188 PARSONS ON THE KOSE. 



From the very small quantity congealed on the surface 

 of the water, the manufacture is limited, and the cost of 

 the article immense. Langles states that the rose-water is 

 left exposed to the freshness of the night, and in the 

 morning a very small quantity of attar is found collected 

 on the surface. 



Dr. Monro, according to Loudon, gives the manner of 

 making the attar in Cashmere, which is apparently more 

 simple, without the tedious process of distilling. 



" The rose-petals are put into a wooden vessel with pure 

 water, and exposed for several days to the heat of the 

 sun. The oily particles, being disengaged by the heat, 

 float upon the surface of the water, whence they are taken 

 up from time to time by applying to them some very fine 

 dry cotton wool. From this wool the oil is pressed into 

 little bottles, which are immediately afterwards sealed 

 hermetically." 



Another method is, exposing the rose-water to heat, 

 then suddenly cooling it, and collecting the drops of con- 

 gealed oil which float upon the surface. 



Bishop Heber describes the method used in India, which 

 is very similar to that of Langles. The attar has the con- 

 sistency of butter, and never becomes liquid except in the 

 warmest weather. 



Loudon states that " a wretched substitute for otto of 

 roses is said to be formed by the apothecaries of Paris. 

 The petals of Hosa Damascena are boiled in a large cal- 

 dron of water along with as much hog's lard as will cover 

 its surface with a thin stratum of grease. The oil of the 

 rose-petals, on separating from them by boiling, unites 

 with this grease, from which it is again separated by spir- 

 its of wine." A large portion of the attar imported into 

 the United States is probably of this manufacture. 



The quantity of genuine attar produced from a given 

 weight of rose-petals is not always the same ; it is very 

 liable to vary according to the nature of the climate, the 



