The 2008 harvest of Rosa damascena from Isparta, in Anatolia: “the queen of roses”
The “red rose of Damascus” grows all over Turkey, especially in the southwest region of Isparta, north of Antalya. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Flowering occurs in late April and mid-June. If the heat is too intense, the flower’s perfume becomes more intense but much less suave.
This year, all the conditions were met for an exceptional harvest: a short winter with little precipitation, moderate heat in early summer, regular sun exposure and cool nights. In addition, the rose bushes were irrigated to perfection. The morning flowers gave off a fragrance that was both rich and elegant.
Givenchy exclusively reserved a concrete produced in late May, in the middle of the harvest, with an exceptionally delicate and velvety floral fragrance. The scent is spectacular: lively and fresh as well as earthy and honey-like with a unique “petal texture” effect.