Top 10 Fragrant Roses to Enchant Your Garden

Shakespeare once said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” It’s safe to say he never had to deal with modern varieties that look the part but have barely any scent.  

Plenty of roses catch the eye, but the ones worth planting have a proper scent: roses with scent you can smell without having to press your nose into the petals.  

Few things compare to the magic of roses that perfume your whole yard. So, if you’re mapping out a new garden bed, training something up a fence, or scrolling through your favourite rose nursery online, here are ten fragrant roses to keep on your radar.  

1) Mr Lincoln  

Mr Lincoln is widely known as one of the most fragrant roses around. Its bold, deep red blooms are matched by a strong, old-fashioned scent that only intensifies in warm weather.  

The rose thrives in full sun and grows well across much of Australia. With tall stems and lush blooms, it’s perfect for cutting and deserves a prime spot in the garden.  

2) William and Catherine

William and Catherine was bred in honour of the royal wedding in 2011. The repeat-flowering blooms are creamy white with a soft pink blush at the centre when young, gradually fading to pure white as they mature.

The fragrance is subtle but refined. It’s often described as a medium-strength myrrh scent that’s strongest in the evening. Some also pick up lighter floral notes with fresh, clean undertones.

3) Double Delight  

You can spot a Double Delight from across the garden. The creamy petals with red edges give it away instantly. Once you get close, the spicy, full-bodied fragrance is just as memorable.  

This Grandiflora rose blooms repeatedly through the season and loves the Aussie sun. We recommend this one for gardeners seeking both aesthetic appeal and a proper, lasting fragrance.  

4) Jude the Obscure  

Jude the Obscure is a buttery-yellow David Austin rose with a fresh, fruity fragrance that leans toward more citrus than traditional rose. The fragrance is noticeable but never overpowering, perfect for warm afternoons when the air carries it further. It does best in a spot where you’ll pass by often, like near a path or patio.  

5) Just Joey  

Just Joey is anything but shy. Its large, ruffled blooms glow in apricot-orange, almost like they’re lit from within. Rich, fruity, and full, it’s easily one of the most fragrant roses in Australia.  

Each flower can reach up to 12 cm across and blooms generously through the season. The bush itself is well-shaped and full, making it a must-have for garden beds, borders, or as part of a cutting patch.  

6) Tess of the d’Urbervilles  

If you like your roses deep red and strongly scented, Tess of the d’Urbervilles is a great choice. The blooms are large, densely petalled, and a bold crimson that maintains its colour through sunny days. The fragrance has a classic, pleasing Old Rose character.  

One of the best fragrant climbing roses in Australia, Tess has flexible canes you can guide up a fence or arch if you need some height. It blooms in flushes, handles most Aussie conditions well, and doesn’t fuss much beyond a regular feed and prune.  

7) Bengali  

Bengali is a reliable, easy-care floribunda with fully double apricot blooms and a floral, sweet scent. We’d rate it a solid 4 out of 5 for fragrance: not the strongest on this list, but you’ll notice it.  

It grows into a neat, medium-sized bush and has excellent disease resistance, especially for its colour range. Bengali also took home a gold medal at the 2010 ADR trials in Germany: proof it performs just as well abroad as it does in Aussie gardens.  

8) Fruity Parfuma  

When a rose has Parfuma in its name, you can count on it being fragrant. Fruity Parfuma has a rich, layered fragrance with notes of ripe raspberry, rhubarb, and a hint of patchouli. It’s most noticeable in the early morning and again at dusk.  

The compact bush reaches around 80 cm to 1 m tall and spreads 40–60 cm wide. The coral-red blooms, about 6 cm across, appear in regular flushes throughout the season. An ADR 2018 winner, Fruity Parfuma is worth growing for the fragrance alone.  

9) Perfume Passion  

Perfume Passion is a hybrid tea with classic pink blooms on long, nearly thornless stems. The scent is intense but fresh. It starts with citrus as the buds begin to open, then shifts into softer notes of litchi, white peach, pear, and plum.   

There’s a bit of peony in there too, rounded out by a subtle base of patchouli and myrtle. It’s at its most noticeable around midday, particularly in warm weather.  

Perfume Passion has picked up multiple awards, including Best Hybrid Tea and Most Fragrant Rose at the National Rose Trial Garden Awards. It’s grown locally at our rose nursery in Adelaide, so if you’re after extremely fragrant roses with a strong track record, this one’s worth adding to your garden.  

10) Spicy Parfuma  

Winner of the Most Fragrant Rose of Trial at the 2023 National Rose Trial Garden Awards, Spicy Parfuma is both eye-catching and strongly scented. The flowers start as soft pink buds and open to reveal warm apricot centres. As they age, the colour fades to a creamy apricot, giving a nice gradient effect across the bush.  

The perfume is the real drawcard. You’ll catch a warm mix of peach, apricot, and gentle spice notes like clove and cinnamon.  

Spicy Parfuma stays a manageable size (about 1.2 m tall and 50–60 cm wide) and has glossy, disease-resistant foliage. Most blooms come one to a stem, so they’re easy to cut without stripping the plant.   

If you’re hunting through a rose nursery online, talking to a trusted rose supplier, or visiting our rose nursery in Adelaide, put this one on your list.  

Tips for Growing Extremely Fragrant Roses  

If you want lasting fragrance, your roses need the right growing conditions. It doesn’t take much, just a bit of consistency.  

• Give them at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Strong light supports both bloom production and scent.  
• Space your plants to improve airflow and reduce the risk of mildew, especially in humid areas.  
• Feed with a rose-specific fertiliser every 4–6 weeks during the growing season.  
• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering, and prune seasonally to maintain shape and healthy growth.  
• Water deeply once or twice a week rather than shallow watering every day.  

At Penfield Gardens Rose Nursery, we grow a wide range of highly fragrant roses suited to gardens of all sizes. You can visit our rose nursery in Adelaide or browse the full collection through our online store.  

Ready to Fill Your Garden with Scent?  

You don’t need acres of space or a formal garden to enjoy the magic of fragrant roses. Just a few well-chosen plants can bring lasting scent, colour, and character to your yard, balcony, or front path.  

Every rose mentioned here is available through Penfield Gardens Rose Nursery, and we’ve got plenty more to explore. We take pride in offering top-quality varieties, practical advice, and fast, reliable shipping across Australia. If you’re not sure which rose suits your space best, our team’s here to help you choose with confidence.  

Browse the full collection at our rose plant nursery and start planning your next favourite bloom.