Rose oil (rose otto, attar of rose, attar of roses or rose essence) is this essential oil extracted from the petals of Rosa damasnena. Rose oils are extracted through steam distillation, while rose absolutes are obtained through solvent extraction, the absolute being used more commonly in perfumery. Even with their high price and the advent of organic synthesis, rose oils are still perhaps the most widely used essential oil in perfumery.
Rose Essential Oil CAS 8007-01-0
Bulgarian “otto of rose” is a pale yellow or slightly olive-yellow liquid which separates white or colorless blades of crystals (the so-called stearopten) at temperatures below 21°C. When further cooled, the oil may solidify to a translucent mass, the crystals growing from the surface due to their lower specific gravity. The odorless stearopten amounts to 16 to 22% of the rose oil.
The odor of Bulgarian rose oil is warm, deep- floral, slightly spicy and immensely rich, truly reminiscent of red roses, often with nuances in the spicy and honeylike notes. The taste is slightly bitter at high concentration, biting-sharp, but becomes very pleasant in extreme dilutions.
Arctander, Steffen . Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin (p. 650)