Damask Rose Concrete in Perfumery: Production, Olfactory Profile, and Industrial Applications

Abstract

Damask Rose Concrete is a semi-solid, waxy aromatic material typically obtained from the fresh petals of Rosa damascena Mill. through solvent extraction. From an industrial perspective, it is one of the most important intermediate raw materials for the production of rose absolute and, from an olfactory standpoint, it offers a warmer, waxier, more petal-like, and more natural floral profile than distilled rose oil. However, the presence of waxes, pigments, and heavy alcohol-insoluble constituents generally prevents its direct use in delicate hydroalcoholic fine fragrances, making it more suitable as a raw material for rose absolute production or for selected applications such as soap perfumery and oil-based or solid compositions. The quality and perfumery value of this material are directly influenced by botanical origin, petal freshness, harvest time, storage conditions, solvent type, extraction temperature, and extraction time. GC/MS studies have shown that the chemical composition of rose concrete and rose absolute depends strongly on the extraction and processing method, with constituents such as phenylethyl alcohol, citronellol, geraniol, nerol, eugenol, as well as hydrocarbons and waxy compounds, playing an essential role in the final profile. (cir-safety.org)

1) Introduction

Rosa damascena is one of the most important rose species in the global supply chain of natural aromatic materials, and its principal products include rose oil, rose water, rose concrete, and rose absolute. In perfumery, although distilled rose oil holds a classical and highly important position, rose concrete and rose absolute are especially valued because they often provide a more realistic “fresh petal” impression and a deeper, more natural floral body. From a technical point of view, rose concrete represents an intermediate stage between the fresh botanical raw material and the finished absolute; in other words, it is one of the main bridges by which fresh flowers are transformed into a perfumery-grade aromatic ingredient. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

2) What Is Damask Rose Concrete?

Rose concrete is a semi-solid, waxy, aromatic mass obtained by solvent extraction of fresh petals. In scientific literature, rose concrete is described as a waxy, semi-solid material rich in aromatic compounds together with waxes and lipophilic constituents. It is typically reported as reddish-orange to orange-brown in appearance and, olfactorily, is often described as rich, warm, petal-like, honeyed, slightly spicy, and closer to the scent of a fresh flower than distilled rose oil. Technical reviews also note that rose concrete serves as the primary raw material for the production of rose absolute. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

3) Production Method and the Position of Concrete in the Rose Processing Chain

In industrial practice, rose concrete is produced by extracting fresh Rosa damascena flowers with non-polar or low-polarity solvents such as hexane, petroleum ether, or similar volatile organic solvents. The solvent extract is then concentrated, and the solvent is evaporated to yield a semi-solid aromatic mass. The CIR report specifically states that rose concrete and rose absolute may be extracted using solvents such as ethyl alcohol, hexane, petroleum ether, and benzene. In the industrial example cited there, several hundred kilograms of flowers were extracted with n-hexane at approximately 60–65°C in two extraction cycles, after which solvent removal yielded more than 1 kilogram of flower wax/concrete. (cir-safety.org)

The importance of rose concrete lies in the fact that, unlike distilled rose oil, this extraction route retains a larger proportion of lipophilic constituents, waxes, pigments, and certain aromatic compounds that may otherwise be altered or lost during water- or heat-based processing. For this reason, concrete can offer a fuller, denser, and sometimes more natural floral picture of the fresh blossom. Yet this same feature is both its advantage and its limitation, because the presence of waxes complicates its direct use in many alcohol-based perfumes. (mdpi.com)

4) Difference Between Damask Rose Concrete, Rose Oil, and Rose Absolute

From a perfumery standpoint, the three principal rose materials should be clearly distinguished:

a) Rose oil

Rose oil is mainly obtained by water or steam distillation. Chemically, it is usually rich in monoterpene alcohols such as citronellol, geraniol, nerol, and linalool. However, because 2-phenylethyl alcohol is water-soluble, part of it may remain in the aqueous phase during distillation, resulting in a lower proportion in the essential oil itself. (mdpi.com)

b) Rose concrete

Rose concrete is the product of solvent extraction and retains not only aromatic compounds but also waxes, pigments, and heavier constituents. As a result, it is semi-solid in physical form and is often perceived as warmer, waxier, and closer to the odor of the fresh flower. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

c) Rose absolute

Rose absolute is essentially the alcohol-soluble fraction of rose concrete. The concrete is dissolved in ethanol, chilled so that waxes precipitate, then filtered, and the ethanol is removed, leaving the absolute. Reviews and industrial studies show that, because insoluble non-odor materials are removed and the aromatic portion becomes more concentrated, rose absolute is a more standardized and more suitable material for fine fragrance applications. (avesis.akdeniz.edu.tr)

5) Why Is Concrete Usually Not Used Directly in Alcohol-Based Perfumes?

