Finding The Best Black Roses: Our Research & Advice

Let’s talk black roses!

The perfect accessory for a spooky costume or just an eclectic choice for decoration in a mid-century home, black roses come in several varieties.

Among the more popular options are so called “forever roses.”

Forever roses occupy a space between fresh and silk—they ARE fresh roses that have been treated with preservatives. Exactly how that process works varies from maker to maker, but most use a solution that keeps the rose’s structure and shape. Yes, forever roses are often bleached and dehydrated, then colored/dyed to a desired hue (in this case, black, of course).

One key question: do forever roses last, well, forever?

Well, it depends on how you define forever! Most forever rose sellers say the roses will last for one to three years. And that explains the appeal of forever roses . . . they look like fresh roses, yet last much longer than fresh roses.

Then there are forever roses that are dipped in gold—these have an even longer life, as you might expect.

Another question we heard from readers: do forever roses have a scent?

No. The preservation process removes the scent, so if you are looking for that, fresh roses are your best bet.

After surveying our parent readers about forever roses and doing a hands-on inspection of several popular brands, here are some of our tips:

• Do NOT water forever roses! This damages the roses.

• Keep roses at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.

• The dye on forever roses can stain fabrics, so be careful when handing.

• Leave forever roses in the container they arrive in—most ship in a display box.

After spending several hours researching various brands and gathering real-world feedback from our readers, here are the black roses we would recommend.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!