464 
Otto  of  Rose  Cultivation. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Sept.,  1S90. 
and  Dabini  County  of  Karlowa,  Eoschilir  County  of  Tcherpan, 
Ididjali  County  of  Kissanlik,  all  distilling  oils  congealing  within 
1 2-1 50  Reaumur,  so  that  in  one  and  the  same  village  producing 
perfectly  pure  oils,  the  point  of  congelation  sometimes  differs  30  R. 
The  more  or  less  care  taken  in  the  distillation  and  the  mode  of 
distilling  are  very  important  factors.  Two  different  sorts  of  roses 
are  cultivated  for  distillation  of  otto  of  rose,  viz  :  the  red  rose  (Rosa 
damascena)  and  the  white  rose  (Rosa  alba).  The  latter,  however,  is 
cultivated  less  than  the  former.  The  Rosa  alba  renders  a  very  high 
congealable  oil,  but  as  to  perfume  a  much  inferior  quality  oil,  and 
this  quality  is  mostly  bought  at  lower  prices  by  those  merchants 
and  speculators  who  put  high  congelation  degree  above  all  other 
considerations,  to  make  capital  out  of  it.  By  the  foregoing  is  shown 
that  the  purity  of  otto  of  rose  cannot  be  based  on  the  congelation 
degree  alone,  but  that  the  fineness  of  the  perfume  is  a  much  more 
important  factor. 
Adulteration  of  otto  of  rose  at  the  places  of  production  is  not 
unusual,  but  is  done  more  by  merchants  and  speculators  than  by 
the  oil-producing  peasants.  I  don't  speak  of  adulteration  with 
spermaceti  or  alcohol,  which  can  easily  be  detected.  The  usual 
adulteration,  which  is  difficult  to  detect,  is  done  with  oil  geranium 
and  although  the  Bulgarian  Government  has  prohibited  the  import 
of  these  oils,  and  many  seizures  are  made  on  the  frontier,  some  oil 
reaches  its  destination  safely  through  smugglers.  In  selecting  the 
different  oils,  long  years  of  experience  and  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  article  is  required,  and  it  is  advisable  for  dealers  and  con- 
sumers of  otto  of  roses  to  place  their  orders  in  the  hands  of  firms 
who  for  years  have  gained  the  confidence  of  the  trade  and  whose 
brands  have  a  reputation  in  the  principal  markets. 
The  best  time  to  purchase  otto  of  rose  is  at  the  beginning  of  the 
campaign,  about  one  month  after  the  end  of  distillation,  as  at  that 
time,  better  than  at  any  other  date,  the  finest  oil  can  be  secured  ; 
until  the  prices  for  otto  of  rose  are  established,  by  an  understanding 
between  the  producers,  about  one  month  generally  elapses.  As  to 
keeping  oii  of  rose  for  a  long  time  in  copper  cans  I  wish  to  say  that 
it  is  not  advisable  to  do  so.  The  cans  are  tinned  inside,  and  110 
matter  how  much  care  is  taken  in  this  tinning  process,  some  small 
particles  may  come  off,  darken  the  oil,  make  it  cloudy  and  spoil  the 
fine  perfume. 
