Character
The Story of Turkey Red Rose
Rosa damascena, the Damask rose, is the most coveted rose in fine perfumery. Cultivated primarily in Turkey's Isparta region for over a century, it yields a rich, deep fragrance with fruity, honeyed, and subtly spicy layers that anchor some of the world's most iconic fragrances.
Heritage
The Damask rose traces its origins to Ancient Persia, where physicians and perfumers first documented its extraordinary fragrance. Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, was among the earliest scholars to praise rose essence for its calming effect on the mind. Persian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations all incorporated rose into unguents, skincare rituals, and ceremonial preparations. The rose traveled westward with traders and conquerors, eventually reaching Turkey where Ottoman cultivators perfected its production into a celebrated art. The establishment of Turkey's first large rose oil distillery in Isparta in 1934 marked the transition from cottage industry to industrial-scale production. Today, the provinces of Isparta and Burdur supply roughly 50% of the world's annual rose oil output, a figure that has defined Turkish rose's central role in fine fragrance for generations.
At a Glance
1
Feature this note
Turkey
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Steam distillation
Fresh flower petals
Did You Know
"Distilleries need approximately 4 metric tons of hand-picked rose blossoms to produce just 1 kilogram of rose otto."