Rugosa Rose  The original rugosa roses apparently arrived in Europe some time in the late 1700s.  By the end of the nineteenth century, people began to recognize the attributes of rugosa roses.  Their extreme cold hardiness and disease resistance is a plus.  They soon found that rugosas could be crossed with just about any other type of rose to yield an attractive and worthwhile shrub.  Rugosas actually prefer light, sandy soils and tolerate salt air well.  They are immune or extremely resistant to black spot and powdery mildew.   I think it is one of the sweetest scented rose I have ever smelled.