The finest the rose has to offer: the essential oil of rose

In the early morning, when the mist still hangs thick and heavy in the mountain valleys and the first rays of sunshine herald the new day, women and men set out to gather the most precious treasure of the damask rose - its wonderfully fragrant flowers. The fully opened flowers are harvested together with the calyx by twisting them very gently from the stem. They are then placed in the willow baskets which the women and men wear tied around their hips. The worker move quickly and silently between the myriad of rose bushes whose flowers range from the softest to the most brilliant shade of pink, producing a splendid display of colour that stands out against the radiantly blue morning sky. In this peaceful atmosphere work continues up to mid morning. The fragrant crop is then placed in huge sacks which can weigh as much as 12 kg.

After the weighing, the cooperative's truck takes the day's crop to the distillation factory where essential oil of rose is obtained from the splendid harvest.

next