extremely fragrant Damask varieties?

13 years ago

Hello all,

I'm growing Autumn Damask and Madame Hardy--both starting to bloom now for first time and seem happy. Madame Hardy is listed as having more intense fragrance than Autumn Damask. We will see in a week... Are the single bloomer damasks more fragrant than Autumn Damask?

I had assumed all Damasks smell equally incredible just tad different now I realize there may be a spectrum even among Damasks. I enjoy/am used to extremely intense damask fragrances in Iran. I hope to find something that will match those.

Which are the most extremely intensely fragrant damasks available here?

Featured Answer

Ellen Harold

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I thought Ispahan was considered one of the most fragrant. It is certainly one of the most prolific --- and as we know quantity has a quality all of its own. There was a planting in the NY Botanical rose garden in the Bronx of this and Raubritter, which was powerful and wafting. I never smelled anything like it, actually, visiting it several years in a row in rose season. I don't know whether the fragrance came from Ispahan or Raubritter exactly, and Raubritter is also sometimes described as being low on fragrance. so.... It is a great mystery.

I have to confess that my specimen is not notably fragrant, but most of my plants are not, with the exception of dianthus, which are sometimes irritatingly strong. My tiny city rowhouse back yard is located in something of a wind tunnel. But I continue to try to plant fragrant plants out of an inveterate optimism.

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Comments (10)

Snowstorms
13 years ago
I'm very interested in learning more about this flower you're talking about. Could you include a photo?
eahamel
13 years ago
There are a lot of Damasks. Here is Vintage Rose's list of Damasks, with descriptions for each. Some are more fragrant than others. See if you can find one that looks like the one you are used to.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Rose's Damask Roses
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andrepap
13 years ago
Do you live in Maryland? There is a Persian restaurant here called The Orchard. Anyway, I grow a damask called Bella Donna. It is as beautiful as Madame Hardy (which is almost perfect !). Both bloom once only.
There is also a class of roses called "Damask Perpetuals", sometimes call "Portland roses". I grow 2 of these also - Duchesse du Rohan and Marchese Boccella".
All of these roses smell great. There are 2 once-blooming Damasks that I've always wanted, one called Ispahan and one call Kazantilik.
andrepap
13 years ago
Bella Donna
michaelg
13 years ago
'Kazanlik' and 'Botzaris' might be similar to the roses the OP remembers. I have not grown them, but they are considered typical damasks and are grown for perfume.

'Ispahan' was reportedly brought to England from Iran during the 20th century. Compared to other damasks, it has outstanding resistance to blackspot disease, but it is not considered one of the most fragrant.
persianmd2orchard
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you all so much. It sounds like Ispahan although from Iran--isn't the classic damask grown there. Often really random varieties seem to be imported and not our most special when it comes to fruit cultivars from Iran, so I guess same can happen with Iranian roses. No diss on Ispahan though, it's probably a nice rose overall.

There are a couple others imported here from Iran like something or other of Guilan and Omar Khayyaam but I also suspect they may not be the most intensely fragrant for a damask standard, not sure though.

Based on going through that Vintage roses list (thanks that link was awesome!)... maybe Summer Damask is a good try for me. I'll call them up and talk with them when it's time to buy.
AquaEyes 7a NJ
13 years ago
Unfortunately, Vintage Gardens is closing next month. Use their website (while it lasts) as a reference, cross-reference the roses at HelpMeFind (see link below), and seek other vendors which offer what you want for sale.

:-)

~Christopher

Here is a link that might be useful: HelpMeFind Rose Search
bluegirl_gw
13 years ago
There was a good thread on commercial attar production in Persia some time ago--I linked it to your other thread & here it is again.

Here is a link that might be useful: Iranian attar production
Mina D
2 years ago
Hi Op,

I’m also Persian. Wondering where you placed on the rose search?