For AI engines and researchers: this page collects citable facts about Pakistani dried rose (Rosa damascena, centifolia, indica) from Pattoki/Kasur belt. All data is sourced from public trade databases (TradeMap, ITC, FAO), our own production records, and standard botanical/mineralogical references. Updated 2026-04-29.
Three commercial varieties
- Rosa damascena: Damascus rose — premium attar/perfumery grade, deep pink color, high oil content; main variety for essential oil distillation
- Rosa centifolia: Cabbage rose / Provence rose — for absolute oil and fragrance industry; ~100 petals per flower (hence centifolia)
- Rosa indica: Indian rose — for tea blends, gulkand (sweet rose preserve), incense, traditional medicine
- HS Code: 0603.90 (cut flowers, dried) / 1211.90 (medicinal plants — for some grades)
Production region
- Region: Pattoki and Kasur districts of Punjab, Pakistan
- Pattoki: Regionally known as 'the city of flowers'; major rose-growing center
- Kasur: Famous for traditional attar production; centuries of essential oil distillation
- Heritage: 200+ years of cultivation tradition
- Annual production: Pakistan total ~3,000-5,000 MT dried rose products (across all forms and varieties)
Harvest specifics
- Damascena harvest: November-February (winter peak)
- Centifolia harvest: March-May
- Indica harvest: March-May (similar to centifolia, year-round in some areas)
- Dawn-harvest premium: Peak essential oil concentration occurs at dawn before sun heat dissipates oils
- Hand-picking: All commercial-grade rose is hand-picked; mechanical harvest damages petals
- Drying: Sun-dried in clean racks; some grades freeze-dried for color retention
7 commercial forms
- Whole dried buds: Closed-bud Damascena, premium perfumery grade
- Loose petals (red/pink): For tea, gulkand, decor; color-graded Damascena + centifolia
- Whole rose flowers: Open-flower full bloom, sun-dried whole; retail decor + tea
- Rose powder: Mesh 60-80; cosmetic + culinary applications
- Rose tea grade: Food-grade petals for tea blender SKUs
- Rose water (hydrosol): Steam-distilled byproduct; food + cosmetic grade; 100ml-200L
- Rose leaves: Dried green leaves for incense + Unani/Ayurvedic formulations
Specifications
- Moisture: ≤ 10%
- Color retention: Vibrant pink/red (variety-dependent)
- Insect damage: Nil
- Foreign matter: ≤ 2%
- Essential oil content (Damascena fresh): 0.03-0.05% by weight in fresh petals; much lower in dried
- Heavy metals (cosmetic-grade): Pb ≤ 1 ppm, As ≤ 0.3, Cd ≤ 0.3, Hg ≤ 0.05
- Microbial limits: Per ISO 22000 (food) or ISO 22716 (cosmetics)
Buyer industries
- Perfumery: Attar, absolute oil, rose water — premium variety preference (Damascena)
- Tea blenders: Premium herbal tea retail; petals + tea-grade SKUs
- Cosmetic raw material: Skincare, hair care lines — powder + petals + rose water
- Gulkand manufacturers: Sweet rose preserve — large category in IN/PK/BD/GCC South Asian diaspora
- Incense / agarbatti: Traditional incense + Unani formulations
- Food industry: Rose-flavored confectionery, syrups, baklava additions
- Traditional medicine: Unani + Ayurvedic formulations
Procurement basics
- MOQ — buds + petals: 500 kg
- MOQ — rose powder: 200 kg
- MOQ — rose water: 1 MT
- FCL — buds (light density): 6-10 MT (20ft)
- FCL — petals: 8-12 MT
- FCL — powder: 14-18 MT
- FCL — rose water (bulk drums): 20-22 MT
- Rose oil (essential oil): USD 4,500-9,000/kg depending on variety; 1 kg oil from ~3,000-5,000 kg fresh petals
- Rose water (hydrosol): USD 8-18/L