Along with the other noteworthy roses shown on these pages, the following old roses are favorites of rosarians for fragrance.

'Alba Semiplena' (an alba rose). White, extremely fragrant semidouble blooms; plant is disease resistant. 6 feet tall, 4 to 5 feet wide. Not a repeat bloomer.

'Belle Isis' (Gallica). Medium pink, wonderfully perfumed. 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Not a repeat bloomer.

Cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia). The rose in paintings by old Dutch masters. Medium to deep pink, heady perfume. 6 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Not a repeat bloomer.

'Comte de Chambord' (Portland). Silvery pink blooms; pungent, old-fashioned scent. 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide. Continuous bloomer.

'Crepuscule' (Noisette), sometimes sold as Twilight. Double blooms of gold with ruffled petals, strong fragrance. 12 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Repeat bloomer.

"Darlow's Enigma" (ancestry unknown). Plant will grow in full shade. Small white blooms in clusters, richly fragrant. 8 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Repeat bloom.

'Ferdinand Pichard' (hybrid perpetual). Candy pink with stripes of deep crimson, aging to purple. 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide. Repeat bloomer.

'Francesca' (hybrid musk). Soft apricot semidouble blooms in clusters have the pungent fragrance of honeysuckle. 5 to 6 feet tall and as wide. Continuous bloomer.

'Henri Martin' (moss). Crimson red, many petals; strong, old rose fragrance. 5 to 7 feet tall by 6 feet wide. Not a repeat bloomer.

'Mme Hardy' (damask). White bloom with a green eye, very fragrant. 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Not a repeat bloomer.

'Mme Isaac Pereire' (Bourbon). Raspberry purple; one of the most fragrant of all roses. 5 to 6 feet tall by 4 or 5 feet wide. Continuous bloomer.

'Reine des Violettes' (hybrid perpetual). Deep violet purple, marvelously fragrant. 7 feet tall by 5 or 6 feet wide. Continuous bloomer.

'Rose de Rescht' (Portland). Bright fuchsia, wonderful fragrance. Compact, 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide. Repeat bloomer.

'Souvenir de la Malmaison' (Bourbon). Light pink, spicy sweet. Compact, 4 to 5 feet tall, and 4 feet wide. Continuous bloomer.

Sources:

Arena Roses: (888) 466-7434. Free catalog.

Edmunds' Roses: (503) 682-1476. Free catalog.

Heirloom Roses: (503) 538-1576. $5 catalog.