From the Vault: A Few of my Favorite Roses

rosesfront(Note — while I engage in blog cleanup and fix-up, I run across old Posse posts that make me happy for various reasons.  I’m going to be re-posting some of them From the Vault. ~ March.)

This is the view coming up first set of steps to my house.  My roses are just ridiculous, especially the one on the right, which is about 7 feet tall  and 4-5 feet wide and deep. The one next to the house is about 6 feet, and that’s after I trimmed it to within an inch of its life early this spring.  The small one by the lamppost is, well, a little disappointing compared to the others.  Walking in any direction from or to my house right now is a scented heaven.  Nothing can match the scent of fresh roses.  It is so delicate and ephemeral, but at the same time almost fierce in its relentless “I’m going to make you happy if it kills me” attitude.

Unfortunately, when it is the centerpiece of most perfumes, it can often be tragic, capturing a plastic fierceness, but none of the delicate spiciness.

But I do have some favorites that seem to “get” the rose.  Miller Harris Rose En Noir, an exclusive to Liberty in London, is really magnificent.  Slightly jammy on the open, it slowly descends and undulates into an incredibly sexy leathery rose that I think is one of the best dark roses out there. That it is exclusive to Liberty is unfortunate, but I believe they do mail order.

Serge Lutens Rose de Nuit is a little woody and fruity, veering away into a more dark forest rose than Rose En Noir. But it places the rose in its natural surroundings to some degree, then the rest in some smoky nightclub full of women who have embraced their flaws and stopped running from their past.

MDCI Rose Di Siwa couldn’t be more different in approach from the other two.  Where they go dark and woody or leathery, Rose Di Siwa lilts and for me is the closest to that smell I get as I walk through my front yard that always makes me smile and feel so glad to be alive – and like I’m about 12 – and that’s a feeling that I can’t live without.

Those are my three favorite modern perfume roses. What are yours?  I am going to post some pictures of my kitchen on Thursday so you guys can finish helping me paint it. Well, I wish you could help me paint it, but just picking the paint would be fantastic. It will have swatches of some of the colors I’m thinking of on the walls.  BTW, thanks to everyone who suggested links, paint colors, etc., it was incredibly helpful, and I was happily googling.  This kitchen is doing a short-term cosmetic makeover for now until I get around to gutting it and redoing all the cabinets and reconfiguring it.  Hopefully I’ll also put up a picture of what I hope to be my finished foyer as well and my bathroom, which is painted, but needs a touch-up.  It’s incredibly helpful to get more opinions on things that I might not have thought of, y’all are wonderful!!!  xoxox

  • rosarita says:

    Above response is where it is because the reply button wouldn’t respond, just FYI.
    I love that you’re reposting past articles, March! The Posse has so many good ones. My rose loves vary from mood to mood but right now I’m enjoying DSH American Beauty, Mohur and some rose oil a friend brought me from Bulgaria.

  • rosarita says:

    Taxi that’s awful, so sorry! I’ve been in your shoes, err boot. Get a friend to help you set up a temporary shelf in the bedroom where you can keep stuff you need from other parts of the house and include a case of water. Get a cross body messenger bag or maybe a backpack (I preferred the messenger bag) to tote stuff from one place to the other. Do what your PTs tell you or you’ll be in the boot for a longer time! Best of luck.

  • Taxi says:

    Patty, your roses are beautiful. I like Mr. Lincoln for color & fragrance, not the giant thorns.

    I can’t think of a rose fragrance now. I started out today in Chanel 22 but now need to think of something I can easily reach that’s warm & comforting. I slipped off a brick walkway this p.m. & broke my foot. Transverse fracture, 5th metatarsal. Now I have a knee-high boot. Metal side bars, lots of velcro + 6 big straps, and adjustable interior air bladders. Oh, and crutches. 2 -3 crutch weeks, then just the boot for another 3-4 weeks. Crutches? Seriously, I’m likely to fall & break more body parts. I want to lie in bed, snack & watch a movie but can’t figure out how to carry anything while I crutch along. Do I hang a laundry bag around my neck?
    Maybe I need a rum scent now, or incense. Or just drink hot buttered rum? Need something with pockets big enough for a thermos.
    Sorry, excuse the rant.

  • matty1649 says:

    I’ve got Rosa Pop. It is indeed very nice.

  • Dina C. says:

    Right now my favorite roses are Paestum Rose by Eau d’Italie, Guerlain Rosa Pop, Marni edp, and Pacifica Persian Rose (cheapie that always seems to get compliments).

  • sara levy says:

    My favorites are: Une Folie de Rose, L’Arte di Gucci, and Nahema.

  • eldarwen22 says:

    My favorites are:

    Amouage Lyric Woman: everyone needs a spicy rose
    Rose de Nuit: my slutty rose
    June Rose Vermielle: cheerful rose

  • matty1649 says:

    YSL Paris for me as well. Lovely combination X

  • Portia says:

    Hey March and Patty!
    I love this idea. There are a slew of amazing posts that will be wonderful to reread.
    My personal three roses are Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations, Ballets Rouges by Olympic Orchids and while there are a few vying for third place today I’m going to say Paris by YSL, roses and violets YES PLEASE!
    Portia xx