Roseoil
Rose oil is the volatile oil obtained from the fresh flowers of Rosa damascena and Rosa centifolia. Rose otto is the water and steam distilled article, a pale oil that congeals at cool temperatures because of its natural wax content, and rose absolute is the solvent extracted article, deeper in colour and different in odour. Both are used in fine fragrance, where rose is one of the irreplaceable naturals, and in high end skincare, flavour work and traditional medicine. Rose water, the aromatic distillate that comes off the same still, is a traded article in its own right.
Listed roseoil markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Rose is traded on species, on extraction route and on the stearoptene behaviour that separates a genuine otto from everything sold as one. The distillation date and the country of distillation are contract terms, not provenance colour.
Botanical source and extraction route
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Rosa damascenaFresh flowers, water and steam distilled or solvent extracted | The dominant article in world trade and the subject of the ISO product standard. |
| Rosa centifoliaFresh flowers, solvent extracted | Traded mainly as concrete and absolute, with a distinct profile from damascena. |
| Rose ottoWater and steam distilled, with the cohobation of the distillation water declared | The classical article. Cohobation, returning the distillation water to the still, is what recovers the water soluble phenylethyl alcohol, and whether it was done is a contract term. |
| Rose absoluteSolvent extracted to a concrete, then washed with ethanol | A separate article with its own specification and its own price. |
| Rose concreteSolvent extracted, waxes retained | An intermediate, priced on absolute yield. |
| Supercritical carbon dioxide extractExtracted with carbon dioxide at a stated pressure and temperature | A separate article with its own profile. It is not interchangeable with the distilled oil. |
| Rose water, aromatic distillateDeclared, with the oil content and the distillation ratio | A traded article off the same campaign. |
| Country and region of distillationDeclared | Bulgarian and Turkish otto are contracted and priced separately, as are Iranian, Indian, Moroccan and Chinese material. |
| OrganicCertified under the destination market scheme, distilled and stored on dedicated equipment | Named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Campaign year and distillation dateDeclared | Rose is a once a year article. The campaign year is on the contract. |
| Batch and distillation dateDeclared, with the still and the campaign identified | Essential oils change in the drum. A batch without a date cannot be assessed. |
Physicochemical identity
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Congealing pointDegrees Celsius, range | A defining test for rose otto. Genuine otto congeals to a translucent mass at cool temperature because of the stearoptene it carries. An oil that stays liquid is not an otto. |
| Stearoptene contentPercentage, range | The odourless paraffin fraction natural to the distilled oil. Its absence, or a figure outside the range, is the fastest evidence of manipulation. |
| Relative density at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 279 | The first identity check, and the fastest way to catch a carrier oil. |
| Refractive index at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 280 | Read on a refractometer at a stated temperature. |
| Optical rotation at 20 degrees CelsiusRange in degrees, by ISO 592 | The term that separates a natural oil from a synthetic reconstruction, because most synthetics are optically inactive. |
| Miscibility in ethanolVolumes of ethanol at a stated strength to give a clear solution, by ISO 875 | Measured, not judged. |
| Acid valueMaximum, by ISO 1242 | Rises with age and with poor storage. It is the ageing indicator the trade reads first. |
| Ester valueRange, by ISO 709 | Sets the sweet fraction in oils where esters carry the odour. |
| Appearance and colourAgainst a sealed reference sample, or an instrumental scale | Recorded on the certificate for each batch. |
| Flash pointDegrees Celsius, closed cup | A transport classification term as well as a quality one. It travels on the dangerous goods declaration. |
Chromatographic profile
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| CitronellolPercentage of total peak area, range | With geraniol, the pair that carries the rose character. |
| GeraniolPercentage of total peak area, range | As above. The citronellol to geraniol ratio is read as a provenance marker. |
| NerolPercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| Phenylethyl alcoholPercentage of total peak area, range | Very high in absolute and low in otto, because it is water soluble and largely stays in the distillation water. The figure tells you which article you are holding. |
| LinaloolPercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| Methyl eugenolPercentage of total peak area, range | Naturally present, and regulated in some end uses, so the figure is contracted. |
| EugenolPercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| FarnesolPercentage of total peak area, range | A minor constituent named in the product standard. |
| beta-damascenone and rose oxidesPercentage of total peak area | Present in traces and disproportionately important to the odour. Their pattern is very hard to reconstruct. |
| Hydrocarbon stearoptene seriesPercentage of total peak area, range | Nonadecane and its homologues. The natural paraffin signature of a distilled rose oil. |
