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Rose
The cultivated roses that yield our Damask rose oil. The Damask
rose is Rosa damascena, so-called from its origin in Damascus, Syria.
It has been cultivated for essential oil production in both Bulgaria
and Turkey for several centuries, where it requires very specific
soil and weather conditions to thrive.
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 The
Damask rose thrives in the beautiful, wide Kazanluk valley in Bulgaria,
also known as the "valley of the roses." Organically grown,
it requires much TLC year-round.
The yield of its steam-distilled oil is extremely low, hence its costliness
and old nickname, "rose otto" ("otto" is derived
from the Arabic "attar," meaning "essence"). Despite
its prohibitive cost, Rose oil is invaluable in aromatherapy for both
its sublime fragrance and for its clinical effects, especially in
gynecology, and to this day remains an ingredient in a few high-class
perfumes. |
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 Damask
rose is also cultivated elsewhere in small pockets, as by this family
in one of the many Himalayan valleys in North India. This family is
typical of the kind of small-scale artisanal production of essential
oils found all over the world, and specializes in producing small
batches of organic Rose oil. |
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 Rose
distilleries everywhere have to be dedicated to rose oil production
alone, and are maintained throughout the year just in readiness for
the four to six weeks of production during May and June. Steam distillation
is still the preferred process, although nowadays the Damask rose
absolute is also available in smaller quantities. |
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