Rose series .....3

In the process of distillation, large?stills, traditionally of?copper, are filled with roses and?water. The still is fired for 60–105 minutes. The vaporized water and rose oil exit the still and enter a condensing apparatus and are then collected in a flask. This distillation yields a very concentrated oil, direct oil, which makes up about 20% of the final product. The water which condenses along with the oil is drained off and redistilled,?cohobation, in order to obtain the water-soluble fractions of the rose oil such as?phenethyl alcohol?which are a vital component of the aroma and which make up the large bulk, 80%, of the oil. The two oils are combined and make the final rose Otto.

Rose Otto is usually dark olive-green in color and will form white crystals at normal?room temperature?which disappear when the oil is gently warmed. It will tend to become more?viscous?at lower temperatures due to this?crystallization?of some of its components.