ROSE OTTO | Essential Oil

Amongst the several thousands of existing species and cultivars, only a handful of roses are used in perfumery, with Rosa Damascena, the Damask Rose, reigning supreme. A hybrid of both Rosa Gallica and Rosa Moschata with some genetic contributions from Rosa Fedtschenkoana. R. Damascena is believed to have first been cultivated In Persia, now Iran, in the early centuries of the common era before being introduced to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions in the 17th century. Nowadays, the cultivation and distillation of roses plays a notable role in Bulgaria’s economy, with traditional extraction techniques having been passed down from generation to generation and guarded with much secrecy.

While solvent-extracted Rose absolute can produce a yield of 0.25%, the precious Rose Otto, or Rose essential oil, is far more precious and laborious in nature; it takes an estimated 4 tons of rose petals to produce a single kilogram, which are picked and processed between the months of May to June. Among the dispersed regions where R. Damascena oil is produced, Kazanlak, Bulgaria is renowned for its artisanal, small-batch production and family-owned operations.

Rose Otto (a name derived from ‘rose attar’)’s aromatic profile is crisp, floral, and uplifting, with notable green, citric, and aquatic facets, similar to that of a fresh-cut stem, with subtle peppery undertones. It projects a scent both carnal and clean, which far overpowers that of the deeper, almost creamy-in-comparison absolute in its brightness and volatility. It is a precious artifact in the perfumer’s arsenal, and is equally prized for its uses in skin care as well as aromatherapy.

ASPECTS: floral · citrus · green · full-bodied · bright
APPEARANCE: pale yellow to colorless, transparent, slightly viscous, mobile liquid
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Bulgaria
PLANT PART: flower

Presented in a 5ml or 15ml black glass bottle with a euro dropper top that may have to be removed depending on the viscosity of the item selected. Please note that essential oils and absolutes vary widely in thickness and consistency.