Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In addition to their value as cut flowers and landscape plants, roses are cultivated as industrial crops to extract rose oil (attar of roses) and rose water.
Rose oil is a highly valuable essential oil used in premium perfumes, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.
Among the thousands of rose species and hybrids, only a few produce the specific essential oil yield and olfactory profile required for commercial distillation.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze each of the rose species:
(A). Rosa foetida:
Commonly known as the Austrian briar, this species is known for its bright yellow flowers.
However, it has a strong, somewhat unpleasant scent (hence the name “foetida”) and is not used for essential oil extraction.
(B). Rosa gallica:
Commonly known as the French rose or apothecary's rose, this is an ancient species with medicinal uses.
While it is fragrant, it is not the primary commercial species used for oil distillation in India.
(C). Rosa damascena:
Commonly known as the Damask rose, this is the premier species cultivated globally and in India for rose oil extraction.
It is grown extensively in regions like Haldighati in Rajasthan, and Hasayan and Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh.
The flowers of Rosa damascena contain highly complex, fragrant volatile oils.
These oils are extracted through hydro-distillation (deg and bhapka method) to produce rose oil and rose water.
The high concentration of citronellol, geraniol, and nerol in its petals makes it the industry standard for high-quality rose oil.
(D). Rosa indica:
This species is widely used in India as a rootstock for grafting commercial rose cultivars rather than for oil extraction.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the rose species primarily cultivated in India for essential oil extraction is Rosa damascena.