Roses appeal to the senses like no other plant!
A stroll through a blooming rose garden can be a sensual experience for us, as numerous open rose blossoms invite us to do so. Sniffing a fragrant flower, running our hands over blooming lavender, and we are already dreaming.
In everyday language, we often lack the words to describe the scent of roses. The composition varies depending on the variety, sometimes floral-sweet, lemony-fresh or fruity. Fragrances such as lemon, orange, peach, raspberry, apple, melon, vanilla, aniseed, moss and pepper can be perceived.
However, only fully open flowers give off a scent, and this rose scent also depends on the climate, cultivation and weather. Fragrances are substances with very small molecules. Over 400 components are known to date. Of these, rose alcohols such as citronellol, nerol and geraniol are distributed on the outer part of the flower. Citral and eugenol are found in the centre of the rose.
It is hard to believe that roses exude their fragrance solely to attract insects such as bees, bumblebees, hornets, beetles and hoverflies for pollination. The pollen sticks to them and is carried from flower to flower, thus promoting fruit formation (rosehip).
For us breeders, the scent of roses is a challenge, as it is genetically linked to a short vase life. But scent is not the only breeding goal; modern garden roses should also have healthy leaves and bloom more frequently, among other things.
We have a large selection of scented roses: take a look: Tantau's scented roses