The Romans & Roses

“ I am of opinion… that the unguents which have been the most universally adopted, are those which are compounded of the rose” Pliny the Elder, author, naturalist & commander in the Roman army (23-79 CE)

2000 years ago, roses were cultivated throughout the Roman Empire, but their oil was a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford.

Rose oil has always been highly prized and hugely pricey as it is so difficult and time consuming to produce.  Even today, roses still have to be harvested by hand as they are so delicate –  and it takes 4000 kilos of petals to make 1 kilo of oil!

Some Romans went to extraordinary lengths to create a rose scented ambience.

The emperor Nero, amongst his many excesses, built special pipes into his palace so guests could be showered with rose water when they attended banquets.  The Emperor Elagabalus, on a similar theme, had a special hinged roof made above his banqueting table. Petals were poured over his guests and, it is said, that one guest was smothered with so many petals that he was asphyxiated.

In the early 1900s, rose perfumes were all the rage in the cities of Europe, but later in the century, they began to fall out of fashion.  This was partly due to the use of poor quality synthetic rose oil and partly because rose was considered a bit sweet for modern taste.

However, in recent years, we have seen some exciting rose fragrances emerge from niche brands, with perfumers using beautiful natural rose oil and balancing it with fresher notes.

In A Tribute to Edith, our perfumer has combined Rosa Damascena with Rhubarb and our own Geranium.  This has a citrus element and a hint of mint, bringing the composition right up to date.  A modern classic.

As you would expect, geranium oil has a definite rose scent. But it also has a citrussy, slightly minty freshness with additional earthiness. This gives it a contemporary edge. And this is the reason why it is frequently used by perfumers, either on its own or blended with rose absolute.

Sustainably Produced

Vegan. Cruelty Free. Phthalate Free

At Parterre Fragrances we produce rare perfume defined by the unique natural ingredients that we grow and distil on our botanic, sustainable estate, and expertly crafted by our Master Perfumer in Grasse.

We create these genuinely rare fragrances by working with the natural elements of the environment and the extraordinary world of plants and their botanical properties. Each year a finite number of bottles of perfume are created from each extraction, to offer a true limited edition eau de parfum.