One of the main limitations of rose concrete in perfumery is the presence of waxes and other ethanol-insoluble heavy constituents. This characteristic can compromise clarity and stability in hydroalcoholic perfumes, which is why concrete is generally converted into rose absolute before use. Technical sources state that concrete is used mainly for the production of absolute and is less commonly employed directly in perfumery and cosmetics in its native form. They also note that during absolute production, the concrete-alcohol mixture is cooled to approximately –20 to –25°C so that waxes and other non-odor components precipitate. (acgpubs.org)

Therefore, in practical terms, rose concrete is more often a valuable intermediate material than an ideal finished ingredient for most transparent alcohol-based fragrances. This does not mean that direct use is without value, but rather that its range of applications is more selective and specialized. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

6) Chemical Profile and Its Relationship to Olfactory Value

The chemical composition of rose concrete and rose absolute varies according to geographic origin, harvest timing, petal freshness, extraction technique, and processing conditions. Scientific reviews and analytical papers identify key rose constituents such as phenylethyl alcohol, citronellol, geraniol, nerol, eugenol, methyl eugenol, geranyl acetate, and certain long-chain hydrocarbons such as nonadecane and 1-nonadecene. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

In the study by Aydınlı and Tutaş on the production of rose absolute from rose concrete, the resulting absolute consisted mainly of phenylethyl alcohol, citronellol, geraniol, nerol, 1-nonadecene, methyl eugenol, eugenol, nonadecane, and benzyl alcohol. The authors further demonstrated that the relative proportions of these compounds were strongly influenced by production conditions and ethanol concentration. The absolute yield in that study was reported to range from 58–64%. This is highly relevant to perfumery because it shows that concrete is not a chemically fixed substance, but a complex matrix whose analytical and olfactory profile shifts when processing parameters change. (avesis.akdeniz.edu.tr)

Another review reported phenylethyl alcohol (78.4%), citronellol (9.9%), nonadecane (4.4%), and geraniol (3.7%) as the principal components of rose absolute. Such data help explain why absolute and concrete can smell softer, more petal-like, and more realistic than distilled rose oil, since 2-phenylethyl alcohol — which is partially lost in distillation because of its water solubility — plays a more significant role in solvent-extracted rose materials. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

7) The Olfactory Role of Damask Rose Concrete in Fragrance Formulation

From a formulation perspective, rose concrete is valued for several key reasons:

First, it often provides a more faithful fresh-petal representation of rose. This makes it particularly useful in creating naturalistic rose, dewy rose, petal rose, and velvety, full-bodied rose accords. The reason lies in the simultaneous presence of both volatile and semi-volatile compounds, together with waxes and heavier components that give the odor more body. (sciencedirect.com)

Second, concrete may impart greater depth, warmth, and substantivity than some rose oils. In perfumery language, this means that concrete or its derivatives can transform rose from a bright and volatile top/middle floral note into a richer, more lingering floral presence. This quality is especially valuable in oriental florals, chypre florals, rose-amber, rose-oud, rose-spice, and powdery floral structures. This is a formulation-based inference derived from the chemistry and extraction nature of concrete and is consistent with the data regarding heavier retained constituents and its distinction from distillation products. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Third, concrete can act as a bridge material, linking the fresh, luminous aspects of rose to warmer middle and base note materials such as honey, wax, benzoin, leather, spices, and woods. This is particularly relevant in niche perfumery and in reconstructions of classical floral structures. This section is primarily an olfactory interpretation grounded in the chemistry and physical character of concrete rather than a direct numerical laboratory statement, but it is logically supported by its semi-solid, wax-containing nature. (sciencedirect.com)

8) In Which Formats Can Concrete Be Useful Directly?

Although rose concrete is often not ideal for transparent alcohol-based perfumes, it can still be directly useful in certain product types:

• perfume oils,

• solid perfumes,

• soap perfumery or systems where hydroalcoholic clarity is not the primary concern,

• and certain artisan or niche projects in which the perfumer intentionally seeks a rawer, waxier, greener, or more botanical floral texture.

Technical references describe concrete as a semi-solid material with more limited solubility in alcohol, which makes it inherently more suited to some non-hydroalcoholic applications. (en.wikipedia.org)

9) Effect of Extraction Conditions on the Olfactory Quality of Concrete

The quality of rose concrete is strongly process-dependent. In a 2025 study on the optimization of concrete extraction from Rosa x damascena using hexane, the effects of liquid-to-solid ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time were examined. The study reported optimal conditions for maximum yield at approximately 31.6°C, 20 hours, and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 4.388 in the model system. The authors also identified 28 compounds by GC-MS. These findings show that concrete is not merely a trade name but a truly process-driven material. (sciencedirect.com)

Other studies have likewise shown that solvent type, freshness or dryness of the botanical material, harvest timing, and storage conditions all influence the composition. The MDPI review explicitly states that the composition of rose extracts varies with extraction method, genotype, flowering season, plant part, harvest time, whether the material is fresh or dried, and storage conditions. For the perfumery industry, this means that two samples of Damask Rose Concrete are not necessarily equivalent in either analytical or olfactory profile. (mdpi.com)

10) Quality Control in Damask Rose Concrete

For professional use in perfumery, quality control should operate on several levels:

10.1 Chemical identification

GC/MS and, in many cases, GC-FID analyses are essential for establishing the chemical fingerprint of the material. Both concrete and absolute are complex matrices, and their profile must be consistent with the declared origin, production method, and expected olfactory identity. Studies by Kurkcuoglu and co-workers, as well as Aydınlı and colleagues, emphasize the importance of GC/MS analysis for rose concrete and rose absolute. (link.springer.com)

