I’m so thrilled that rose season is in full swing! I was right when I assumed that the roses would be spectacular this year from all of the Spring rains. Such blooms! And although some of my plants had some pretty severe die-off from a deep November frost (and thus they won’t bloom this year) some came back so splendidly that I am just smitten all over again. How could I possibly resist their charms?
first eglantine bloom of 2015
The eglantine that I mentioned in my last post is just popping with the most lovely foliage (the scented part) and delicate single petal pink roses. I get the same feeling every time I rub those leaves between my fingers and sniff the scented air that I must make another perfume with an eglantine leaf note just to have the pleasure of working with it again. I created an eglantine leaf accord for the CHROMA scent, Umber: Bois de Rose, mixed with a moody aldehydic violet – dark rose heart that may not be to everyone’s taste but I really love it.
chapeau de napoleon moss centifolia
All of this has been just in time to give me a great boost of energy for the talk I gave on Wednesday to the Rose Society of Denver at the Denver Botanic Gardens. What incredible fun it was to show isolated rose alcohols and some of the minor constituents that give various roses their unique character. Of course, I also shared examples of natural rose oils: Rosa Gallica Otto, Rosa Centifolia Abs., and Rosa Damascena Abs. The best part was having everyone hold the cards pre-scented with selected isolates in one hand and smell for them on the card with the natural rose oil in the other. Everyone’s favorite of the natural rose oils was the Centifolia and with little wonder, it’s incredibly complex with the most fabulous mildly spicy, deep rose scent with honey, berry, and violet nuances. Among all of the roses in my garden, I have to admit an immense weakness for the moss Centifolia, “Chapeau de Napoleon”, that’s looming right now. Not only is it so very beautiful, but the moss hybrid gives it a deep resinous, rose oxide kind of hit mixed with the luscious old rose scent complete with berry, honey, spice and violet nuances.
penelope blush musk rose
Another absolutely wonderful rose that’s stolen my heart is a blush, musk rose that’s just begun to bloom. The scent of the petals are quite subtle, no surprise there, as like the eglantine it”s not the flower that gives the fragrant impact, it’s the stamen. There’s a milky, ambrettolide-ish aroma that I just love. It’s pale and soft, which reflects the petals so perfectly. Needless to say, I’ve been truly inspired by these beauties; even more than in previous years. Maybe it’s because my work in general has been completely immersed (well, nearly completely) in flowers since last Autumn and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. 😃. Awesome.
I hadn’t planned on making these rose posts into a “3-parter” but I think that’s where I’m headed with it. I still want to share some more roses (Ispahan and New Dawn, in particular) before the season is over and we’ll be onto other things as the Summer progresses. Plus this gives me a chance to do another little drawing /giveaway for three more lucky winners. Just post a comment about your favorite color or genus to be entered to win a rose discovery set 2: American Beauty, Saving Grace, and Umber: Bois de Rose; all in 3ml spray samples of EdP. Entries will be allowed until June 19 at midnight. Winners will be chosen at random and prizes will be mailed out on June 30 (since I’m headed back east to see my eldest nephew graduate from High School. ) Good luck and don’t forget to get out there and smell the roses. ox
DSH notebook 