Amouage builds new Omani rose supply chain
Amouage partners with LMR Naturals to establish a new supply chain for rare Omani rose oil, targeting scaled production for its perfumes by 2027.
Amouage is building a new supply chain for a rare Omani rose essential oil in partnership with LMR Naturals by IFF. The first production from new facilities in Oman is expected for the 2027 harvest season.
Cultivated for centuries on terraced slopes in the Jabal Akhdar mountains, the Damascena Trigintipetala rose grows over 2,000 meters above sea level. Francesca Bonati, Fragrance Development Manager at Amouage, says the cool temperatures and rocky soil give this 30-petal rose a signature that is brighter, greener, and more mineral than varieties from Turkey or Bulgaria.
Traditionally, the blossoms are hand-harvested from mid-March to late April and distilled over wood fires in terracotta stills to make rose water. The essential oil is a rare by-product of this process. Today, total production is extremely limited, at only around 50 millilitres.
A new ingredient from tradition
Renaud Salmon, Chief Creative Officer at Amouage, notes that while rose water is a cultural icon, it has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. The brand sees potential to scale the rare essential oil into a premium perfume ingredient. Many agricultural terraces in Jabal Akhdar are underutilized, and the roses begin harvesting just two to three years after planting.
To transform this potential, Amouage has partnered with LMR Naturals. Sabrya Meflah, President of Fine Fragrance at IFF, says the collaboration aligns with the vision of LMR founder Monique Rémy.
Producing pure Omani rose essential oil is prohibitively expensive. LMR has developed a novel approach. Bertrand de Préville, General Manager of LMR, explains they will recover aromatic molecules from the rose water distillation runoff and recombine them with the rose essence. This creates a complete essential oil without petrochemicals. The naturally occurring alcohols in the water add a fresh, petal-like facet.
Rooting a fragrance signature
The project aims to shape a distinctive olfactory signature for Amouage. It builds on Renaud Salmon's vision, which began with anchoring the brand's identity in Omani raw materials through a 2024 frankincense project. Salmon describes the Omani rose as highly mineral with a modern feel, featuring zesty notes and a rose oxide facet. He says it fits perfectly with the signature he is seeking.
Extraction will happen directly in Oman to preserve the flowers' aromatic integrity by minimizing heat and sunlight exposure. The initiative also seeks to recognize local growers and strengthen the regional agricultural ecosystem.
In the longer term, Amouage and IFF hope to position Jabal Akhdar as a global benchmark for perfume-grade rose cultivation. Meflah calls it a virtuous initiative focused on transparency, quality, and giving back to communities.
The first batches will be reserved for IFF-developed Amouage fragrances. Salmon states the ambition is to use the Omani rose in meaningful concentrations, not just trace amounts. Provided future volumes allow, the oil could eventually be made available more broadly, supporting the local economy and enriching the perfumer's palette.
