I do not have any scientifically backed data to back up my claims, but based on my empirical observations, I do believe that the soil and fertilizer has an effect on fragrance and colors of flowers and taste of vegetables and fruits. Organics are always a better choice in my opinion.

I also can't cite research to support it, but have frequently found wide variations in scent (and fruit taste) not only due to climate and weather, but what has frequently seemed soil and nutrients. It is logical. Taste and scent are intimately related. Anything that affects one should be able to affect the other. I've read that mildew can affect scent in roses to the point of eliminating it in the affect flowers.

If any of the resources within the rose is dependent upon nutrients and the necessary nutrient is either deficient or in over abundance, it stands to reason the associated resource in the plant should be affected. If you can alter the flesh quality of a peach by mulching heavily with steer manure and increasing water, why shouldn't the same be true of a rose? Kim

Strawberry, I wouldn't recommend Gentle Hermione for fragrance... I had to get rid of it because the fragrance was so unpleasant. It's hard to picture this rose smelling nice in any soil...

The Austin website describes the scent as Old Rose with a hint of myrrh. To my nose this description is not accurate, I would describe it as pure myrrh, and not a particularly pleasant myrrh at that.

Perception of fragrance can be subjective, however...my impressions of fragrance are only a humble opinion.

Thinking of rose fragrance in general, I do think that organics can really enhance the vigor and good qualities of the roses, and it could be that enhanced fragrance might be part of this.

With some roses, I will detect the sweet fruity scent at its best in warm sunny weather, but in cool weather will only smell a Tea Bag background scent. Evelyn, for example, smells best in warm sunny weather, to my nose.

I'm glad to hear from all of you: AMaij, Roseseek, and Krista - Many thanks for your input.

I am deciphering a code here in David Austin's catalog. If he says, "WARM", it means "stinky". For Gentle Hermione, it reads, "Strong, WARM, Old rose scent with a hint of myrrh."

For stinky Lady of Shalott (as reported by Andrea from England), the catalog reads, "A pleasant, WARM tea fragrance, with hints of apple and cloves." Cloves in my pantry is mighty stinky.

For Pat Austin, the catalog reads, "a WARM and sensuous background."

There's a thread entitled, "Are you a fan of Mary Magdalene?" Yes, I am. For Mary Magdalene, the catalog reads, "Beautiful Tea rose scent with a hint of myrrh." This is the rose that I can accurately apply the term "warm". It reminds me of cozy fireplace, and warm incense burning in the Catholic church.

Personally, cow manure imparts the most flavor to the plant, as in my Mom's veges and my roses now. I planted Mary Rose in a hole mixed with Moo-Cow compost from HomeDepot. Even the rose leaves were fragrant. The first Mary Rose was incredibly wonderful in scent.

A decade ago, the rose park nearby spreaded cow manure in the spring. All their HTs' were wonderfully scented that summer. Now they use chemical fertilizers. There were no bees on their roses, except for Eglantyne - which was the most fragrant.

I thought the "warm" scent was more as in the descriptions of spices. Warm would be like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove...those whose scents trigger a bodily reaction of warmth. Mint and eucalyptus would be cool scents, triggering a soothing coolness. I could be as off base as anyone, but that's what his statements about cool and warm have seemed to me. Kim

Thank you, Kim, for presenting the CORRECT definition of "warm". I was just making a joke on the catalog's misleading people - so folks, please take Kim's word, not mine.

I love the cool smell of eucalytus, and wonder if there is a rose with an eucalytus smell.

I'm sorry Strawberryhill! Yup, duh! things do often fly right by me. But, incense can be "warm" scented as well as "cool" depending upon what's in the mix. I missed the joke.

I am not sure I would want a eucalyptus scented rose. Sort of like Mentholatum or Vicks Vaporub. They're such weeds here we get their stink year round. When they flower, argh! Sickeningly sweet in the more humid night air. Now, citrus blossoms are clean, eucalyptus blossom is just overwhelming to me. Sticky sweet.

I agree with you that it feels as if their catalog is more than a little "over the top". I'm the first to admit my nose isn't the Gold Standard and that the same rose can look like a hundred different others depending upon location, climate, etc., but that catalog impresses me as redefining, "poetic license". A very lovely read as long as you consider much of it fiction. Kim

No scientist but I think it just makes sense that anything contributing to the growth of the plant would have some effect on the outcome of that growth, including the scent. The adage, garbage in, garbage out, comes to mind but maybe that's not the best comparison for roses, lol!

I agree. Anything that affects the plant's ability to create and utilize resources could affect any and all parts of it. Seil, perhaps manure in, manure out, wouldn't, but if you consider some of the junk that gets passed around as "good advice" for growing things as "garbage", your comment would be quite appropriate! Kim