TUDOR ROSE
Henry VIII and His Time
At KLEIO, our goal is to not only recreate aromas of the past but also to share the fascinating history behind each candle.
When you read the mood-setting narrative for Tudor Rose, you can imagine being in the room with Henry VIII as he contemplates his great matter. The Tudor Rose candle recreates the aromas of Henry VIII's court in 16th century Tudor England.
Henry VIII is remembered as a tyrannical king, husband to six wives with a legendary appetite and a penchant for royal propaganda. Like him or loathe him, it is perhaps easy to dismiss Henry VIII as a bloated monarch who executed two of his wives and terrorized his subjects. But in his early years, he was known as an intelligent, genial, and handsome royal. And his seismic impact on history—even felt today—is without dispute.
As the second-born son, Henry was not heir apparent — that honor was bestowed to his older brother Arthur, who recently wed Katherine of Aragon. However, when his older brother Arthur died suddenly from illness in 1502, Henry was catapulted onto the world stage, still a boy but soon a king.
Henry VII died in 1509. His son Henry, who became Henry VIII, was crowned king at age 17. His royal lineage, of both Yorkist and Lancastrian blood, served as the symbolic birth of a new era in English history.
Henry VIII ruled England for 38 years. Many of Henry VIII's actions as king still resonate today. Henry VIII was indeed a paradox in his later years: a strong ruler, yet a deeply anxious, insecure man, feared by his closest advisors, his court, and his subjects. However, it could be argued that Henry VIII, in many ways, had a hand in crafting our modern world. His reign included the decision to break with Rome, the Reformation, and the dissolution of the monasteries, all having profound and lasting effects.
TUDOR ROSE: Behind the Name
Originating under the House of Tudor, the Tudor Rose is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England. The Tudor rose consists of five white inner petals, representing the House of York (Henry VIII's mother's line), and five red outer petals to represent the House of Lancaster (Henry VIII's father's line). Upon the occasion of Henry VII's marriage to Elizabeth of York, he adopted the Tudor rose badge, conjoining both houses.
SMELL
Imagine walking into Henry VIII's privy chamber at Hampton Court Palace. Lavishly appointed, you marvel at the rich decadence afforded only to a monarch. As you make your way deeper into the room, you pick up on the aroma of Henry's unmistakable perfume.
In creating Tudor Rose, we extensively researched the aromas of the court of Henry VIII, focusing on the period before the break with Rome and when he was actively courting Anne Boleyn.
Perfumes were used in the sixteenth century as luxuries by those who could afford it. Expensive clothing and fabrics were heavily embroidered and would have not withstood the effects of regular washing. Instead, clothes were perfumed with powders and oils from plants. Henry VIII preferred the aromas of Damascus rose, his signature fragrance, as well as orange blossom water and lavender.
Under Henry VIII, Damascus roses filled the gardens and the corridors of his palaces. Exotic Damascus roses were first introduced into England around 1522 as a gift to Henry VIII from his physician, Dr. Thomas Linacre. Subsequently, Henry made Damascus rose his chosen personal scent. He so loved the fragrance of the Damascus rose that he added Damascus rosebushes to Hampton Court in 1529, ordering the planting of more than 100 rosebushes around the palace.
The scent of roses defined Henry VIII's presence in court and Tudor power in the 16th century. The unmistakable trail of his Damascus rose perfume, mixed with a subtle notes of orange blossoms and lavender, was Henry VIII's signature aroma, lingering in the air long after he left the room. There would be no question for those who came in after: the king was here.
KLEIO's Tudor Rose candle features fragrance notes of rosa damascena, English rose water, lavender, orange blossom, dark leather, and smoke.
The Tudor Rose, the heraldic emblem of England, takes its name and origins from the House of Tudor
TUDOR ROSE
Time Travel is Possible
Join us! Become a KLEIO Time Traveler. Receive the latest news, special offers, and exclusive history-focused content just for Time Travelers. Sign up today.