Wardh Taifi, the Fragrant Rose of Arabia

09/23/07 13:01:31

Taif is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is placed in the western part of Saudi Arabia, nearby the holly city of Mecca. Taif is mentioned in all books on Arabian Peninsula. Its heritage and ancient monuments tell many stories to visitors. Taif is known for its bazaar – Okaz, one of the most famous Arabian bazaars. It is known for its valleys, such as Wadi Al-Naml. The legend says that this valley was visited by the King Solomon. There is the valley named Wadi Wej where the Prophet Mohammed forbade all hunting, wood cutting, and any other activity that might had harmed the wild life there. Some famous people lived there such as Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf Thaqafi, the tyrant leader of Arabs and Abdullah Ibn Abbas, the friend of the Prophet Mohammed.

Yet, Taif is known for something else than that. It is known for the famous Ward Taifi, the Rose of Taif. The suburbs of Taif and its valleys Huda, al Shafa, al Ghadeerayn and Wadi Mahram, are known for cultivation of this rose, which creates more income than cultivation of vegetables or crops. Taif is placed 2000 meters above the sea level and due to its climate conditions, cooler that the climate in Jeddah and Mecca, qualitative irrigation systems, and fertile land, it is a great area for cultivation of roses. In the time of the Ottoman Empire, this region was named the Arabian Rose.

Taif Rose, Ward Taifi (Rosa damascena trigintipetala) is a sort of rose of Damascus, also known as Damask Rose. There are several variances of Damask Rose, such as Autumn Damask Rose (R. damascena sempervirens) and Damask Rose Kazanlik (also Rosa damascena trigintipetala). Damask Rose grows as a small, 1-2m, thorny bush with whitish hairy leafs, and pink and very fragrant 30-petal flowers. This rose is most commonly tied to Bulgaria and Turkey as countries of origin, or more precise, to the valley Kazanlik in Bulgaria, where this rose is cultivated for 330 years, and Isparta in Turkey.

It has never been completely cleared how the 30-petal Damask rose appeared in Taif. Due to its close resemblance to Kazanlik rose it has been suggested that Taif Rose was brought to Taif from Balkans by Turks, who occupied this area in the 14th century. However, the rose Kazanlik, whose Turkish name means something like 'suitable for the (distiller's) kettle' has its origins in the Persian Rose plantations around Shiraz and Kashan. The legends say that this rose actually originates from India.

As Damask Rose is known by its deep and intensive fragrance in the west, the Taif Rose is famous by the same properties in the Arabian World. Taif Rose flowers, whose fragrance is even more intensive than fragrance of the Damask Rose, are harvested in April, in the early morning hours, because the buds bloom at dawn, and it is necessary to pick them before the Sun and the heat of day destroy the essential oils needed for production of rose water.

The first description of rose petals distillation in the Middle East was provided by al-Kindi, a 9th century philosopher. Somewhat more sophisticated distillation apparatus was described by al-Razi in the 10th century. One of the oldest centers for rose water production was Persia. In the 13th century rose water production was widespread in Syria, and it might be that Damask Rose was named after the city of Damascus.

The word attar, today used by many as a synonym for rose oil, comes from Arabic word 'ittr, what means 'perfume' or 'essence'. Although the Arabians were distilling rose water from the petals as early as in the 9th century, the earliest sources documenting the origins of attar as rose derivate, come from India. The fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir, whose reign took place at the end of 16th and the beginning of the 17th century, credited the discovery of attar to his mother-in-law, Asmat Begum, the mother of his wife Noor Jehan. While making rosewater, when she poured hot water into a kettle with rose petals, a scum appeared. She was collecting it and discovered that the scum had a scent so strong, like a whole bouquet of roses blooming at the same time. The emperor, overjoyed with the beauty of the scent, rewarded Asmat Begum with a string of pearls, and in return, she named the oil – ‘itr-i-Jahangiri'. Another legend says that attar was discovered by Noor Jehan herself – a bath of rose petals was left overnight to cool, and when she laid in the water she discovered the fragrant oil on the water surface.

More than two centuries ago, Taif Rose petals were collected, firmly sealed and transported on camels 65 kilometers away, to Mecca, where attar was produced by Indian distillers. The distillation process was different than today, and these artists became famous masters in producing especially fine attar, using a technique of infusing rose distillate into sandalwood oil, what resulted in fresh floral and woody notes. It is interesting to know that this mix can still be found in India, and very rarely in Saudi Arabia.

Since about 200 years ago the Arabian distillers brought their art to Taif, and closer to the rose fields. Thus, the rose oil production was improved by preventing the loss of fragrant oil that used to occur during the transportation to Mecca, as the fragrant rose oil evaporates from petals in a short time. Soon after the distilleries were established in Taif, the Taif rose oil became famous across the Muslim world. The pilgrims coming from the East, very often would take a route via Taif, just to buy the rose oil, and each Muslim who could afford it, would make sure to buy at least one vial of the precious rose oil as a souvenir of Hajj.

Today, rose oil production in Taif, although of the highest quality, appears modest comparing to quantities produced by big exporters of Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, China, Morocco, and Iran. However, the market is not oversupplied – attar is still being diligently produced, and its fragrance still strong, and price so high, that even a smallest amount given as a gift, is considered the highest compliments anyone could pay.

At the moment, the main producers of Taif rose in Taif are five families - al Qadi, al Kamal, al Qureishi, al Ghuraybi and al Solhi. These families oversee most of the cultivation, and rose oil laboratories in Taif. They produce authentic attar, with unique ands strong aroma and yellow, sometimes slightly greenish color (green color reveals bad quality).

Despite belief, the Taif Rose fragrance is not long-lasting on skin, as it is quickly absorbed. To produce one 11 grams bottle of attar, takes about 40.000 rose flowers, and this amount costs around US$400.

Al-Rehab perfumes that contain Taif Rose:

Al Hanouf, Taif, Max and Rosy.

Author: noor_jehan
Fragrantica Member

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