The Top 12 Fragrant Roses To Transform Your Garden

Fragrant roses can totally change the vibe of any garden. These classic flowers aren’t just pretty—they fill your outdoor space with rich scents, turning even a small patch into a place you’ll want to hang around. There are tons of rose varieties out there, but only a handful truly impress people with their memorable fragrances.

If you’re looking to add some powerful scents to your garden or backyard retreat, picking the right rose makes a huge difference. Some roses offer gentle, sweet notes, while others are bold and spicy or citrusy. Your whole garden experience switches up when you have the right mix. I’ve put together a list of my favorite 12 fragrant roses that always get compliments from guests and make time spent outdoors super rewarding.

This guide breaks down my top picks, what scents to expect, and some useful tips for growing them. If you’re new to roses or just want a refresh, you’ll find everything you need to make your garden smell amazing. Ready to get into it? Let’s jump right in!

1. Honey Perfume Rose

‘Honey Perfume’ lives up to its name with big, apricot yellow blooms that keep going through the season. The scent is spicy and strong; you’ll probably notice it every time you walk by. Besides the fragrance, these bushes make things easy for gardeners, as they can handle powdery mildew and rose rust pretty well. Another plus: their eye-catching color fits in almost any garden scheme.

• Size: Up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Needs fertile, well drained soil

2. Fragrant Plum Rose

If you love cool tones, ‘Fragrant Plum’ is hard to beat. Its flowers start lavender and fade to a smoky purple at the edges. The scent is sweet and rich, almost like ripe plums, and sometimes carries a little exotic spice. ‘Fragrant Plum’ makes a gorgeous cut flower for bringing that fragrance indoors, too, and its blooms last well in vases.

• Size: Up to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Requires well drained soil

3. Radiant Perfume Rose

‘Radiant Perfume’ is all about brightness. These golden yellow roses give off a wonderful citrusy smell, and their long stems are perfect for cutting.

The vivid color and fresh scent are great for boosting the atmosphere of any garden, patio, or even a sunny kitchen window. The colors rarely fade, and the blooms are great at attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

• Size: Up to 5 feet tall and wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Well drained soil is best

4. Heritage Rose

‘Heritage’ is a classic English rose known for its soft pink, fully petaled flowers. The fragrance reminds me of fresh lemons with a hint of sweetness that lingers well into the evening. It’s pretty tough, with good disease resistance and only a few thorns, so it’s also nice if you’re not a fan of the prickly varieties. Its subtle, old-fashioned color scheme makes it blend well with perennials and cottage garden plantings.

• Size: Up to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide
• Light: Best in full sun, can handle some part sun
• Water: Needs rich, well drained soil

5. Louise Odier Rose

‘Louise Odier’ has been a favorite of rose lovers for generations. Its bright pink flowers show up consistently during warm weather, and the scent is intense and sweet. Expect a romantic, welcoming presence once it settles into your garden. The bush is vigorous and can be trained as a short climber or grown as a free standing shrub for maximum show.

• Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Plant in well drained soil

6. Madame Plantier Rose

This rose is perfect if you’re after a big, old fashioned bush. ‘Madame Plantier’ grows tall and wide, sometimes taking on a climbing habit, which makes it fantastic for larger garden spaces. The flowers are white, packed with petals, and carry a strong sweet fragrance that’s noticeable from a distance. In early summer, the whole bush can be absolutely smothered in blooms, drawing in visitors and pollinators alike.

• Size: Up to 8-12 feet tall and 6 feet wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Needs well drained soil

7. Fragrant Cloud Rose

This one is a showstopper with its bold coral red blooms and massive scent. The fragrance brings together citrus, spice, fruit, and classic damask rose notes all at once; it’s rich—some people even say it smells like fresh pumpkin pie.

‘Fragrant Cloud’ continues to bloom throughout summer and autumn, providing vibrant color and intoxicating scent for months.

• Size: Up to 5 feet tall and wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Grows best in well drained soil

8. Autumn Damask Rose

The Autumn Damask has pink flowers and sometimes gets called the “four seasons” rose since it can bloom several times from spring to fall. Its scent has made it a mainstay in perfume production for centuries; the aroma is sweet, classic, and old world. Thanks to its long history, it fits perfectly into heritage gardens and blends well with other heirloom plants.

• Size: Up to 5 feet tall and wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Needs well drained soil

9. Double Delight Rose

‘Double Delight’ is famous for its creamy white petals that slowly get bold cherry red edges as the blooms age. The look is really special, but the main event is the sweet, spicy smell that wafts through warm days. Double Delight does well as a centerpiece rose and is excellent for cutting, thanks to its sturdy stems and strong fragrance indoors.

• Size: Up to 5 feet tall and wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Likes well drained soil

10. Gertrude Jekyll Rose

Named after the famous garden designer, this rose combines deep pink blooms with a rich, antique rose fragrance nearly everyone loves. It can get pretty tall, is easy to grow, and stands up to disease better than most old fashioned types. Gertrude Jekyll can be trained up trellises or grown as a robust shrub; its long flowering period adds appeal throughout the growing season.

• Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Does best in well drained soil

11. Just Joey Rose

There’s something really warm and inviting about ‘Just Joey.’ The flowers are big, ruffled, and come in a lush, apricot to orange shade. The scent is fruity, and the blooms almost glow against their dark green leaves. If you want a rose that puts on a show and smells just as good, this one is a rock solid pick. It makes excellent cut flowers and resists most pests if given proper care.

• Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Needs well drained soil

12. Madame Alfred Carriere Rose

This climbing rose is a great fit if you want to dress up a wall or pergola. It covers large spaces, streams with pink blushed white flowers, and has a strong spicy sweet scent that lasts. Plus, it’s known for having fewer thorns, so pruning and training it is a bit easier than most climbers. It attracts a ton of attention during its main flush in spring and sporadic repeats in late summer and fall.

• Size: Up to 16 feet tall and 9 feet wide
• Light: Full sun
• Water: Well drained soil works best

Tips for Growing Fragrant Roses

Getting the most out of fragrant roses usually comes down to where you plant them and how you care for them. Here are some quick ways to give your roses a solid start and keep them blooming strong:

• Sunlight is key. Most fragrant varieties need full sun; at least 6 hours daily brings their best blooms and strongest scent.
• Soil matters. Loose, fertile, and well drained soil helps roots stay healthy and lets plants soak up nutrients for bigger, smellier flowers. Adding compost works wonders and keeps things fluffy underground.
• Regular watering helps, but don’t let roots sit in soaked earth. Aim for deep soakings a couple times a week, especially during heat waves. Mulch helps keep moisture where it belongs.
• Pruning keeps them strong and helps more blooms pop. Snip off faded flowers throughout the season and prune back dead canes in late winter or early spring. Don’t be afraid to go beneath where you spot new green growth.
• Feeding makes a difference. Use a balanced rose fertilizer (either slow release granules or liquid) a few times per season for steady growth and big blossoms. Organic options like fish emulsions or seaweed extracts are great for microbes in your soil, too.

Common Questions About Fragrant Roses

• Are fragrant roses harder to grow? Most are just as easy as regular roses if you give them proper sunlight, good soil, and steady care. Look for varieties that say “disease-resistant” if you’re looking to make things easy on yourself.
• Can I grow them in pots? Absolutely. Go for compact varieties and use large containers with drainage holes. Container grown roses may need a little more watering and fertilizer, but they perform quite well on patios or balconies.
• What about pests and diseases? Plenty of garden roses (especially the ones listed above) come bred with solid resistance. Still, stay sharp for aphids, black spot, and mildew. Spraying early, removing leaf litter, and spacing bushes for airflow all help keep trouble away so your garden stays healthy and blooming.

How to Enjoy Fragrant Roses All Season

Here are some tricks I use to keep my garden fragrant from spring all the way through fall, making each month special:

• Mix early, mid and late blooming varieties together for a steady wave of scent. That way, even as one slows down, another starts up.
• Plant fragrant types near walkways, patios, or entryways where you’ll actually smell them while passing by. These spots are perfect for getting the most out of strong scents.
• If you’re into cut flowers, pick just opened blooms early in the morning for indoor arrangements that’ll fill any room with your favorite scents. Change water regularly for longer lasting bouquets.
• Consider pairing roses with aromatic companions like lavender or thyme; these not only give a boost to the scent but also help deter some pests naturally.
• For maximum enjoyment, spend a few minutes each evening in your rose garden as the sun sets. Evening air often carries fragrance farther, turning your outdoor space into a relaxing oasis after a long day.
• Add small seating nooks or benches nearby, so you’re encouraged to sit among your roses and take in the everchanging aromas. Even reading a book outside feels amplified with fresh rose perfume on the breeze.

Recommended Products for Growing Fragrant Roses

If you’d like to bring out the very best in your fragrant roses, the right tools and supplies make all the difference.

Here are a few tried-and-true essentials available on Amazon that can help you create a thriving, sweet-smelling garden all season long

• Down To Earth Organic Rose & Flower Fertilizer – A natural, slow-release mix that feeds your roses steadily for lush, aromatic blooms
• Felco F2 Pruner – Sharp, durable pruners designed for clean cuts that encourage strong new growth and better flowering.
• Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Rose Plant Food – Great for a quick nutrient boost during the growing season, promoting vibrant color and powerful scent.
• Fiskars Garden Tool Set (Trowel, Transplanter, Cultivator) – Perfect for everyday rose care and transplanting fragrant varieties with ease.
• Gardener’s Supply Company Mulch Mats – Helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds around your rose bushes for healthier roots.
• Self-Watering Planters or Large Decorative Pots – Ideal if you’re growing fragrant roses like ‘Just Joey’ or ‘Fragrant Plum’ on patios or balconies.

Tip: Choose organic fertilizers and well-draining containers to keep your roses healthy and their fragrance strong all season.

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The Takeaway

Building a garden full of fragrant roses takes a little planning, but the results are always worth it.

From sweet and citrusy to spicy and rich, the roses on this list are some of my top choices for a constantly rewarding, great smelling landscape.

Try one or try them all; just make sure to put them somewhere you’ll get the full effect. Your nose (and anyone dropping by) will thank you.

Grab a few varieties, mix in some companions, and watch as your garden transforms into an eye-catching, relaxing space that always smells fantastic.

Whether you’ve been growing roses for years or just thinking of giving them a shot, tracking down a spot for a fragrant rose in your yard is never a bad idea.

Give yourself the gift of scent and color season after season; there’s just nothing quite like a rose garden in full bloom!