Teas with fragrance

12 years ago

This has been my first summer growing a couple of teas and noisettes. Obviously, they are gorgeous (Marie Van Houtte was exceptional.) but they were also (again, obviously) stellar performers in my humid garden. I'm waiting to see how they over-winter; I am worried about some. I am planning on adding more to my small collection in the spring and what I want to ask is, in addition to Mrs. B.R. Cant, which ones are fragrant?

I mean: for real.

Also, those with experience, could you mention if some teas happened to develop fragrance as they grew older. If so, which ones? Or if there were certain times when they surprised you by being fragrant when usually they were not?

I know I've read on this forum that many of you cannot detect any fragrance on tea roses and, yet, one hears more about that "tea" fragrance than almost any other rose scent. Is it a marketing myth?

I have a good sense of smell and even when I cut some of my tea roses and bring them indoors and place them under a warm lamp, I cannot smell a thing, especially not an fff rating.

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Comments (9)

gnabonnand
12 years ago
Duchesse de Brabant is my favorite smelling rose of any kind. I've never smelled any other tea rose that comes close. But all noses are different. You'll get a different opinion from every "nose" you ask.

Randy
sherryocala
12 years ago
Duquesa has an incredible fragrance on the bush and in a vase. I cut one last year and set it on the window sill in a vase. The next morning the fragrance was identical to when it was first cut and even 24 hours later. Duchesse de Brabant has a lovely fragrance, but for some reason it was very elusive to my nose. First whiff was fine, but the second wasn't there. Very strange. Both are very delicious. Duquesa is never elusive, even in the heat.

Sherry

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joshtx
12 years ago
The Duchesse is magnificent. Perhaps 'Ducher' would do well for you? Also take a look Into the Tea-Noisette class. 'Madame Alfred Carriere' is heavenly here. 'Lamarque' has a nice scent. And if you don't mind venturing outside of the Tea class, I am currently in the throes of a love affair with the Hybrid Musk 'Penelope.'

Josh
titian1 10b Sydney
12 years ago
Anna Olivier, I think, has a lovely scent, and D de B smells deliciously of raspberries. I love the perfume of Angel's Camp Tea (Octavus Weld Here). Misty Downs, a rose supplier here in Australia, rates fragrance strength, if you want to have a look. I have found their info pretty reliable, except for size. Mine seem to exceed what they say.
sidos_house
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so much, Everyone, for the suggestions. The incredibly lovely Janet (floridarosez9) has gifted me with cuttings of Duchesse de Brabant and I hoping I can keep them alive through the colder months. I am delighted to hear she is a fragrant treasure. The pictures I have seen of her are exquisite.

I did plant Lamarque, MAC, and Penelope this summer! Glad to know I am on the right track.

I will add Duquesa, Ducher, Anna Oliver, and Angel's Camp Tea to my list. Please let me know if there are others I should be considering.

Thanks again.
zjw727
12 years ago
Lady Hillingdon has an intoxicating scent, like ripe apricots.
hartwood
12 years ago
The elusive Tea scent escapes my nose. I have been told that 'Mrs. B. R. Cant' is quite fragrant. In fact, our friend Nick Weber uses it as the test flower to see if folks can detect the tea scent.

A Tea that I CAN smell is 'Rubens'. I cut a flower last week, and it was wonderfully fragrant on my kitchen windowsill for many days. (Nothing quite touches the fragrance of the spray of R. moschata that's on my windowsill right now, though. Wow!)

Connie
sidos_house
Original Author
12 years ago
Good morning! Thank you for the additional recommendations. Lady Hillingdon is on my wish list, so I am pleased to know she has a sweet fragrance. I love the scent of apricots.

I will look into Rubens this morning. It's inspiring to hear that she has a perfume to someone who normally cannot detect the "tea" fragrance! I'd love to know more about Nick's tea-smelling-ability results.

I've read about R. moschata. The older threads on fragrance and wafting are my favorites and I return to them time and time again.
Rachel.E
12 years ago
My kids think Ducher smells like peaches. :-]

I also think Monsier Tillier smells lovely. Not as strong as Mrs BR Cant, but still wonderful. My Duchesse de Brabant isn't terribly fragrant to my nose, but she's also still very small. Hopefully as she gets larger, and her blooms are larger, I will enjoy her fragrance more.