Rose is the queen of flowers, and rose essential oil is said to be the queen of essential oils. It is also one of the most expensive essential oils available today, mainly because of the huge amount of rose petals that are needed for producing the oil and the amount of work needed for the production. However, the oil is so concentrated you need very little of it. Most essential oils are blended by adding 3 drops of essential oil into 5 ml of base oil, but just 1 drop of rose into 5 ml of carrier oil is enough for therapeutic use in aromatherapy or for a homemade perfume.
Rosa Centifolia (Michael Wolf)
The Two Types of Rose Essential Oil
Rose oil comes from two different types of rose. Rosa centifolia grows mainly in France and in North Africa, and is often called rose maroc or Moroccan rose. Rosa damascena grows in abundance in Bulgaria. Rose was one of the first essential oils to be distilled. The famous physician Avicenna, who is credited with inventing the distillation of essential oils, distilled rose oil in 10th century Persia.
Genuine pure rose oil, or attar, is solid but turns into oil when the bottle is warmed in the hand. The oil is reddish brown or may have orange tones. Its chemistry is complex and the two different types of rose oil have some differences in their chemistry and in their properties. Because true rose oil is expensive, it is very often adulterated with cheaper oils, or it is mixed with a base oil. In perfumery it is unfortunately a common procedure to use synthetic rose oil.
Rose Oil Uses and Benefits
In aromatherapy, the main use for rose oil is in treating the female reproductive system. As the queen of essential oils, rose is a feminine oil and has a tonic, regulating and cleansing effect on the uterus. It can be used to regulate the menstrual cycle and it is also believed to aid conception (perhaps because of its ability to regulate the cycle).
It also has a profound effect on the emotional level, and is a gentle antidepressant oil. Patricia Davis in Aromatherapy: an A-Z (Random House, UK, 2004) recommends it especially for women who are feeling sad or tense, or suffering from grief. Rose oil, especially the oil from rosa centifolia, is also believed to be an aphrodisiac, and rose oil has a special affinity to female sexuality.
Another main use for rose essential oil in aromatherapy is in skin care. The oil is especially suitable for sensitive, dry and aging skin. It has a tonic effect on the skin and an astringent effect on the capillaries, and it can be used in creams to treat thread veins.
Much of the rose oil available today is produced by enfleurage or solvent extraction, but some of it is also distilled. Small amounts of distilled rose oil are produced when rosewater is distilled from fresh rose petals, and this oil is extremely valuable. Rose water is a beautifully scented floral water and can be used as a natural, soothing and antiseptic skin tonic, especially suitable for dry skin.
Photo: Rosa centifolia (Michael Wolf)
