Roses are sensitive to ethylene and respond to it by flower senescence. The goal of this research was to evaluate the vase life of rose cut flowers (Rosa × hybrida) treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a powerful inhibitor of ethylene action. These experiments were conducted with cultivars ‘Saphir’ and ‘Confetti’. Flowers were exposed to 1-MCP under hermetically sealed conditions at three concentrations (250, 500 or 750 ppb) for two exposure periods (6 h or 18 h). Flowers were removed to room temperature for vase life evaluation by flower senescence rating and leaf chlorosis measurement. Both cultivars responded better to 1-MCP during 18 hours exposure treatments. ‘Saphir’ flowers showed the best response at 250 ppb and ‘Confetti’ at 500 ppb of 1-MCP.