Taif Rose

lat. Rosa damascena trigintipetala

Group: Flowers

Odor profile: variety of rose that has a faint tea-like tannic nuance to its powdery soft bouquet

Taif is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is located in the western part of Saudi Arabia, close to the holy city of Mecca. Taif is mentioned in all books on the Arabian Peninsula. Its heritage and ancient monuments have many stories to tell 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 King Solomon. There is the valley named Wadi Wej where the Prophet Mohammed forbade all hunting, wood-cutting, and any other activity that might have 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 other than that. It is known for the famous Wardh 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 the cultivation of vegetables or crops. Taif is placed 2000 meters above sea level and due to its climate conditions (cooler than the climate in Jeddah and Mecca), qualitative irrigation systems, and fertile land, it is a great area for the cultivation of roses. In the time of the Ottoman Empire, this region was named the Arabian Rose.

Photo by Josef Türk Reit im Winkl Chiemgau

Taif Rose, WardhTaifi (Rosa damascena trigintipetala) belongs to the species Damask Rose. There are several varieties 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, 1-2 m, thorny bush with whitish hairy leaves, and pink and very fragrant 30-petal flowers. This rose is most commonly tied to Bulgaria and Turkey as countries of origin, or more precisely, to the valley Kazanlik in Bulgaria, where this rose has been cultivated for 330 years, and Isparta in Turkey.

It has never been completely clear how the 30-petal Damask rose appeared in Taif. Due to its close resemblance to Kazanlik rose, it has been suggested that the 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 "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.

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

Photo by magnusfranklin

The first description of the distillation of rose petals in the Middle East was provided by al-Kindi, a 9th century philosopher. A 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 seems likely 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 the Arabic word ittr, which means "perfume" or "essence." Although the Arabians were distilling rose water from the petals as early as 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 foam appeared. She was collecting it and discovered that the foam carried a scent as strong as a bouquet of blooming roses. 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, when a bath of rose petals was left overnight to cool. When she laid in the water she discovered the fragrant oil on the water's surface.

Photo by huangjiahui

More than two centuries ago, Taif Rose petals were collected, firmly sealed and brought to Mecca on camels' backs. It was there where attar was produced by Indian distillers. The distillation process was different from the one used today, and the distillers then eventually mastered the production of fine attar. Their technique was the infusion of rose distillate into sandalwood oil which resulted in fresh, floral and woody notes. It is interesting to note that this mix can still be found in India, and, even though very rarely, in Saudi Arabia, too.

About 200 years ago the Arabian distillers took their art to Taif and closer to the rose fields. Thus, the rose oil production was improved by preventing the loss of fragrant oil which used to occur during transport to Mecca as the fragrant rose oil evaporates from the 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.

Photo by sheeshoo

Today, rose oil production in Taif, although of the highest quality, appears modest compared to quantities produced by the big exporters of Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, China, Morocco, and Iran. However, the market is not oversupplied. Attar is still being diligently produced. Its fragrance is still strong and expensive, so that even a small amount, given as a gift, is considered the best compliment 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 a unique and strong aroma and a yellow, sometimes slightly greenish color (green color reveals bad quality).

Despite popular belief Taif Rose fragrance is not long-lasting on skin as it is quickly absorbed. To produce one 11-gram bottle of attar takes about 40.000 rose flowers - which costs around $ 400.

Al-Rehab Parfums with taif rose:

Al Hanouf, Taif, Max and Rosy.

Author: noor_jehan
Fragrantica Member