My article on my favorite fragrant roses did not make the cut for Rose Week so I thought I would start a thread, show some of my favorites, and hope other rose lovers will join in. My roses of choice are the classic high centered hybrid teas. Many of the popular HTs were chosen for beauty with no emphasis on fragrance and so many have little or no scent. There are a number though that have nice fragrance. Here are some of my favorites. I may add more later.
Granada....For fragrance this is my favorite. I often walk by it and am struck by the wonderful scent.


Sheila's Perfume..... Aptly named. It is sometimes listed as a floribunda but acts like a tea. Richly fragrant.


New Zealand....Sweet honeysuckle perfume.


Secret.....lovely fragrance...lovely rose


Veteran's Honor....Gorgeous Red rose with fruity moderate fragrance.


Full Sail....all white sport of New Zealand. Similar sweet smell.


Memorial Day...Rich Damask fragrance


Double Delight....strong spicy scent.


Aromatherapy......great aroma

The McCartney Rose!!!!
Not only incredible scent, but easy to grow! I've grown it at the last 3 houses I've owned, in different soil and light situations, and it's been a standout performer every time.
It is one of the few I cut and bring in to the vase.
I'll second Memorial Day. I have 2 of these planted right where I get out of the car so I can take a whiff every time I come home.
I mentioned Love Song on another thread about mauve roses as a reliable bloomer with strong scent.
Oklahoma, an oldie but goodie. Wish all red roses had such a wonderful scent. I'm talking to you, Olympiad!
Mr. Lincoln is another great classic red with heavy perfume.
Gertrude Jekyll, with a bonus of growth so tall I don't have to bend over to smell her!
Actually, my sensitive nose picks up scent on all the Austin roses. His yellows are the best, though. Everybody can smell those!
Golden Celebration tops that list.
Abraham Darby, Tamora, Jubilee Celebration, Jude the Obscure, Pat Austin, Teasing Georgia, Molineux, Lady of Shalott all are wonderful.
I'm looking forward to buying Wollerton Old Hall this year. supposedly it's his finest scent yet.

I bought a McCartney rose a few years ago but took it back and exchanged it. The plant was in a container and the leaves showed a little mildew which I didn't like. I will look for one this spring. Thanks for the recommendation.

Why didn't Paul's article make it? I would think that would be very important for people who are hesitant to try roses.. the scent can attract some of the most timid of people!

Almost 100% of the blue roses have a wonderful scent IMO. Melodee Parfume, BlueGirl, Singin' the Blues, AngelFace, English Perfume (*swoon!*), Poseidon, Babara Streisand, Orchid Masterpiece.. the list goes on & on & on.

Mr. Lincoln I can smell 10feet away. Same with Sheila's Perfume. But one of the absolute BEST IMHO is Honey Perfume. A Buck's rose, it has one of the headiest scents I've ever smelled. And I agree w/Zuzu & Austins.. I don't have but like 3 or 4 (Othello, Molineux, and a couple of others can't think of off the top of my head). Pat Austin I keep meaning to get because of the scent. Oshun is wonderful smelling too. Pope John Paul II, Pure Perfume, Full Sail, Memorial Day, ..

Is it just me, or does it seem that most of the reds, mauves, & whites have wonderful smells while yellows are hit & miss and oranges almost have no scent? At least very few of my oranges do...

I have always thought the mauves and deep reds were the most reliably fragrant.

I am so glad you wrote this article. It has brought back some very wonderful memories of my Grandmothers Roses. She had the most wonderful smelling roses I recall ever. Now I am talking about more than 60 years ago. Seams like not many roses one sees these day have much of a fragrance. Thanks for the memories.

I'm actually thankful that some roses have no fragrance. If all of my roses had a strong scent, I wouldn't be able to go outside.

My favorite rose for fragrance is First Kiss. It's not a strong fragrance, but it somehow wafts out from the bush, so that I can smell it as I walk by.



I'm also fond of roses that smell like raspberries. The best are Zephirine Drouhin and Madam Isaac Pereire.

Please don't laugh, but I always forget to smell the roses and am often surprised that some are quite fragrant ...

I love 'Fabulous'




Grace Seward really surprised me




Cardinal Hume



Tropicana



I think I'll stop and smell the roses this coming season ...

Smiles,
Lyn

Pope John Paul is a white rose with a wonderful fragrance. Another strong fragrance comes from Chrysler Imperial which is also a beautiful full petaled rose,

I have the same problem Lyn, my nose is always behind the camera so I forgot to take the time to smell them unless I am picking them for a bouquet. This thread is making me so anxious for bloom season!!

Going down my inventory list I remember good fragrance from:

I think my most fragrant are Fragrant Cloud & Gertrude Jekyll

Sue ...

Is your 'Julia Child' budded or own root ? I need a yellow shrub rose that can take the heat of my summers.

Smiles,
Lyn

I'm enjoying everyone's comments and pictures. I have admired Pope John Paul but haven't planted one yet....maybe this spring.
Pope John Paul II

Lyn, mine is own root from Chamblee's and it taken an incredibly long time to grow, it's still so small that it hasn't been planted in the ground yet. Definitely one that would be better grafted IMHO

Thanks, Sue.

I prefer budded roses for my garden, but sometimes I make an exception.

Smiles,
Lyn

Lyn - My Julia Child is a grafted and she's a wonderful bloomer. Tolerates my summers very nicely. I dunno what your summers are like, but I have 90s & low 100s for a few weeks in June/July. Plus my altitude makes it far worse.

Toni ...

I have the same high temps from the end of May to possibly the middle of October. Of course, as you know, mountain weather is not always consistent.

Smiles,
Lyn

Here are few more Roses that are pleasant to the nose.......
Dick Clark.....spicy cinnamon fragrance.


Rock and Roll.....strong fruity rose scent.



Commonwealth glory....strong fragrance


Pink Peace....fragrant oldie but goodie


Fragrant Keepsake.....strong damask scent


French Perfume.....fragrance is strong and fruity


Sun struck....mild and fruity


Tahitian Sunset....strong rose and fruit fragrance.

Has anyone named Tiffany? Yummm.
I have planted a Tiffany and Tropicana at the entrance to every house I've occupied.
My oldest daughter was thrilled to find a Tropicana growing next to the door of the house she's renting in San Diego.
She said it made her homesick, but she loves stopping to smell it each day.

(Wish I had a photo of Tiffany. Could someone add one? )
Where could I buy a Louise Clements?
Sue, i have the opposite problem. I go outside with the intention of taking pictures, and forget to take any because I'm so busy smelling all the blooms!

Andi had her Tiffany due to her doggie that she left, but I don't have that one. And I didn't think that Tropicana had a scent..