Rose essential oil is prevalent in many beauty products. Its Latin name is; Rosa damascena (Mill.)
Rose is also one of the most expensive oils you will find. It takes about 30 handpicked blossoms, or 2000 petals to make just one drop of rose essential oil.
Rosa damascena is steam distilled from the whole flower petals without the calyx. Rose otto or rose attart is water distilled.
The discovery of rose oil has a beautiful, romantic story. Shah Jaham (the man who built the Taj Mahal and Shalimar Gardens for his wife) built a canal and filled it with water then topped it with rose petals. While rowing down the canal at their wedding feast they discovered a pleasant floral smell was coming from the petals when the sun hit it, and they also found that there was an essential oil that had been separated from the petals with heat.
Women harvesting rose in Turkey. Image by Dorene Petersen. © 1999
(Petersen, 2017)
Rose grows in sandy, stony soil that has good drainage and lots of sun, It’s said that the roses that are grown at an altitude of 1000-2700 feet are superior. Typically women harvest the rose in the last spring or early summer. It’s harvested in the morning before the sun rises because the hot sun will hurt the yield.
Uses for Rose R. damascena essential oil can be good for:
headaches, migraines,
labor pains, post-natal depression, spasms,
sprains, swelling,
lack of concentration
skin infection, sores, rashes, mouth ulcers, dermatitis, athletes foot, boils, burns, abrasions, abscesses, eczema, mouth ulcers, oily skin, insect bites and stings
Other uses include: topical analgesic aka pain reliever and calm the nerves
Safety precautions: there is 1.5% phenol eugenol that may cause skin irritation with anyone that has dermatitis
I recently made Rose Emulsified Ointment, the rose essential oil that is used in the recipe was Rosa damascena and I actually did have a stinging sensation when I got this oil on my skin.
The ingredients in this are:
Rose Rosa damascena oil: 10 drops
Filtered water (warmed): 7 ounces
Sweet almond oil: 1 ounce
Beeswax: ½ ounce
This made an ointment that had an intense rose/floral scent. I know that rose is extremely good for several issues and one of the most popular is for ageing skin; however, I find the smell unpleasant. I’ve never really cared for any floral scents unless they are very mild and blended with another scent such as patchouli P cablin or sandalwood S. album.
There is some wonderful information about why rose is good for your skin along with some helpful recipes that you can find at http://info.achs.edu/blog/rose-essential-oil-diy-body-scrub
Rose water is also used for acne treatments, sore throats and luxurious baths. Rose is an anti-inflammatory and therefore when put on acne it helps reduce the inflammation. For this reason, it is also good for eczema and rosacea.
Here is a soothing face mask recipe that would be terrific on problem areas:
You can even create a calming face mask from rose petals. Simply soak 8 petals in 3-4 tablespoons of water for 2-3 hours. Then mash the petals into the water and add 3 tablespoons of honey. Mix well, and apply to entire face. Leave on for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with cool water.
Rose is a moisturizing antioxidant that is relaxing and toning. The astringent properties of rose help tighten pores resulting in a supple glow. Rose is high in vitamin C which makes it an antioxidant and allows it to protect against damage. The antibacterial properties of rose also make it a wonderful ingredient in face washes.
Another little tip that Dr Axe provides HERE suggests that rose essential oil can also benefit libido. By helping balance hormone levels rose will increase sex drive, You can put rose on your neck or diffuse it.
Pham, H. (2017). Top 16 recipes to make rose face mask at home. [online] VKool Magazine: Health & Fitness, Beauty, Lifestyle Magazine. Available at: http://vkool.com/rose-face-mask/ [Accessed 14 Nov. 2017].
Petersen, D. (2017). 3 Reasons to Love Rose in Your DIY Skin Care. [online] Info.achs.edu. Available at: http://info.achs.edu/blog/rose-essential-oil-diy-body-scrub [Accessed 14 Nov. 2017].
Petersen, D. (2017). Aroma 101 Introduction to Aromatherapy. 17th ed. pp.294-302.
Organic Authority. (2017). 7 Natural Beauty Benefits of Roses – Organic Authority. [online] Available at: http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/7-natural-beauty-benefits-of-roses.html [Accessed 14 Nov. 2017].
Dr. Axe. (2017). Rose Essential Oil Benefits Skin & Hormones – Dr. Axe. [online] Available at: https://draxe.com/rose-essential-oil-benefits-skin-depression-hormones/ [Accessed 14 Nov. 2017].
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