The Persians were the first to distill the essential oil of the heavenly scented damask rose, which gets its name from Damascus in ancient Syria. The oil was much sought after for trade around the globe. The Greeks used it in olive oils as perfume and to keep illness at bay. It is said that Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, named the rose after her son Eros, the Greek god of love: by transposing the first letter of his name to the last, love and roses were forever intermingled. These elegant tones are ideal for creating a warm and affectionate palette, balanced by organic neutrals and a complementary leaf green, it works equally well in rich, new décor, and in traditional Victorian settings.