Reimagining roses: experimental takes on a classic scent Reimagining roses: experimental takes on a classic scent Rose – the most traditional ingredient in fragrance – is being given an unconventional edge by niche perfumers and big-name brands Images for Nick Knight’s Roses from my Garden. An exhibition of the series will open this spring at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire ‘A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose,’ said Gertrude Stein. Yet, in the world of perfumery, a rose is always much more than a rose. It is the combination of the flower’s essence with other fragrant notes that creates a unique scent. Traditionally, rose perfumes have been characterised as the olfactory equivalent to pop music – guaranteed crowdpleasers, easily accessible. Recently, however, a host of niche perfumers and big-name brands have been experimenting with rose fragrances, taking the ubiquity of the scent as a challenge to create perfumes that subvert exceptions and offer a new perspective on an old classic.