Rose perfumes

Rose perfumes are prepared from attar of roses or rose oil, which is a combination of volatile essential oils obtained by steam-distilling the trampled petals of roses. The method originated in Persia then spread through Arabia and India, but nowadays about 70% to 80% of production is in the Rose Valley near Kazanluk in Bulgaria, with some production in Qamsar in Iran and Germany. The Kaaba in Mecca is yearly washed by the Iranian rose water from Qamsar. In Bulgaria, Iran and Germany, damask roses are used. In the French rose oil industry Rosa centifolia is used. The oil, pale yellow or yellow-grey in color, is sometimes called 'Rose Absolute' oil to differentiate it from watery versions. The weight of oil extracted is about one three-thousandth to one six-thousandth of the weight of the flowers; for example, about 2,000 flowers are necessary to produce one gram of oil.