The Scent of Roses

by fra Ljudevit Maračić

When Roses Bloom Without Fragrance

Even May is no longer what it once was. Roses still bloom, but their fragrance seems to be fading. Poets - and all who share their romantic sensibility - remind us that what matters most is that the rose retains its symbolism. For some, that symbolism is life itself. Josef Maria Rilke once wrote of a joyful encounter with a poor old woman. Having nothing else to offer, he gave her a single fragrant rose. She disappeared for a week - simply sitting with the rose, breathing in its fragrance as though it sustained her.

The Tale of the Proud Rose

This spring month brings to mind many stories -  some uplifting, others cautionary - about the queen of flowers. One is the tale of the rose who took great pride in her beauty. She resented the plain insects that landed on her petals, especially the stink bugs who dared to drink her perfume. Wounded in her pride, the rose asked a spider to weave a dense web around her to keep the “unworthy” visitors away. The insects who tried to approach were caught in the web and died.

But the rose had been hoping for butterflies and bees - and these more desirable guests, faced with the deadly threads and the lifeless insects, began to avoid her as well. The proud rose was left alone and grew old in solitude. This parable reminds us that beauty, when kept only for a chosen few, becomes a lonely possession.

Learning to Share the Fragrance

It is not only the rose that can be selfish. Even the one who owns it can jealously guard it, when the true joy would be in sharing it with others. In his short story My Three Roses, Robert Philippe describes how he cared day and night, winter and summer, for three roses he adored. When they bloomed one spring, their perfume was so intoxicating that he could not resist picking them. One, two, three roses - he walked delighted, lost in his own thoughts. He did not notice he had wandered near a prison. On the other side of the wall, a hundred men were shouting and cursing. Still, he admired his bouquet: one, two, three roses. Suddenly the noise of a fight broke out. Philippe stood on tiptoe,took his roses, and threw them over the wall. The prisoners rushed for the fragrant flowers, and silence fell. The poet, now empty-handed, felt an even greater joy - the joy of having given happiness away.

The Wisdom of the Hermits

Even centuries ago, the symbolism of the rose was understood. An old story tells of two hermits who planted and cared for roses. The younger delighted in contemplating their beauty and breathing in their fragrance. The elder, however, carefully cut blooms to offer to passersby. “What are you doing?” the younger asked. “Don’t you regret giving away this beauty?” The elder replied wisely: “A rose carefully cut leaves its fragrance for a long time on the fingers of the one who gives it.”

The Invitation of the Rose

This spring, try it yourself. Offer a rose to someone for whom it might mean a great deal.You will feel the fragrance linger - on your hand or in your heart - long after the flower is gone.

Our Modern Love Letter to Roses

At Fivessi, we carry this timeless message into our Girl Made of Rose Shampoo and Conditioner - a collection designed to honor the elegance, softness, and quiet strength of the rose. Infused with gentle botanicals and nourishing ingredients, these formulas bring the beauty of the rose to your daily ritual, leaving your hair soft, delicately scented, and full of life. Because sharing beauty - just like sharing the fragrance of a rose - makes the world a little brighter.