When Cleopatra entertained Mark Anthony, she had the palace floors covered knee deep in rose petals, because she believed so strongly in the romantic powers of the rose's perfume and their exquisite beauty.

In India, Shahjehan cultivated rose gardens for his beloved queen, Noorjehan. After her death, the emperor built the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, to honour his wife.

Roses possess enchanting perfumes with hints of musk, honey, lemon, spice and fresh China tea with the fragrance varying in character and intensity based on age.

Colours of roses range from soft pastels to bright golden yellows to vibrant vermilion. Did you know that there are no natural blue roses?

The War of Roses marked a lengthy period of civil strife in England's history when the houses of York (white rose) and Lancaster (red rose) battled for the throne. When the war ended, red and white roses became a symbol of national unity in England.

Rose essence is said to have been discovered in Kashmir.

The finest rose oil is obtained from the Damask rose cultivated in Bulgaria.

Over 60,000 roses must be harvested to create one ounce of pure essential rose oil.

Rose has cosmeceutical benefits as well as therapeutic benefits that no other flower possesses.

Applying fresh cool rose petals can soothe tired eyes.

Rose essential oil is good for people with nervous dispositions by working on the nervous system, calming the patient and uplifting the mood. It can also act as an aphrodisiac and is a valuable ingredient in natural skin care products.