A darker Indian expression of rose.

Warm red petals, green honey, gentle spice and a soft powdery depth.

Red Rose Otto comes from India, one of the great historical centres of traditional attar making.

Distilled from Bourbon Rose, also known in India as Edward Rose or Cheeni Gulab, it has a noticeably different character from the brighter, more familiar Damascena styles.

At a glance

• What it is: A steam-distilled Indian Bourbon rose essential oil
• Who it’s for: ose lovers, attar enthusiasts, perfumers and collectors exploring different natural rose varieties
• How to use: Fine fragrance, attars, natural perfumery, skincare formulation, aromatherapy or trace application on skin
  

The aroma

Red Rose Otto opens warm, full and immediately rosy.

There is sweetness, but it is not a light or watery sweetness. It feels deeper, with a green honey character running underneath the petals.

As the oil develops, gentle spice begins to appear alongside leafy nuances and a faint dry-hay quality.

The drydown becomes softer and slightly powdery.

Compared with many Damascena rose oils, this feels less bright and more grounded. There is more warmth, more green material and a slightly darker floral character.

That is what makes it interesting.

It smells recognisably of rose, but it does not give you the standard rose-otto profile.

Wearing the material

Only a very small amount is needed.

On skin, the initial rose sweetness settles into warmer honeyed and green facets, with the powdery character becoming more noticeable over time.

It sits relatively close to the skin and works particularly well for anyone who prefers rose with more warmth and depth rather than freshness alone.

In perfumery

This style of rose has an obvious connection with Indian perfumery.

It works particularly well with sandalwood, where the creamy wood softens the floral edges and brings forward the honeyed, spicy character of the rose.

It also pairs beautifully with:

• Oud
• Musk
• Amber
• Saffron
• Patchouli
• Vetiver
• Jasmine
• Other rose varieties

For perfumers, its value is not simply adding a rose note.

It can bring warmth, floral body, green depth and a slightly powdery quality that behaves very differently from Damascena.

Technical details

• Material: Red Rose Otto / Bourbon Rose Essential Oil
• Botanical name: Rosa × bourboniana
• Origin: India
• Extraction method: Steam distillation
• Volume supplied: 1 mL and 3 mL

Please note: If you are buying 1mL quantity, it will come in a 3mL bottle where it will appear approximately one-third full. This is normal and intentional.

Aromatic profile

• Warm red rose
• Green honey
• Gentle spice
• Leafy floral facets
• Dry hay undertones

• Soft powdery finish
  

Uses

• High-end perfumery
• Luxury attars
• Aromatherapy
• Skincare formulations
• Standalone skin perfume (trace application)

Additional notes

This rose otto may crystallize at temperatures below 20°C. This is a natural characteristic of high-quality rose otto and a sign of purity. Gently warm the bottle in your hands and shake lightly (with the cap secured) to restore it to liquid form.

What is rose otto?

In natural perfumery, otto refers to pure essential oil obtained through steam distillation. The term originates from the Arabic word itr, meaning essence or perfume.

Rose otto is especially valued when taken from early distillation fractions, where freshness, clarity, and structural integrity are preserved.

What is Raduga Rose?

Bourbon Rose is an old rose group with both China Rose and Damask Rose ancestry.

In India, fragrant Bourbon-type roses became closely associated with traditional rose preparations and attar making, particularly under names such as Edward Rose and Cheeni Gulab.

Its character is quite different from the Bulgarian rose oils most people encounter first.

Same flower family. Very different experience.

The Raw Natural Collection showcases rare and exceptional oils, carefully curated from our private library. Some of these oils appear in our perfumes, while others remain untouched — each a reflection of true material craftsmanship.