Latin name: Rose damascena
Source country: Bulgaria, Turkey.
Appearance: Dark red thick oil (absolute). Pale yellow (otto)
Aroma: Aromatic, deep, exotic, sweet
Derivation: The flower petals, always picked early in the morning may be steam
distilled (to yield rose otto) or extracted with solvent (rose absolute). It takes thousands of
petals to make a small amount of oil and this is why it is so expensive.
Chemicals: There are many natural chemicals in rose oil. Beta-damascenone is the most
important for because being less than 1% of its make up, it accounts for over 90% of its
aroma. ß-Ionone, ß- damascene, and rose oxide are also important aroma constituents.
There are a wide range of other terpenoids in rose including citronellol, geraniol, nerol,
and phenylethyl alcohol.
Uses: The aroma is uplifting and may help with depression. It is also excellent for ageing
and mature skin helping to soften the skin and give a healthy glow. It is of help with
emotional problems and is purported to be an aphrodisiac.
Note: As with all pure essential oils, dilute appropriately with a suitable carrier oil before
using on the skin. Do not take essential oils internally.
Due to the high expense of rose oil, we produce an affordable product which is diluted to 5% with sweet almond oil. This can be put directly on the skin.
