This type of flask, characterized by a globular body and a long, slender neck tapering towards the opening, was used to sprinkle perfumed water on the hands and faces of guests. The gesture was not only a mark of welcome and hospitality, but also a means of driving evil spirits out of the house being visited. The most popular perfumed water used in Syria was rosewater; Damascus was such a famous center of rosewater production that the rose became the city’s emblem. Because of its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, rosewater was also used as a medication in treating diseases of the eye. Even today, rosewater is associated with hospitality and the expression of a certain social status.