10.2 Physical evaluation

Parameters such as appearance, color, texture, odor, density, refractive index, and solubility behavior in ethanol or other suitable solvents are important for lot standardization. In the study on producing absolute from concrete, properties such as refractive index and density were also measured. (avesis.akdeniz.edu.tr)

10.3 Residual solvent and impurity control

Because rose concrete is produced by solvent extraction, control of residual solvents is critical. From both a safety and regulatory perspective, monitoring pesticide residues and contaminants is also important. These considerations are reflected in safety documents and scientific assessments of rose-derived ingredients. (cir-safety.org)

10.4 Lot-to-lot consistency

Because rose composition is highly sensitive to origin and harvest conditions, batch consistency is a serious technical challenge. Professional producers commonly address this through chemical fingerprinting, sensory evaluation, and in some cases blending between lots. This conclusion is supported by the variability in composition reported across scientific studies. (mdpi.com)

11) Safety and Regulatory Considerations

The CIR safety assessment of Rosa damascena-derived ingredients shows that certain recognized EU fragrance allergens, such as geraniol, citronellol, linalool, and farnesol, may be present in rose-derived materials. For this reason, the use of rose concrete or rose absolute in perfumes and cosmetics must take into account allergen labeling requirements and market-specific usage restrictions. (cir-safety.org)

From a toxicological perspective, a study on Taif rose reported that rose concrete and rose absolute were cytotoxically and genotoxically safe at 10 μg/ml in human peripheral blood lymphocytes under the conditions of that experiment. However, this does not replace finished-product safety evaluation, IFRA compliance, or market-specific regulatory review for perfumery applications. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

12) Advantages and Limitations of Concrete in the Perfumery Industry

Advantages

Damask Rose Concrete offers several important advantages in perfumery:first, greater olfactory fidelity to the fresh flower; second, depth and a waxy/petal-like body; third, a central role as an intermediate raw material in the production of rose absolute; and fourth, high potential for creating luxurious, natural, and niche rose accords. These strengths are fully consistent with the nature of solvent extraction and the retention of components that are not easily captured through distillation. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Limitations

At the same time, concrete also has significant limitations:the most important is the presence of waxes and incomplete ethanol solubility, which affects clarity and handling. In addition, lot-to-lot variability, sensitivity to extraction conditions, the need for strict residual solvent control, and the difficulty of olfactory standardization are all recurring challenges. For these reasons, rose absolute is often the easier and more standardized choice for fine fragrance applications. (acgpubs.org)

13) Conclusion

Damask Rose Concrete is a highly important but largely intermediate material in the perfumery industry. Its main value lies in preserving a rich, waxy, deep, and relatively fresh-flower-like profile of Rosa damascena, while serving as the primary raw material for the production of rose absolute. Concrete itself may be useful in certain specific formats such as perfume oils, soap perfumery, or solid perfumes, but in most transparent hydroalcoholic fragrances it is normally converted into absolute because of the presence of waxes and other insoluble matter. From a technical perspective, the key point is that concrete is not a “fixed” material; its quality and functionality depend strongly on botanical origin, petal freshness, extraction process, solvent choice, chilling conditions, and analytical quality control. For this reason, any professional use of Damask Rose Concrete in perfumery should be accompanied by sensory evaluation, GC/MS fingerprinting, batch consistency assessment, residual solvent control, and regulatory compliance review. (mdpi.com)

Scientific References

1. Kurkcuoglu M, Baser KHC. Studies on Turkish Rose Concrete, Absolute, and Hydrosol. Chemistry of Natural Compounds. 2003;39:457–464. DOI: 10.1023/B:CONC.0000011120.71479.7f.

2. Aydınlı M, Tutaş M. Production of Rose Absolute from Rose Concrete. Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 2003;18(1):26–31. DOI: 10.1002/ffj.1138.

3. Karunanithi S, et al. Optimization of concrete oil extraction from Rosa x damascena petals by response surface methodology and its chemical and biological characterization. Next Materials. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101159.

4. Villa C, et al. Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Extractions of Volatile Compounds from Rosa x damascena Mill. Fresh Petals for Cosmetic Applications. Molecules. 2022;27(12):3963.

5. Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). Safety Assessment of Rosa damascena-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. 2022.

6. Mahboubi M. Rosa damascena as holy ancient herb with novel applications. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2016;6(1):10–16.

7. Dobreva A, et al. Subcritical Extracts from Major Species of Oil-Bearing Roses—A Comparative Chemical Profiling. Molecules. 2021;26(16):4991.

8. Hagag HA, et al. Cytogenetic, cytotoxic and GC–MS studies on concrete and absolute oils from Taif rose, Saudi Arabia. Cytotechnology. 2014.

9. Aycı F, Aydınlı M, Bozdemir OA, Tutaş M. Gas chromatographic investigation of rose concrete, absolute and solid residue. Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 2005;20:481–486.

This article was researched and written by Galbanum Oil Fragrance

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