OIL OF ROSES. 



313 



Oil of Roses in obtained by distilling the petals in 

 water when it collects gradually on the surface. In spite 

 of the fact that only very minute quantities 

 of the oil are dissolved in the water, 

 this is sufficient to impart to it a strong 

 perfume. Most of the Roses at Grasse 

 are used for making Rose-pomade, and 

 are therefore macerated in fat. 

 Whereas Rose -pomade preserves, 

 almost unchanged, the aroma of 

 fresh Roses, the Oil of Roses alters a 

 little. From the pomade they extract, 

 by means of alcohol, the "Esprit de 

 Rose", one of the finest scents that 

 exists. There is hardly a perfume in 

 the world that can compete in popular 

 favour with that of Roses, and he who 

 has travelled in the East will well rem- 

 ember the perfume of Roses, 

 combined with bad smells , in 

 the sunny streets. Those who think 

 that they bring home pure Oil of Roses 

 in those long, narrow, gold-ornamented 

 phials from the Eastern Bazaars where 

 they are sold ch-eap, are greatly 

 deceived. Oriental Oil of Roses is 

 almost always adulterated, generally with 

 Palma - rose oil, or Indian Geran- 

 ium oil , which in the East Indies 

 is distilled from the Geranium Grass, 



OJihry^ 

 Bertolon. 



