Rose oil

 

Rose oil, meaning either rose otto (attar of rose, attar of roses) or rose absolute, is the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of rose. Rose ottos are extracted through steam distillation, while rose absolutes are obtained through solvent extraction or supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, with the absolute being used more commonly in perfumery. Even with their high price and the advent of organic synthesis, rose oils are still perhaps the most widely used essential oil in perfumery.

Components

Two major species of rose are cultivated for the production of rose oil:

• Rosa damascena, the damask rose, which is widely grown in Bulgaria,
• Rosa centifolia, the cabbage rose, which is more commonly grown in Morocco, France and Egypt

Most rose oil is produced in Bulgaria, Morocco, Iran and Turkey. Recently, China has begun producing rose oil as well.
The most common chemical compounds present in rose oil are:

phenyl-ethyl alcohol                   from   45.0 to 71. 

citronelol                                   from  6.0 to 12. geraniol                                     from 2.5 to 7.5 nerol                                         from   1.5 to 6.5 evgenol                                     from   0.9 to 2.2 ethyl alcohol                              up     0    to 2.0 methyl evgenol                          from   0.3 to 0.8

The key flavor compounds that contribute to the distinctive scent of rose oil, however, are beta-damascenone, beta-damascone, beta-ionone, and rose oxide. Beta-damascenone presence and quantity is considered as the marker for the quality of rose oil. Even though these compounds exist in less than 1% quantity of rose oil, they make up for slightly more than 90% of the odor content due to their low odor detection thresholds.

Where can I buy rose oil?

If you wish to buy rose oil from Bulgaria click here.