| Full profile against the reference batchEvery peak accounted for | Rose is the oil where the whole trace matters most, because the value justifies sophisticated adulteration. |
Authenticity and adulteration
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Palmarosa, geranium and citronella additionNil, declared | The classical rose cuts, all of them cheap sources of geraniol and citronellol. Detected on the full profile and on the trace constituents. |
| Synthetic phenylethyl alcoholNil, declared | Used to bulk absolutes. Caught on isotope ratio analysis. |
| Otto and absolute blendingDeclared | A blend is a third article and it is named. It is never sold as either parent. |
| Full chromatogram against a reference profileEvery peak accounted for, with the reference batch named | The whole trace is the specification, not the two or three headline markers. Adulteration hides in the peaks nobody contracted. |
| Enantiomeric ratio, chiral gas chromatographyRatio of the optical isomers of the named marker compounds | The definitive test for synthetic addition. A nature identical molecule is still the wrong molecule at the isomer level. |
| Stable isotope ratio analysisCarbon and hydrogen isotope ratios, by mass spectrometry | Detects synthetic and non plant carbon sources. Contracted where the value of the oil justifies it. |
| Added carrier and diluentNil, declared | Vegetable oil, dipropylene glycol, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate and ethanol. Tested for, because the density alone will not catch a small addition. |
| Cross species and cross grade blendingNil, declared | Cheaper related species blended into a premium oil. Detected on the full profile. |
| ReconstitutionNil, declared | Oil rebuilt from isolates to hit a marker specification. It will pass a marker test and fail a full profile. |
Contaminants, safety and regulatory
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peroxide valueMaximum | Oxidation is the main quality loss in transit and in store. It is also what turns a benign oil into a sensitiser. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram, against the destination market limits | Distillation concentrates lipophilic residues, so the limit is applied to the oil and not to the crop. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram | Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. |
| Phthalates and plasticisersMilligrams per kilogram | Picked up from drums, liners and hoses rather than from the plant. |
| Residual solventMilligrams per kilogram, where the article is an extract or an absolute | Nil for distilled oils, and a stated limit for extracts. |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsMicrograms per kilogram | Comes from direct fire stills and from smoke contact at origin. |
| Allergen declarationPercentage of each declarable fragrance allergen present | Required for cosmetic use in most destination markets. It is calculated from the chromatogram and it travels with the batch. |
| Safety data sheet and transport classificationIssued for the batch, with the UN number and packing group | A shipping document and a compliance document at once. |
Certification, documentation and packing
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| OrganicCertificate under the destination market scheme | EU, NOP, JAS or an equivalence arrangement, named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Fair trade or community benefit schemeCertificate and transaction certificate | Named scheme, with the transaction certificate issued against the specific batch. |
| Kosher and HalalCertificate from the named authority | Travels with the batch. |
| Cosmetic and food grade documentationSpecification, safety data sheet, allergen statement and IFRA conformity certificate | The document set is part of the goods. An oil delivered without it is not deliverable. |
| Non GMO and vegan declarationsDeclaration | Issued where the destination market or the customer requires it. |
| PackingDeclared: aluminium, epoxy phenolic lined steel or high density polyethylene, with the drum size and the net weight | The container is a specification term. Bare steel and unlined plastic will both change the oil. |
| Headspace and inert blanketingDeclared, with the gas and the fill level | Nitrogen blanketing and a full drum are how an oil holds its acid value and its peroxide value across a voyage. |
| Storage and transit temperatureDeclared, with the range and the monitoring method | Cool and dark, evidenced. Where the contract is silent, an arrival dispute over oxidation cannot be settled. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Kazanlak, Karlovo, the Rose Valley | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Isparta, Burdur | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Kashan, Fars | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | Kelaat Mgouna, Dades valley | Origin and destination |
| India | Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh | Origin and destination |
| China | Shandong, Gansu, Yunnan | Origin and destination |
| France | Grasse | Origin and destination |
| Afghanistan | Nangarhar | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | Fayoum, Beni Suef | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Kherson | Origin and destination |
| Moldova | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| North Macedonia | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| Serbia | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| Russia | Krasnodar, Crimea region | Origin and destination |
| Kyrgyzstan | Chuy | Origin and destination |
| Uzbekistan | Fergana | Origin and destination |
| Kazakhstan | Almaty region | Origin and destination |
