Rose absolute, a highly concentrated and luxurious fragrance, is created through a two-step process. First, a waxy concentrate called concrete is produced, followed by the extraction of the absolute itself.
Step 1: Creating the Concrete
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Flower Harvesting: Fresh blossoms, typically from Rosa damascena (Damask Rose), are harvested. The timing is crucial for optimal fragrance yield.
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Solvent Extraction: The rose petals are immersed in a solvent, often liquid hexane, within large vats called alembics. This allows the fragrant compounds to dissolve into the solvent over several hours.
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Solvent Removal: The solvent is carefully removed through gentle heating under vacuum conditions. This leaves behind a waxy substance – the rose concrete. This concrete retains the rich fragrance of the rose petals.
Step 2: Extracting the Absolute
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Alcohol Extraction: The rose concrete is then treated with pure alcohol. This dissolves the fragrant components from the waxy material.
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Alcohol Removal: Similar to the first step, the alcohol is gently removed under vacuum, leaving behind the highly concentrated and fragrant rose absolute oil.
This process results in a richer, more complex aroma than rose essential oil, which is extracted via steam distillation. Rose absolute is prized for its deep, intense, and luxurious scent profile.
The resulting rose absolute is a powerful and highly valued fragrance ingredient used in perfumes, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.
