Time for some flower power

You don’t have to wait for next Valentine’s Day for a bunch of ‘roses’. The beauty shelves are packed with flowery scents.

Once the preserve of elderly aunts, rose scents have contemporary formulations — fresh and alluring, not pungent and overpowering. “There has been a resurgence of rose-inspired scents as timelessness, quality and authenticity are major trends in the fragrance industry,” says Trudi Loren, vice-president at Aramis & Designer Fragrances.

Take your pick for spring.

FACE FLOURISH

While real roses wilt, rose-based products perk up complexions. Try Estelle & Thild’s ‘rose otto advanced age prevent face cream’. The ‘rose otto’ oil is rich in hydrating properties to fend off post-winter dryness, €55 (www.urbanretreat.co.uk).

ENGLISH ROSE

Catwalk king Paul Smith has captured the essence of his cool, English rose muse in a fragrance bottle. A lighter edition of his classic rose fragrance, the limited-edition rose has a refreshing heart of old-fashioned tea rose; €40 for 100ml.

BIG BUNCH

Sometimes, only a dozen roses will do. For the beauty equivalent, Di Palomo’s Tuscan rose range includes bath, body and fragrance products, which can be layered up to scent the skin like a perfumed kiss, from €8.20.

ROSEBUD AROMA

Float around the bedroom, as if you’re in a field of flowers, with Malin+Goetz’s ‘absolute rose’ candle. Containing 16% eau de toilette and with 60 hours of burn time, it beats a bunch of roses any day, €43.40.

BLOOMING BOMB

As the name suggests, Viktor & Rolf’s ‘flowerbomb la vie en rose’ doesn’t skimp on the blooms. A summer edition of the legendary ‘flowerbomb’, the intensely floral reinterpretation has three precious flowers at its heart: rose, sambac jasmine and orchid heights; from €30.

FLOWERY FLUSH

Be an English rose beauty with Bobbi Brown’s ‘limited edition lilac rose shimmer brick’. The modern way to do shimmer, it contains bright pink, golden pink and icy pink pearl pigments that can be lightly dusted on cheeks, €42.50.

BATH BOUQUET

Pretend you’re wallowing in a tub of luxurious petals with REN’s Moroccan ‘rose otto bath oil’. Dispersing in the water, it will leave your skin delicately fragranced; €35.

PURE PETALS

Perfect for hopeless romantics, fall head over heels in love with pureDKNY Rose. The fresh, floral notes are bloomed in Turkey’s Isparta valley, where the delicate, pink blossoms of rose damascene are hand-picked each June; from €36.40 for 30ml EDP.

ROSY GLOW

Give your skin a spring clean with Melvita’s ‘rose nectar milky cleansing oil’. It magically transforms from oil to a milky lotion on contact with water to leave your face dewy fresh; €20.90.

ROSE BEAUTY BENEFITS

Still not convinced about rosy beauty? Industry experts sing the praises of rose petal power:

VERSATILE

“Rose truly is one of nature’s miracle ingredients. Renowned for its warm, rich and feminine notes that appeal to a wide audience, rose is a popular fragrance component, but also has toning, purifying and skin balancing qualities” – Sarah Deane, beauty buyer.

THERAPEUTIC

“Aside from the romantic associations, the aroma-therapeutic benefits of rose include the ability to reduce anxiety and stress and lift the spirit” — Jamie Grant, Gardenia of London owner.

ANTI-AGEING

“Wild rose fruit is noted for its high vitamin C level, that demonstrates significant repairing action on fine lines and pigmentation disorders. Wild rose oil, rich in linolenic acid, offers significant moisturising, healing and softening properties” — Lena Korres, Korres brand development director.