One of the main reasons that roses are so beloved is their distinctive perfume. Another is their variety of colors, which run the gamut from the delicate to the bold.
Scent is the main attraction in some roses, a second feature in others, but all possess a fragrance of one degree or another, from the vaguely floral to the intoxicatingly spiced. Old-fashioned damask roses are famous for their heady perfume, and many modern hybrid teas were bred to produce blooms with particularly strong scents.
Attar of roses, is an oil distilled from rose petals, has been prized since the ancient Persians began extracting it thousands of years ago as a basis for perfumes and cosmetics.
This oil, drawn primarily from damask roses grown in Bulgaria, is still used in the modern fragrance industry- but five thousand pounds of fresh rose petals are needed to make one pound of attar!
Blossoms must also be harvested before sunrise, when their oil content is greatest. Now it is easy to see why fine perfumes made from it are so costly.
Rose oil is also used in aroma- therapy, the art of using scent to positively influence mood and health.
Aroma-therapists believe that rose is the fragrance of the heart. They recommend its essence for relieving depression and sadness, and restoring balance between the emotions and the body. They also consider it an aphrodisiac, an opinion shared by the more decadent citizens of the late Roman Empire, who piled their boudoirs high with rose petals to create a sensual atmosphere.
The other great charm of roses is more varied than their scent. Roses are cultivated today in just about every color of the rainbow, from the familiar red, pink, yellow, and white to apricot, copper, gold, and mauve.
Bicolor and multicolor roses wear stripes or sport petals dominated by one color with contrasting edges or undersides. There are even “blue” and “black” roses, though the blues are really bluish lavenders and the blacks are rich, deep reds. The color of a rose evolves throughout the life cycle of the blossom, revealing itself as the bud opens and fading as the bloom wilts.
Light intensity is also a factor. Roses thrive in full sun and will not reach their full potential without it. But many days of intense summer sun can ultimately bleach their vibrant hues.
Color also plays a more fanciful role for rose lovers. Since Roman times, people have attributed meanings to certain blossoms. This notion, which peaked in the Victorian era, allows the giver to express personal sentiments through his choice of flower, and the receiver to read meaning into every blossom. The meaning of roses varies - sometimes greatly – according to their color. White symbolizes purity or worthiness (“I am worthy of your love”); red symbolizes love; yellow symbolizes jealousy.