AL GADHI ROSE FACTORY

A large part of Taif's economy is based on the production of Damascus roses. 900 farmers cultivate the delicate flower with thirty petals to transform it into heady perfume and essential oil. From the end of February onwards, the area around Taif is covered in a deep pink that contrasts with the green of the bushes. 300 million flowers bloom between 2,000 and 2,500 meters above sea level and perfume the air. The rose gardens are concentrated between Taif and Al Hada in the west and between Taif and al-Shafa mountain in the south. Roses are harvested between mid-March and early April. The petals are collected by hand and transported to the distilleries before daybreak. The men collect the petals by torchlight, as the fragrances are more concentrated in the morning dew, before the sun evaporates the aromas. The cultivation of the rose in Taif dates back to the 14th century when merchants from Turkey sought a place to grow the Damascus rose near Mecca.

The Al Gadhi distillery is one of the oldest in Taif. It opens its doors to visitors during the harvesting and processing period. The hundred or so copper stills run at full capacity for two weeks to extract the water from the petals. A mysterious alchemy is necessary for the roses to give oil. In the 1970s, King Khalid bought the entire production of essential rose oil from Taif, which is sold at a high price. It costs 1,600 SAR for 12 grams!