Rose
The most celebrated flower in perfumery. Rose offers extraordinary complexity, from fresh and dewy to dark and jammy, depending on the variety and extraction method.
Fragrance Pyramid
Olfactive Character
Rich, complex, and endlessly varied. Rose can be fresh and citrusy (Damascena) or dark and honeyed (Centifolia). It pairs with virtually anything and provides both transparency and depth depending on how it is used.
Origin & Harvest
Rosa damascena from Turkey and Bulgaria is steam-distilled into rose otto. Rosa centifolia from Grasse is solvent-extracted into rose absolute. Both are extraordinarily expensive. Approximately 4,000 kg of petals produce 1 kg of rose otto.
Key Molecules
Citronellol provides the fresh, rosy character. Geraniol adds sweetness. Damascenone, at trace levels, provides much of the richness. Phenylethyl alcohol contributes a green, slightly honey-like facet.
Safety & Regulation
Contains known allergens including citronellol, geraniol, and farnesol. IFRA compliant at standard use levels. One of the most well-studied natural materials in fragrance safety.
In Perfumery
Present in more perfumes than any other material. Essential to Joy by Jean Patou, No. 5 by Chanel, and Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. In KIDA KYO, rose brings floral complexity and beauty.
History
Roses have been cultivated for their scent for over 5,000 years. Rose water production in Persia dates to the 10th century. The Grasse rose harvest remains one of perfumery's most celebrated traditions.
