Tehran, YJC. Rose water distilled in Qamsar is the only one in its kind used to wash the Kaba every year.
Rose water was first produced by Iranian chemists in the
medieval Islamic world through the distillation of roses, for use in the
drinking and perfumery industries.
Rose perfumes are made from rose oil, also called attar of
roses, which is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by
steam-distilling the crushed petals of roses, a process first developed in Iran
(Persia). Rose water is a by-product of this process. It has been suggested
that the Persian polymath Avicenna discovered how to make rose water in the
tenth century.
For its unique quality, Qamsar rose water is taken every
year to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to wash the Kaba with. This year’s rose water share
was sent just a few days ago and the washing ceremony will be held in the coming
days.
In Qamsar May is the time for picking roses and distilling them. It is a sort of tourist attraction as well.