Our Damascena Rose perfume
At Bon Parfumeur, several fragrances contain rose. Eau de Parfum 106 has a pronounced heart note of rose, signed by the top note of Damascena Rose. The perfume is combined with vanilla, and offers a complex, floral, powdery fragrance for the skin.
In the beginning...
The Damascena Rose, also known as Damask Rose or Rosa damascena, has been an emblematic flower in perfumery for thousands of years. Its history dates back to Antiquity and is considered one of the oldest and most prestigious roses in the world.
Its origins lie in the Middle East, more precisely in Syria, in the city of Damascus, from which it takes its name.
According to historical records, the first traces of Damascena Rose cultivation date back over 3000 years. The civilizations of ancient Egypt, Greece were already using the rose petals for its aromatic and medicinal properties.
It was also used in religious ceremonies and was considered a fragrance of beauty and love.
Over the centuries, the popularity of the Damascena Rose spread throughout Asia and Europe thanks to trade and travel. In the Middle Ages, it gained notoriety in Europe and its olfactory properties led to it being widely cultivated in royal gardens and monasteries.
It was at this time that the first essential oil extraction methods were developed, marking the beginning of its use in the perfume industry.
Damascena Rose has not waned in popularity in perfumery and continues to win the admiration of noses all over the world.
It is nevertheless used sparingly in eau de parfum, due to its price and regulations. Its olfactory power is such that this does not prevent it from adding depth to fragrances.
The cultivation of Damascena Rose
The Damascena Rose originated in the Middle East region, more specifically in Syria and Turkey. Westerners discovered the flower during the Crusades of the Middle Ages. The first to bring it back in his luggage was the knight Robert de Brie, from the town of Provins.
Over time, its cultivation for perfume spread to other parts of the world.
Bulgaria, Iran, India, Russia, and China have also become important producers of this precious flower.
Among all these regions, Bulgaria stands out and has produced some of the world’s best Damascena Roses. Climatic conditions, fertile soil and experience handed down from generation to generation have made Bulgaria an ideal location for growing this delicate rose.
The valleys of Bulgaria, particularly the Kazanlak valley, are renowned for producing a Damascena Rose of exceptional quality.
The cultivation of the Damascena Rose is based on a delicate, demanding process and traditional savoir-faire, passed down from generation to generation. The plant requires a specific climate to thrive: hot dry summers and relatively mild winters. It prefers well-drained soils rich in organic matter.
The cultivation of Damascena Rose can be propagated from seeds or by taking cuttings. However, cuttings are more common as they reproduce the specific characteristics of the mother plant. The cultivators need to be aware of the diseases and pests that can affect the crops.
The Damascena Rose flowering period is short, generally from May to June, depending on the growing region. It is during this period that roses are harvested by hand, early in the morning, before the sun rises and the essential oils are at their most concentrated. This traditional harvesting method guarantees the optimum quality of the extracted essential oils.
What do you know about Damascena rose in perfumery?
Once harvested, roses are quickly transported to distilleries to begin the process of extracting essential oils and absolutes. The most common extraction methods are:
• Steam distillation to produce essential oils and hydrolat.
• Volatile solvent extraction, which yields the absolute.
The latter is more widely used than essential oil as it is financially more profitable.
In distillation plants, roses are placed in a still and subjected to steam, allowing the essential oils and ingredients to evaporate. The essential oil-laden steam is then cooled and condensed to form a mixture of rose water and essential oil.
This mixture is then separated, and pure Damascena Rose essential oil is obtained. This essential oil is then used in eau de parfum, eau de toilette, spray and home fragrances.
Damascena Rose perfume is characterized by floral, aromatic, green, sweet notes, with spicy, fruity nuances in the background…
The main aromatic components of Damascena Rose essential oil include citronellol, geraniol, nerol and geranyl acetate. The signature molecule of the absolute is phenyl ethyl alcohol, which gives it its very honeyed facet.
Damascena Rose stands out from other roses thanks to its honeyed, spicy, and vinous character. For example, Rose de Grasse (Rosa centifolia), has a fruitier lychee note and less of a wine-like quality.
Famous perfumes with Damascena Rose
Damascena Rose is a highly prized ingredient in perfumery and is used in many fragrances renowned for their elegance, complexity, and sensuality.
Here are some of the famous fragrances that feature the Damascena Rose scent:
L'eau de parfum
Chanel - No. 5 : Created in 1921 by Ernest Beaux for Chanel, this women's fragrance features Damascena Rose blended with other white flowers and the fragrance's characteristic aldehydic notes.
Yves Saint Laurent - Paris: Launched in 1983, this iconic fragrance is a tribute to the city of Paris and the Damascena Rose, which occupies a central place in its formula along with violet. The latter's powdery note is also accompanied by orange blossom and citrus top notes.
Amouage - Lyric Woman: This sophisticated eau de parfum features Damascena Rose alongside other floral notes such as ylang-ylang and jasmine. Its base notes are composed of woods and spices like oakmoss, musk, vanilla and tonka bean.
Diptyque - Eau Rose: This fresh, delicate eau de parfum presents a modern interpretation of the Damascena Rose, with top notes of bergamot and blackcurrant and a base of white musk for a luminous, elegant fragrance.
Byredo - Rose of No Man's Land: Inspired by the nurses of the First World War, this fragrance highlights the Damascena Rose as a symbol of hope, with notes of pink pepper and raspberry for a contemporary touch.
These perfumes are just an example of the many creations celebrating the Damascena Rose scent in perfumery.
