Victorian Rose using Tip #97

If I didn't know better, I'd swear Wilton was trying to keep the very existence of the Victorian Rose a secret. Are they worried it'll pull focus from their signature flower, The Wilton Rose (insert registered trademark symbol here)? Well, if they're not, they should be; unlike The Wilton Rose, the Victorian Rose actually looks like the real deal. There's no mention of the Victorian Rose in Decorating Cakes: A Reference & Idea Book. There is, however, a tiny little text box in the Flowers and Cake Design book that accompanies the course of the same name that reads: "For a Victorian Rose, use tip #97 and pipe following the directions for the Wilton Rose." So, if by now you're wondering what all the fuss is about, I'm going to show you. Pull together the following setup: a piping bag loaded with stiff consistency royal icing (or buttercream, if you're so inclined), fitted with a coupler and a round tip #12, a tip #97 on standby, a non-toxic glue stick, a rose nail (rose template decal optional; I have several rose nails each bearing every available template decal), one parchment paper square for each rose you're making, and a Styrofoam block, so you'll have someplace to set the nail when your phone rings.

 Here is a closeup shot of the tips you'll be using. #12 is on the bag, and on the left is tip #97. You'll notice the hole is "S" shaped; one curve of the "S" is wider. The wide end is kept against the base while you're piping; the narrow end is held outwards. It's this curve that gives the petals their curled-over shape that really sets this rose apart.

Incidentally, this is what a standard rose tip looks like; teardrop-shaped:

 Begin by piping your bases. Put a dab from the glue stick in the center of the nail, attach a parchment paper square, and hold the #12 tip perpendicular to and just above it.

 Squeeze hard and slowly pull back on the tip; your goal is to form a shape comparable to a Hershey's Kiss. When the shape is just about right, stop pressure and remove the tip.

 Here is a variety of bases, ready to go.

Allow them to firm up for a while; I go into the reason why in this post (graphic stuff not for the faint of heart). Basically, the rose on the left had a firm base, the rose on the right did not:

 As you may know, there are a million tutorials for piping the Wilton Rose, including the official one on the Wilton site. Check it out for the tip angle, pressure, nail rotation, etc.; I lose my mind trying to explain that sort of information in a unique way. What I will show you is the formation of the rose as the 4 steps occur. First, here's the center petal that wraps around the top of the base:

 That's followed by the three overlapping petals…

 …and then five just below that. Note the distinct shape of the petals' edges:

 Here is a side view. It's a bit blurry, but you can definitely see the curl on the petals.

 Finally, here is the rose with the layer of seven petals piped at the base.

At this point, I'm pretty much going to drill holes in all my old standard rose tips and turn them into earrings. Or a tiara…