From Rosa to the Rose - the story of the Queen of Flowers

AFSA is offering an afternoon master-class via Zoom lead by a French perfume expert, Anastasia Sokolow. Participants will be arranged into pairs to share hands-on materials. Class begins with a light lunch served at 11:30am.

From Anastasia, here's what you can expect:

Rosa is one of the most ancient flowers. Few other flowers have such a wide range of sizes, colors, shapes and textures.

First, we will explore its complex genealogy to better understand how and why the flower has evolved. You will learn about “Wild Roses”, “Old Garden Roses”, “Modern Roses” and discover how both nature and men have contributed to such a wide variety of species. I will tell you about my favorite gardens to discover ancient and new species; these heavens of peace designed by talented gardeners might inspire you to create your own!

We will then focus on two specific roses cultivated for their unique fragrance: Rosa Damascena and Rosa Centifolia. You will learn about their history, their specificities and discover the famous Rose Valleys where they are cultivated in France, Bulgaria, Turkey and Morocco. I will explain how roses are processed to obtain rose essential oil and absolute and tell you about the Sulékó language of scents and the messages conveyed by the rose. As you discover our Vy Roza Eau de Parfum you will see how rose essence comes into play in a perfume to narrate a story and to reflect the state of mind of a person.

Let’s dive into the world of roses and find out what is a known fact and what is still left to uncover about the Queen of Flowers, which has been fascinating painters, poets, doctors, gardeners, chemists, botanists, perfumers and chefs for centuries…