Rose has been highly prized for centuries there are over 10 000 types of cultivated rose many of which are extensively used in toiletries for both men and women it is extremely difficult to extract oil from the petals of the rose the two main ways are first solvent extraction of a concrete which is then produced into an absolute and second distillation to produce an essential oil production of an absolute gives a better yield but distillation gives a much finer fragrance it can solidify