Damask rose

Damask rose (Rosa damascena) is one of the most important rose varieties in perfumery. Cultivated mainly in Bulgaria, Turkey and Iran, it provides rose essential oil (rose otto) and rose absolute, obtained respectively by steam distillation and solvent extraction. Its olfactory profile is rich, floral, slightly spicy and honeyed.

Damask rose, undisputed queen of floral perfumery

Damask rose (Rosa damascena) is a hybrid rose variety whose exact origin remains debated, but which has been cultivated for centuries in regions of the Middle East, the Balkans and Central Asia. The main production areas for perfumery are the Valley of the Roses in Bulgaria, the Isparta region in Turkey and certain regions of Iran.

Two main materials are extracted from its flowers: rose otto, an essential oil obtained by steam distillation, and rose absolute, obtained by solvent extraction. These two materials present slightly different olfactory profiles: the otto is fresher and greener, the absolute richer and deeper. Both are among the most expensive natural raw materials in perfumery.

In perfumery, Damask rose is a fundamental material, present in countless classic and contemporary compositions. Its rich floral profile, slightly spicy, honeyed and with fruity facets, makes it an essential heart ingredient in florals, chypres, orientals and fougères. It is often paired with jasmine to form the heart of the great classics of perfumery.