ATTAR OF ROSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2161, 25 July 1895, Page 48

ATTAR OF ROSES.

Six Thousand Milli6k Roses A Yeab.

Although the art of making attar of roses was originally discovered in Persia, its manufactuve is now mainly confided to a traot of laud about 70 miles in length and 10 in breadth, in the immediate neighbourhood of the famous Shipka Pass.

On this ground it is estimated that from five to six thousand millions of rose blossoms are grown annually, nine-tenths of them comirg from a bushy variety of the damaßl? rose.

In order to obtain the precious perf ame in the largest quantity and best condition, the flowers -must be cat while the dew is still on them. Every morning, therefore, during the season of bloom, which lasts from about May 20 to June 2Q, troops of boys and gills climb the mountain slopes, long before sunrise, to gather the freshly-opened flowers, which are thrown- into baskets and immediately taken to the distillery, it being important to finish the operation on the day that the flowers are gathered. '

As the baskets are received their contents are piled in cool, dark store-rooms, from which they are taken for distillation.

The stills are made of tinned copper, and are of the simplest construction. About 251b of roses are put in oach still, wbicfa is then filled about three quarters full of water. The top is then put on, and the fire lighted.

The worm is cooled with running water, and in 45 minutes, when about one-fifth of the contents of the still has been drawn over, the distillation is stopped, the still emptied, and the process repeated with a fresh charge until all the;m<srning's crop of roses has been treated.

The product of this first distillation is rone water, aud in order to separate th 9 attar a- second distillation is necessary. The rose water is pat again into ths stills, and about one-third its bulk of what is called "second rose water" is drawn over. Tbi* is now a highly perf amed liquid, turbid with suspended globules of an oily substance, which gradually become fitted with the essence. When the separation is complete the attar is= removed with a spoor, having a small hole in the bowl. Through thia the water runs off, leaving the oil, which is now put into the well-known ornamental bottles in which we see it offered for sale.