From the Field to the Fragrance: the Centifolia Rose

Have you ever smelled the sweet fragrance of the Rose Centifolia (Rose de Mai) from Grasse, France? We had the chance to visit the rose fields at Domaine du Clos Notre Dame, owned by Alain Rebuffel and his family, to breathe in the wonderful scent of the flowers and witness the harvest.

The Grasse region is considered the birthplace of perfumery and is renowned for the success of a world-famous flower: the Centifolia Rose. A rose bush produces approximately 80 flowers each season. This translates to approximately 300g and a ton of flowers, yielding approximately 1kg of absolute. In the 1930s, at the height of production, 2,000 tons of rose petals were harvested. Today, only 100 tons are processed in Grasse. The Centifolia Rose is cultivated by local producers for major perfume houses such as Firmenich. Alain, his family, and other families in the Grasse region preserve this long tradition.

So, what is the scent of this very special Rose? A floral, lively, and incredibly powerful fragrance with a honeyed sheen, and a rosy, vegetal, green aspect. A pinch of these petals make their way into Rose Omeyyade, a woody floral fragrance featuring rose and oud.

If you have the chance to smell the Centifolia Rose in Grasse, you won't be disappointed. If you're interested, however, note that this rose is only harvested in May.