Character
The Story of Oriental rose
Oriental rose captures the opulent, spicy heart of Rosa Damascena as it has been cultivated across Persia, Turkey, and Morocco for millennia. This note bridges ancient perfumery traditions with modern fragrance.
Heritage
Rose flowers have appeared in Chinese and Sanskrit texts for thousands of years, but the rose we call Oriental traces its heritage to ancient Persia and the Byzantine Empire around the 5th century. These civilizations established foundational extraction techniques that spread eastward and westward. Persia emerged as a key trade hub where rose cultivation and perfumery intersected with the incense routes. Under the Ottoman Empire, rose cultivation expanded dramatically, particularly in Bulgaria's Rose Valley, which became the world's leading producer of rose otto by the 19th century. Today, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Morocco's Valley of Roses continue this living tradition, producing rose materials that connect modern perfumery to practices established over a millennium ago.
At a Glance
2
Feature this note
Turkey
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Steam distillation, Solvent extraction
Flower petals
Did You Know
"It takes approximately 3.5 to 4 tonnes of rose petals to produce just 1 kg of rose otto, the prized essential oil."