Most Fragrant Roses: 17 Best Scented Roses to Grow
17 of the most fragrant roses, from English shrub roses and hybrid teas to old roses and climbers, plus the types of rose scent and how to grow for fragrance.
By Magda Callery, interior designer and florist
For me, a rose without scent is only half a rose. The moment you lean into a warm, fully open bloom on a summer morning and catch that rich perfume of honey, myrrh, lemon or old-fashioned damask is one of the great pleasures of a garden. Many modern roses were bred for colour and vase life rather than fragrance, but there are still plenty of wonderfully scented varieties, old and new, for every kind of garden.
In this guide I'll explain what makes a rose fragrant, the main types of rose scent, 17 of the most fragrant roses to grow, and how to get the most perfume from your roses in the garden and the vase.
The quick answer: some of the most fragrant roses are 'Gertrude Jekyll', 'Munstead Wood', 'Lady Emma Hamilton', 'Boscobel', 'Mister Lincoln', 'Double Delight', 'Fragrant Cloud', 'Madame Isaac Pereire', 'Zéphirine Drouhin', 'Albertine', 'Buff Beauty', 'Blanche Double de Coubert' and 'Roseraie de l'Haÿ'. Old roses, English shrub roses and many climbers are especially fragrant. Plant them in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot and smell them on a warm, still morning, when the scent is strongest.
What Makes a Rose Fragrant?
A rose's scent comes from tiny glands on the petals that release a mix of aromatic oils. The fragrance varies with the variety, the time of day, the weather and the age of the flower. Scent is usually strongest on warm, humid mornings, in sheltered spots, and when the flowers are just fully open. Dark red and pink roses are often thought to be the most fragrant, though there are beautifully scented roses in every colour.
Types of Rose Scent
| Scent type | What it smells like | Example roses |
|---|---|---|
| Old rose (damask) | Classic, rich, sweet rose | 'Gertrude Jekyll', 'Madame Isaac Pereire' |
| Myrrh | Aniseed-like and warm | 'Scepter'd Isle', 'Claire Austin' |
| Tea | Fresh, like a newly opened packet of tea | 'Charlotte', 'Graham Thomas' |
| Fruity | Citrus, raspberry, pear or apple | 'Lady Emma Hamilton', 'Albertine' |
| Musk | Sweet and spicy, carried on the air | 'Buff Beauty', 'Bobbie James' |
| Clove | Spicy and warm | 'Blanche Double de Coubert' and other rugosas |
17 Most Fragrant Roses
English shrub roses
1. 'Gertrude Jekyll'. Rich pink rosettes with a powerful old rose fragrance, often described as the quintessential rose scent.
2. 'Munstead Wood'. Deep velvety crimson flowers with a strong old rose scent and notes of blackberry and damson.
3. 'Lady Emma Hamilton'. Tangerine and orange blooms with a strong, fruity fragrance of pear, grape and citrus.
4. 'Boscobel'. Salmon-pink, cupped flowers with a myrrh fragrance and hints of hawthorn and pear.
5. 'The Generous Gardener'. A climbing English rose with pale pink flowers. The RHS's selection of 10 roses describes its "strongly scented, semi-double, pale pink flowers, reminiscent of waterlilies."
Hybrid tea roses
6. 'Mister Lincoln'. A classic, velvety red hybrid tea with a strong damask scent. NC State Extension calls Mister Lincoln "one of the best red roses" and notes that its long stems make it "great for cutting."
7. 'Double Delight'. Creamy white petals edged in cherry red, with a spicy, fruity fragrance.
8. 'Fragrant Cloud'. Coral-red flowers with one of the strongest scents of any hybrid tea.
9. 'Papa Meilland'. Deep crimson, almost black buds with a powerful, rich fragrance.
Old roses
10. 'Madame Isaac Pereire'. A Bourbon rose with large, deep pink, quartered flowers and an intense fragrance, often grown as a short climber.
11. 'Zéphirine Drouhin'. A thornless, cerise-pink climber with a sweet scent. It tolerates some shade and is ideal by a door or path.
12. Damask rose (Rosa × damascena). The classic old rose, grown for centuries for rose oil and rosewater.
13. Rugosa roses. 'Roseraie de l'Haÿ' and 'Blanche Double de Coubert' are tough, disease-resistant shrubs with a rich, clove-scented fragrance. The RHS describes the latter's "richly scented, pure white flowers."
Climbers and ramblers
14. 'Albertine'. A vigorous rambler with coppery-pink flowers and a fruity, apple-like scent, flowering once in early summer.
