose sweetens the fragrance's woody, mossy heft. Its longevity is amazing and has great sillage too."

How to choose the best rose perfume:

Find your scent preferences

Listen, fragrance is extremely personal and will smell unique to every nose, so it's important to keep your preferences in mind before splurging on a new scent.

Rose itself is a floral note, but rose perfumes can span every fragrance category from sweet gourmands (AKA fragrances that smell edible) to woody aromatics. If you're newer to rose scents, perfumes with fruity citrus notes tend to be safe and crowd-pleasing. But if you're looking for something more experimental, try a rose scent with rich oud or smoky incense.

Pay attention to the concentration

Ever wondered why some perfumes are listed as "eau de parfum" while others are "eau de toilette"? These terms refer to a perfume's concentration, or how much the fragrance oil has been diluted.

Here's a cheat sheet: Extraits de parfum have the highest concentration (and often the highest price tag), followed by eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, and, finally, eau fraiche. As a rule of thumb, a scent with a higher concentration will smell the strongest and last longer, while those with a lower concentration will have a lighter and more fleeting scent.

Want your fragrance to turn heads and last all day? Look for a bottle that says "extrait de parfum" or "eau de parfum." For something more subtle, opt for an eau de toilette or eau de cologne.

Consider the occasion

Time and place is everything, ppl! As much as I love raking in the compliments when I wear a bold perfume, I don't want to make my whole office nauseous. Stick to lighter concentrations and fresher scents for daytime wear, and reserve your loudest fragrances for date night and going out on the town.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Cosmopolitanwith over four years of experience researching and writing about all things beauty. An expert in the perfume space, she has knowledge of the history and science of fragrance, as well as the latest trends. She personally wear-tested every scent on this list and consulted other Cosmo editors for additional expertise.

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