| Ethiopia | Oromia | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | Rift Valley | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | Punjab | Origin and destination |
| United States | New Jersey, California | Destination |
| Switzerland | Nationwide | Destination |
| Germany | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Nationwide | Destination |
| Netherlands | Nationwide | Destination |
| Italy | Nationwide | Destination |
| Spain | Nationwide | Destination |
| Japan | Nationwide | Destination |
| South Korea | Nationwide | Destination |
| Singapore | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Nationwide | Destination |
| Qatar | Doha | Destination |
| Kuwait | Nationwide | Destination |
| Brazil | Sao Paulo | Destination |
| Canada | Nationwide | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the plant material is cut at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is distillation, settling, batch testing and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jun, arrival Jul to OctA campaign of a few weeks in late May and June. Flowers are picked before dawn and distilled the same day. The Bulgarian campaign sets the world reference for otto. | ||||||
| Turkiye | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jun, arrival Jul to OctThe same short window as Bulgaria, and between them the two origins carry most of world supply. | ||||||
| Iran | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to May, arrival Jun to SepAn earlier campaign, largely distilled for the domestic and regional market with a small export flow. | ||||||
| Morocco | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to May, arrival Jun to SepA short spring campaign in the Dades valley, mostly extracted to concrete and absolute. | ||||||
| India | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival Jan to JulTwo flowerings, and the material moves largely into attar and absolute. | ||||
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jul to OctA spring campaign, with a growing extraction industry. | |||||
| Afghanistan | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jun, arrival Aug to OctA short campaign, moved out through regional consolidation. | |||||||
| France | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jun, arrival Jun to AugA very small centifolia campaign at Grasse, contracted years ahead. | ||||||||
| Egypt | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to May, arrival Jun to AugAn early campaign, mostly for absolute. | ||||||
| Ethiopia | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Harvest Sep to Nov, arrival Dec to FebA later campaign on highland plantations. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for roseoil. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading3301.29 Essential oils, other, including rose oil and rose absolute
- PackingEpoxy lined steel drums of 180 kg to 190 kg, aluminium drums or bottles for reactive oils, IBCs for volume grades. Full headspace nitrogen blanket, out of direct sun, away from heat.
- Container loading20ft: 80 drums at roughly 14 t to 15 t. Segregation applies where the oil is classified flammable.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on specification and retained sample with a GC-MS profile and an IFRA conformity certificate. EFEO and IFEAT trade customs. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsIFRA Standards for restricted materials, EU REACH registration above one tonne per year, CLP classification and labelling given that most oils are flammable and many are sensitisers, allergen declaration under the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009, CITES for sandalwood, agarwood and rosewood oils, and IMDG class 3 shipping for flammable oils.
Common questions
What grades of roseoil does SIP Global trade?
We quote 57 published grades of roseoil, including Rosa damascena - Fresh flowers, water and steam distilled or solvent extracted, Rosa centifolia - Fresh flowers, solvent extracted, Rose otto - Water and steam distilled, with the cohobation of the distillation water declared, Rose absolute - Solvent extracted to a concrete, then washed with ethanol, Rose concrete - Solvent extracted, waxes retained and Supercritical carbon dioxide extract - Extracted with carbon dioxide at a stated pressure and temperature. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is roseoil graded?
Rose is traded on species, on extraction route and on the stearoptene behaviour that separates a genuine otto from everything sold as one. The distillation date and the country of distillation are contract terms, not provenance colour. Grading runs on 6 systems: Botanical source and extraction route, Physicochemical identity, Chromatographic profile, Authenticity and adulteration, Contaminants, safety and regulatory and Certification, documentation and packing.
Where does SIP Global trade roseoil?
We trade roseoil in Bulgaria, Turkiye, Iran, Morocco, India, China, France and Afghanistan and 28 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is roseoil harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Bulgaria: harvest may to jun, arrival jul to oct; Turkiye: harvest may to jun, arrival jul to oct; Iran: harvest apr to may, arrival jun to sep; Morocco: harvest apr to may, arrival jun to sep; India: harvest mar to nov, arrival jan to jul. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for roseoil?
Roseoil is normally classified under HS 3301.29 (essential oils, other, including rose oil and rose absolute). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for roseoil?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed roseoil market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.