15. 'Madame Alfred Carrière'. A tall, white climber with a sweet fragrance that flowers repeatedly and copes with a north-facing wall.
16. 'Buff Beauty'. A hybrid musk with apricot-buff flowers. The RHS notes that "the powerful fragrance is very appealing."
17. 'Bobbie James'. A huge rambler covered in small white flowers with a heady, musky fragrance, perfect for growing into a tree.
How to Get the Most Scent From Your Roses
- Plant in a warm, sheltered spot. Walls, corners and enclosed gardens trap scent on still days.
- Give them sun. Most roses need at least six hours of sun for the best flowers and fragrance.
- Feed and water well. Healthy, well-fed roses produce more flowers and stronger scent.
- Plant where you'll smell them. By a door, a path, a seat or an open window.
- Smell them in the morning. Scent is often strongest on warm, humid mornings.
- Grow climbers over arches and pergolas so the flowers are at nose height.
Pair fragrant roses with other scented plants, such as lavender, a lilac tree for spring and evening-scented flowers that bloom at night, for a garden that smells beautiful from spring to autumn.
Fragrant Roses in the Vase
Cut roses in the cool of the morning, when the buds are just opening, and put them straight into water. Strip the lower leaves, recut the stems and use flower food. Garden roses usually smell far stronger than shop-bought roses, and a few stems in a jug will scent a whole room.
A few fragrant garden roses make some of the loveliest simple flower arrangements, especially with a little greenery such as rosemary or pittosporum.
Fragrant Roses by Color
| Colour | Fragrant varieties |
|---|---|
| Red and crimson | 'Mister Lincoln', 'Munstead Wood', 'Papa Meilland' |
| Pink | 'Gertrude Jekyll', 'Madame Isaac Pereire', 'Zéphirine Drouhin' |
| Apricot and orange | 'Lady Emma Hamilton', 'Buff Beauty' |
| White | 'Madame Alfred Carrière', 'Blanche Double de Coubert', 'Bobbie James' |
| Bicolour | 'Double Delight' |
Decorating With Roses
Roses bring romance to any room, from a single stem on a bedside table to a generous bowl on a dining table. Dried rose petals and rosebuds also make fragrant potpourri. Roses are wonderful in art too, and appear in many famous flower paintings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why it's a problem | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing roses for colour alone | Many modern roses have little scent | Check the fragrance before you buy |
| Planting in an exposed, windy spot | Scent blows away | Choose a warm, sheltered position |
| Too little sun | Fewer flowers and weaker scent | Give at least six hours of sun |
| Planting far from paths and seats | You'll rarely smell them | Plant where you walk and sit |
| Neglecting feeding | Weak plants with fewer flowers | Feed in spring and after the first flush |
| Ignoring disease resistance | Sickly plants flower poorly | Choose healthy, disease-resistant varieties |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most fragrant rose?
Some of the most fragrant are 'Gertrude Jekyll', 'Munstead Wood', 'Mister Lincoln', 'Fragrant Cloud', 'Double Delight' and 'Madame Isaac Pereire'.
What is the most fragrant climbing rose?
'Zéphirine Drouhin', 'Madame Alfred Carrière', 'The Generous Gardener' and 'Albertine' are all wonderfully fragrant climbers and ramblers.
Which rose color smells the strongest?
Red and pink roses are often the most fragrant, but there are strongly scented roses in every colour.
Why do some roses have no scent?
Many modern roses were bred for colour, shape and vase life, and fragrance was sometimes lost along the way.
When do roses smell the strongest?
Usually on warm, still, humid mornings, when the flowers have just fully opened.
Do shop-bought roses smell?
Many commercially grown roses have little scent. Garden roses are usually far more fragrant.
What is the best fragrant rose for a beginner?
Rugosa roses and many modern English shrub roses are tough, disease-resistant and richly scented, making them a good place to start.
A Garden Full of Perfume
A fragrant rose is one of the great joys of summer. Choose a few varieties with a scent you love, plant them in a warm, sunny spot near where you sit or walk, and you'll enjoy their perfume in the garden and in the vase for years to come.
And if you'd like help creating a home and garden that feel as beautiful as they smell, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.
About the author
Magda Callery is a UK interior designer and florist with more than 15 years' experience designing homes, pubs, restaurants and bars, and her expert commentary has featured in Homes & Gardens, The Mirror and The Spruce. Explore more of the flowers & garden articles.
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