The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-24
ALTAR OF ROSE.

How the Delightful and Costly Perfume is Vale.
EDIroR NATIONAL TRIBUSE: saw in a re-
cent issue Of your paper that it would be y good
business for some of the farmers wives TO cul-
tivate roses for altar of roses, aud that II is
easily made Please tell me how TO make IL,
and oblige-Mrs. III. A. CHAMPION, Joplin,
No.
EDITOR NATIONkL TRIBUNE: Will you
please inform me how rose altar is made, and
from what kind Of roses.-Mrs. MERRITT
BREED. East PharsaliA n. Y.
There are various ways Of obtaining altar OF
roses. The old-fashloned way was by enfleur-
age, such as is still nsed in France for il and
for obtaining the perfume of other delicate
flowers. BY this process layers Of rose leaves
are laid between layers OF cotton soaked in
sweet oil, OF oil of poppy. In this country oil
of cotton-seed would be much cheaper. The
oil is then squeezed out, aud the altar distilled
off i'm a small still.
In India, where tho finest altar in the world
is made, the leaves are macerated over night in
water, and tho OH which rises to the surface.
is skinned of in the morning. Ii is estimated
that 100000 roses are required to make an
ounce Of altar, which, when warranted 10 be
entirely pure, brings from $50 to 500 an ounce
in England, and more than that in this cOun-
try.
Altar Of roses is made In considerable guam
titles in California and is regarded as a very
profitable business, though il is said that 1900
pounds of roses arc required to make single
pound of altar
DistillatiOn is tho favorte process there
simple copper still. Of small capacity, being
generally used. The roses are put into the
still with a quantity of water, aud the latter
distilled over. The altar is carefully SKINNED
from the surface Of this. aud the water sold.
IL brings Sl.15 gallon very readily. The
Rose dc Provence is the variety preferred for
this purpose.
We would suggest 10 our correspondents that
If they desire TO 20 into this business they 20
into IL as a man would go into busiuess-deteT-
mined TO succeed, and carefully considering all
the difficulties in the way, resolve TO surmOunt
them. Altar Of roses and rOsewater are always
and everywhere in demand, at high prices, If
they are properly made and genuine. Women
| intending TO 90 into the business should first
get and carefully read some good work on the
manufacture Of perfumes, so as 10 understand
the subject in all its bearings. They should
next experiment IN small way, which they
can do by raising a quantity of roses and
distilling them. ANY timer can make very
cheaply, a simple still, which will do the work
very encctually. IL can be heated on tho back
part Of the kitchen stove, while cooking is
going on. III can 20 made ike an ordinary
wash-boiler, with top that will fit so tightly
as 10 allow no steam TO escape, and a head into
which the steam rises and is conducted through
cold water, which will cOndense the steam. A
false bottom Of wooden or wire grating should
be put in, % keep the Tose-leaves from resting
on the bottom aud burning The next thing
is 10 find a purchaser. This can be done
through the druggist Of the nearest town. II
tho rOsewater is Of the proper quality, he will
| take much for his own use. and sell the rest 20
the wholesaler from whom he buys his goods.
If the work is entered upOn with determine
ton 10 succeed. success is certain. though there
may be many discouragements at first. The
business Of raising fragrant flowers for their
oils is an immense one In Europe. Thousands
OF acres are devoted 20 lavender in England,
aud 10 heliOtropes, geraniums. roses, violets,
etc.-EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBrSE