Eternal roses: what they really are and how long they last

Let's get straight to the point, even though it does not help sales: eternal roses are not eternal. They are preserved roses, and they last between one and three years in good conditions.

What they are

They are real roses, cut at their peak, whose sap is replaced with a solution of vegetable glycerin. Without water there is no decomposition; with glycerin they do not become brittle like a dried flower. Then they are dyed, because the process bleaches them.

The result is a real flower —not an artificial one— with a texture and look very close to a fresh rose's, which needs neither water nor light.

How long they really last

• One to three years under normal conditions.
• Longer if they are inside a glass dome, which is the best-selling format and also protects them from dust.
• Less, much less, if they get direct sun or are in a humid room.

Over time the color dulls, the edges of the petals darken and the texture starts to give. It is a long-lasting product, not a permanent one.

Why they cost what they cost

Three things: they start from roses of higher-than-average quality, the process takes several days and requires industrial facilities, and in Argentina most of them are imported. It is not an arbitrary markup, even if margins in the trade are high.

When they make sense

• An important anniversary, where permanence is part of the message.
• A long-distance relationship: nobody has to look after it or change its water.
• An office or a shop with nobody to handle upkeep.
• A room without natural light, where a plant would not survive.
• Someone who moves often or travels a lot.

When they do not

• If the gesture is what matters and not the object. A fresh flower has fragrance and has an end, and that is part of what it communicates.
• If the budget is tight. For the price of one eternal rose you can send several fresh bouquets over the year, and for many occasions that is worth a lot more.
• If the person enjoys caring for flowers. For someone who likes changing the water, a rose under a dome is an ornament, not a gift.

Care

No water, no direct sun, no high humidity, and dust them with a hair dryer on cool. That's all. The full comparison with dried and fresh flowers is in preserved, dried and fresh flowers.