We love roses for many reasons. They are beautiful, they symbolize love, and no other flower’s scent can compare to that of a rose. If you love a rose, you have to love its fragrance too. That’s why it’s hard to believe that, in the 20th century, fragrance was not a key priority in commercial hybridizing. The history of rose popularity and commercialization sheds some light on how the scent of roses disappeared from so many modern roses.

Believe it or not, not all roses smell the same. Only very sensitive noses can sense the difference between a rose in full bloom and a rose that’s still a bud or between a Bulgarian and a Damask rose. You will be surprised to find out the variety of smells roses can have, largely a result of breeding during last century, there are now many exciting and fresh smells.

Most people feel an urge to smell roses when they see them, but few know what is responsible for this enchanting scent.The proliferation of fake rose scents and modern breeding displaced the smell of roses in many people’s minds. So let’s examine what exactly gives roses their distinct smell and why so many modern roses have lost their fragrance.