Iranian Rose: A Millennium of Fragrance and Heritage

In the interweaving of the scorching sun and gentle morning dew on the Iranian plateau, roses have long become an indispensable life 印记 (mark) of this land. From the miles-long rose valleys outside Kashan to the climbing flower branches in the courtyards of Shiraz, Iranians have embarked on a meticulous journey of exploration of this flower in their daily lives of picking, maintaining, and admiring roses.

In the early morning rose gardens, when the fingertips of flower farmers brush against the dew-covered petals, the sweet aroma lingers in their palms, making people unconsciously relax. When this rich fragrance fills the living room paved with Persian carpets through incense or soaks into the rose tea boiled in copper teapots, Iranians keenly notice their tense nerves quietly relaxing—whether it is the tired travelers returning from caravans or the literati bent over writing Persian poems, they all find spiritual solace in the scent of roses. In the manuscripts of the ancient Persian medical classic The Canon of Medicine (Avicenna's Canon), there is a record of distilling rose petals into essential oil to soothe anxiety, confirming the thousand-year continuity of the healing power of this fragrance.

When a rose petal accidentally scratches a fingertip, the cool sensation from the 渗出 (oozing) juice contacting the wound inspires Iranians to explore its medicinal value. They discovered that crushing fresh petals and applying them to mosquito bites can quickly reduce swelling; grinding dried petals into powder and sprinkling them on minor abrasions can accelerate scab formation and healing. Rose hips are even more treasures hidden in the calyx by nature. Every late autumn, housewives pick the orange-red fruits to boil into thick jams or brew into vitamin C-rich wines, nourishing their families during the cold winter. In Tehran's bazaar markets, herbal vendors still display rose products alongside medicinal herbs such as saffron and fennel for customers to choose from.

These wisdoms derived from daily life have been passed down through generations—from mothers teaching daughters to make rose water—to spreading far and wide with the jingle of caravan camels, and continuously refined through the practices of successive generations of Persian physicians. From daily skin-care recipes for rose essential oil to the proportioning of rose tea for treating gastrointestinal discomfort, these bits of experience have ultimately converged into a systematic knowledge system of rose applications. Today, roses remain important medicinal materials in traditional Iranian medical clinics; and at Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebrations, roses—symbolizing new life and hope—continue to witness the endless vitality of this ancient civilization with their unique fragrance and efficacy.