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Rose Damascena is a star that stands out among the 5,000 other varieties of known roses, and was made the national emblem of the Bulgarian people
Its name is a reference to the city of Damascus. The Crusader Robert de Brie, who was captivated by its beauty and fragrance, is credited with having brought this Persian plant to Europe upon his return from the Crusades around the year 1254. The cultivation of roses for industrial purposes began in India and Egypt during the ninth century. Egyptians had already been using the essences of plants to preserve mummies. Avicenna was a Persian doctor who distilled the very first pure rose essential oil.
During the 17th century, it was brought to Bulgaria and its cultivation began in the “Valley of Roses.” Rose Damascena, which is now widely known and highly regarded throughout the world, is a star that stands out among the 5,000 other varieties of known roses, and was made the national emblem of the Bulgarian people. Its complex structure of nearly 300 molecular components, some of which are not reproducible through synthesis, is the key to its unrivaled qualities.
Exceptional weather conditions and soil quality to yield an extraordinary rose
The Rose Valley, with a centre the town of Kazanlak, is situated between two mountain ranges: the Balkans and Sredna Gora. This location offers to the Damask rose exceptional climate conditions and excellent soil qualities that have led to its successful establishment in the area.
The methods employed since the 17th century in the Rose Valley have permitted to preserve the plant’s appearance practically unchanged since its introduction.
The Bulgarian producers use an original approach to prepare the land called “kesme” (“кесме” in Bulgarian). The soil is worked during the entire year in order to maintain an appropriate humidity level during the summer and protect the roots during the winter.
This specific natural environment, the experience in rose cultivation and the production of essential oil dating back to three centuries ago have turned the Bulgarian rose, called Rose absolute, into a rose kind in its own right, different from the others due to its anatomy and physiology.
This ritual dates back more than 200 years. Careful, precise gestures learned only through training and expertise are necessary for this time-consuming, meticulous labor, since the harvest only happens once a year in the springtime, and lasts for 20 days.
Harvesting has been performed since the dawn of time in accordance with age-old know-how. Even today, the high value of the corollas requires manual picking in order to draw out all the essences contained in the petals. Harvesting takes place only once a year, during the flowering season, when the buds have just opened at the height of their blossoming.
Picking starts at dawn, which is the time of day when the petals are full of dew. With gentle, precise gestures, the harvesters delicately pick the buds one by one to preserve the freshness of their active ingredients. The flowers are then immediately transported to begin their transformation process, in order to extract their incredible cosmetic potential.
Once they are harvested with the utmost care, the buds are then meticulously sorted so that only the petals are kept.
There are two types of extraction processes:
To make Petal Powder, the flowers are then dried naturally in the sun for about a week with an ambient temperature not exceeding 35°C, so as to preserve the power of their active ingredients. They are then cut, crushed and sifted.
To create Essential Oil and Floral Water, the petals are hydro-distilled. They are placed in a still with pure water. This mixture is then gently heated to avoid altering the freshness of the plants. The active ingredients then become captured and retained in water vapor. During the cooling process, two liquids condense and separate: we then obtain hydrosol and Rose Water coated with a thin layer of essential oil.
In the past, rose essence was considered to be a universal remedy. In ancient times, the rose was widely used for its medical and even supernatural benefits. Today, its properties are particularly recognized in the fields of cosmetology, beauty, and wellness.
Used in the form of rose oil and rosewater, it preserves the skin’s tone, youthfulness, and radiance while regenerating its cells.
It promotes skin cell renewal and thus prevents premature aging of the skin. This is why it is used notably in the compositions of products developed to combat the signs of aging.
The natural components of its petals are also rich in tannic acid and gallic acid, which provide it with toning and astringent abilities.
Rose Damascena thus provides an appropriate solution to the problems of all skin types
In addition to its cosmetic properties, Rose Damascena also helps promote inner beauty. Valcena’s Rose Elixir is a 100% natural beverage formulated from Rose Damascena petals. This low calorie drink has been consumed for decades for its multiple properties. Highly beneficial for digestion, it helps restore digestive balance. It refreshes the body and mind.
Finally, it purifies the body by stimulating the evacuation of toxins. Find Rose Elixir in our eShop or at Valcena-authorized centers. Available exclusively in France.