Mood Board: Enchanted Rose

Tales of animal brides and grooms have been told for millennia and are often allegories that elude to the anxieties of marriage and the importance of “not judging a book by its cover.”

Beauty and the Beast is perhaps the most well-known of these fairytales. In the original story the enchanted rose is a bit different than in modern retellings in that the rose itself isn’t magical but it sets the stage for the entire story. ‘Beast’ has been cursed to his monstrous form by an enchantress. A man attempts to pick a rose from Beasts’ garden to give to ‘Beauty,’ his youngest daughter. Upon getting caught, Beast offers the punishment options of death or life, only if the man were to give him one of his daughters. Not quite being the father of the year, he agrees to give one of his teenage daughters to the Beast. It was because of the theft of the rose that Beauty finds herself living with the Beast. Luckily for Beauty, what began as a nightmare turned into a fairytale love story as Beast’s only hope for release from his beastly disguise is a willing bride who must fall in love with him on her own accord.

A tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast has all the fairytale flair you could ask for with a stolen rose, a cursed prince (the most handsome Beauty has ever seen, of course), a huge castle, and trunks full of treasure. As they say, every rose has a thorn. Beauty and the Beast has an obvious undercurrent of darkness; a dichotomy of poverty and wealth, forced marriage, isolation, and untold anguish due to a magical curse.

Rose: The rose in all of its many versions has been cherished for thousands of years from the earliest of ancient societies on through modern times. From elaborate gardens to fine essential oils to stylized representations, the rose has adorned artwork, been used in goddess worship, has decorated countless weddings, and has even been used in the embalming process of Egyptian mummies. Rose represents love, beauty, youthfulness, and purity. It’s no wonder why this beloved flower would be chosen to play such an important role in storytelling as well.

Orris Root: Orris root is the root of the beautiful iris flower. It has a scent similar to violet and gives fragrances more depth. It is often used as a fixative in perfumes to enhance other aromas. 

Bergamot: Bergamot is an orangey-smelling citrus that is often used as a sweet top note in fragrances. In this one it tones down the heavy floral base which gives this fragrance a more broad appeal.

Enchanted Rose is a complex and slightly sweet rose fragrance that is sure to charm even the most savage beast.