Abstract: The essential oil of Rose damascene Miller which was planted first in Jiangxi province was obtained through steam distillation, with a yield of 0.023%. Physical indexes and major compositions of the rose essential oil were analyzed according to ISO 9842:2003 rose essential oil standard. The results indicated that the oil was yellow liquid with a natural rose flowers smell, having the similar constitution of major compositions to Bulgarian rose oil illustrated in ISO 9842:2003 standard, physical indexes and the percentage of characteristic compositions met criteria of the standard as well. A total of 73 compositions were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with heuristic evolving latent projection (HELP), in which flavor compounds were various and relatively comprehensive. β-Damascenone was also detected, of which the presence and quantity are considered as the marker for the quality of rose oil.

Key words: rose essential oil, physical indexes, compositions of rose oil, ISO 9842:2003 rose essential oil standard