Istanbuli Ateek

Istanbuli Ateek: Pre-1990 Turkish Istanbul Rose Otto - Rare - Vintage - Rising Phoenix Perfumery

Distilled: Pre-1990 - most likely in Copper

Region: Istanbul, Turkey

Species: Damask / Rosa Damascena

Everyone loves a good Rose... few get to smell an EXCEPTIONAL Rose.

Let alone a VINTAGE Rose no longer in production!

SCENT

Oozing wet, dewy roses with a gorgeous plush velvety and spicy citronellol warmth. Even just uncapping the bottle will send a shiver down your spine.

This small batch of Turkish Rose Otto I acquired from the archives of the grandchildren of the man who taught perfumery to the Ajmal family.

As with many of the oils in their possession, they are often older than their date of acquisition, and this bottle was acquired no later than 1990. So although we don’t know the exact age - we know it predates the 90’s.

Istanbuli Ateek is an exquisite specimen from an area of Turkey I can’t find any hints of production that are happening any longer. At least not on any commercial scale. Almost all modern Turkish Rose is produced in Isparta.

Istanbul is interesting in that geographically, it borders the Mediterranean Sea on one side, and the Black Sea on the other. A tremendous amount of history comes out of this area that once housed Thracians, Greeks and Romans, as well as the Holy Roman / Byzantine Empire, the Seljuk Empire - and up until more recently - the Ottomans. Really makes me wonder exactly where on that narrow strip of land that connects Europe to Asia the roses that wound up in this bottle came from … oh the things lost to the mysteries of history!

This oil was produced and bottled by a company that no longer exists, and would have been produced in the outskirts of Constantinople - modern day Istanbul. I managed to acquire an unopened bottle of the oil, and filmed its opening. That video can be found here:

https://youtu.be/kah3yAJTk2I?si=Bf-_E8w8YjW2XGn8

The luscious aroma finishes with a noticeable sweet musky rose nuance that actually reminds me of smelling a co-distillation of Red and Pink Rose Ottos. It’s stunningly beautiful.

I don't generally favor Turkish Rose Ottos...this is a rare one that caught my attention. It deserves a seat on the shelf of every serious collector!

Enjoy!