Thanks for the Rose Water link. I’ve always wanted to try that. I’ve added ‘Blanc Double D’Colbert and ‘Cuthbert Grant’ roses grown for fragrance and rose hips for jelly when they’re more mature; they’ve only been in a year. I need to add ‘Hansa’ as well. :)
We took a trip to Florida one winter and Sis and I were OBSESSED with the Orange Blossom perfume you could buy down there. Of course, it was just a cheap ‘tourist thing’ probably made in 55-gallon barrels, but we loved it!
Drove Dad crazy with us ‘stinking up the car’ with the stuff, LOL!
Like I said I’ve had that rose bush here since the 80’s and it never has had more than 4 or 5 flowers. Not sure why, planted well in a good spot, got bloom booster fertilizer and sprayed for black spot which it sometimes got. It also had a big at sucker every couple of years, this year I have cut 3 so far. This year I gave it a good dose of Chicken Soup for the Soil like the rest of the flowers and veggies. Clemantis are way fuller than normal and this rose bush - 25 flowers and counting. Dad’s other half in Chicago was always loaded. So since I have so many I really wanted to preserve the smell for those cold winter times. I will probably try the oil too as I only use extra light olive oil.