The Rose Edit
See the Liberty Beauty Hall through rose-tinted lenses with this curation of botanical skincare, fragrance and candles
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The Rose Edit
See the Liberty Beauty Hall through rose-tinted lenses with this curation of botanical skincare, fragrance and candles
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘rose’? Maybe it’s Shakespeare’s favourite one liner (“A rose by any other name…”). Or Valentine’s day - a lover waiting in anxious anticipation, clutching a bunch of blooms. Perhaps it’s the age old advice to stop and smell the roses, or the warning that every rose has its thorns. The list of references is endless - from sayings to songs to poetry. But roses also conjure a medicinal history. The flower has been used in beauty products and herbal remedies for many thousands of years, dating as far back as Ancient Egypt, when Cleopatra was said to use rose oil in her baths.
Unlike many industry trends, roses remain central in beauty culture today - both as an ingredient and an inspiration. The sweet, delicate fragrance is nature’s most timeless scent, and the healing properties are myriad. As you might wander through a lush rose garden, below we take a walk around the Liberty Beauty Hall to explore some of the products influenced by the queen of flowers.
Dr Sebagh Rose de Vie Serum, £132
Harness the calming antioxidant properties of rose extract with Dr Sebagh’s intensely moisturising serum. Like a rose, it’s gentle and soft, but also protective (think of the thorns on a rose’s stem, guarding the delicate bloom). This serum works wonders for soothing and protecting irritated and sensitive skin, and is especially healing to use after laser treatment.
Shop nowRose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask
When it comes to skincare, 111Skin has the Midas touch. Known for their powerfully effective formulas (founder Yannis Alexandrides is a Harley Street cosmetic surgeon with 20 years of experience), the Rose Gold Brightening Mask is one of the brand’s signature products, famous for containing 24k gold and Damask rose. Apply the mask post-cleansing for 20 minutes for an instantly radiant, rose gold glow.
Shop nowChantecaille Pure Rosewater, £72
National Geographic claims that “the historical figure most associated with rose water is Ibn-i Sina, also known as Avicenna, a groundbreaking physician and a fixture in Persian courts during the 10th century B.C.” He was known to use rose water to treat many different ailments, including hangovers, memory problems and headaches. He probably would have loved Chantecaille’s Pure Rosewater, a refreshing mist designed to spritz on your face anytime you need to feel relaxed and revived.
Shop nowRose 31 Eau de Parfum, £234
Another image associated with roses is the abundant flower fields of Grasse, France’s fragrance capital and the place where so many of their finest botanical ingredients are grown. Le Labo’s Rose 31 is based on these flowers, and captures the scent of roses wafting past on a warm Southern French breeze. Whilst florals are often stereotyped as a feminine scent, Rose 31 contains spicy and woody notes to ground the sweetness, making it a unisex fragrance.
Shop nowMatiere Premiere Radical Rose, £220
Despite all the rose-related adages, one word that probably doesn’t spring to mind is ‘radical’. Not unless you’re perfumer Aurélien Guichard, who has elevated the rose to new heights with this stunning homage in scent. “My idea was to make a fragrance where you could feel the texture of the Absolute of Rose Centifolia,” he says. Made with the brand’s own organic Absolute, the fragrance is floral, powerful yet modern.
Shop nowLiberty LBTY. Wild Rosinda, £225
The most moody and mysterious of all the Liberty LBTY. fragrances, Wild Rosinda is based on the Decadent Blooms print, which itself was drawn from a painting unearthed in the Liberty archive. Perfumer Honorine Blanc focused on contrasting the intensity of a rose’s scent with its delicate nature, resulting in a fragrance that’s as innately glamorous and beguiling as the flower itself.
Shop nowDiptyque Roses Candle, £168
Another French perfume house beloved for their treatment of roses is, of course, Diptyque. Their Roses scented candle comes in a handmade porcelain holder, an elegant addition to any home which can be reused once you’ve burned through the candle inside. Inspired by a bouquet of roses blooming in winter, this candle makes the perfect gift (for yourself, or someone else) as autumn draws near.
Shop nowVyrao Rose Marie Candle, £165
Founded by Yasmin Sewell, a former fashion buyer, Vyrao combines her impeccable taste with her spiritual side. Each fragrance is made from natural ingredients and infused with healing energy. The brand’s Rose Marie scented candle represents love and enlightenment, and incorporates notes of violet leaf (for self-expression), patchouli (for grounding) and guaiac wood (for energy clearing). With 90 hours burn time, this four-wicked candle provides endless hours of fragrant relaxation.
Shop nowAstier De Villatte Cambridge Rose Incense Holder, £73
Perhaps you prefer incense over candles? Astier de Villate’s rose-shaped incense holder might not smell like roses, but the flower will never wilt. Handmade in the brand’s Parisian workshop, the piece is crafted from black terracotta clay and finished with their signature white glaze. Due to the handmade nature of the piece, each is completely unique - just like the flower that inspired it.
Shop nowBamford Rose Body Cream, £43
There’s nothing more indulgent than slathering yourself from top to toe in a rich, fragrant moisturiser - especially one that smells like the queen of flowers. Bamford’s rose body cream is inspired by the flowers growing in the walled garden at Daylesford House, where the brand is based. Containing notes of soothing chamomile and bright citrus, the cream is blended with argan oil and shea butter for a luxurious texture and deeply nourishing effect.
Shop nowAesop Rose Hair and Scalp Moisturising Masque
Turns out your hair loves roses just as much as your skin and your home. Over the years, Australian brand Aesop have become as beloved for their natural, herbaceous skincare as they are for their stylish minimalist packaging. In this product, they’ve created an intensive hydrating masque made from rose petal extract, designed to soothe dry and flaky scalps and leave hair as soft and glossy as Mother Nature intended.
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