Close up of a pink rose

Rose (Rosa Damascena)

Last updated on December 5th, 2023 at 01:43 pm

If you think roses are only pretty in the garden, think again. Rose essential oil is one of the most expensive oils in the world — and for good reason! It’s extracted from rose petals and used in a variety of beauty products like perfumes and skin lotions, and rose water can also be found in many culinary recipes.

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The Rose: A Symbol of Love, Beauty, and the Garden of Life

A symbol of love and beauty, the Rose has been celebrated throughout history. Since time immemorial, roses have been given to loved ones as a sign of affection, and just one red rose is said to have the power to convey one’s deepest feelings of love. The flowers are also commonly strewn on graves as a form of remembrance. Rose petals and rose water are also widely used in ceremonies throughout the world.

Calming Properties

Like all flowers, roses possess a wonderfully calming scent that can help you unwind from the stresses of everyday life. It can calm down your mind and body to the point where you can fall asleep more easily when you’re overtired. Try sprinkling a few drops of rose essential oil on your pillow to get the same benefit. Think of rose oil as a spa treatment in a bottle!

Strong, Sweet Scent

If you love the smell of roses and want to add a little to your fragrances, then rose essential oil is perfect for you. It can definitely be used in place of any other floral scent that you’re using, and even blends well with other scents to give them a softer aroma like lavender or jasmine.

Beauty Benefits

Aside from its beauty benefits, rose oil also helps with skin care. It has been found to help clear up skin problems like acne and eczema, improve the look of your skin to help it look more youthful, as well as restore moisture back into your skin so it can repair itself.

Aromatherapy Benefits

Just like any other essential oil, rose oil has many uses in aromatherapy. You can use it to treat insomnia, irritability, nervous tension and depression. It’s also become increasingly popular as an aphrodisiac where it’s thought to help two people fall in love with each other. In addition, rose oil has been found to be effective for controlling pain and supporting circulatory health when applied topically to the skin.

Antidepressant Properties

In addition to all the beauty benefits, rose oil has become a fairly popular alternative treatment for depression. Studies have shown that extracts of rose oil can help in relieving symptoms associated with depression.

What do We Get from Roses? Rosehip Seed Oil, Floral Water & Essential Oils (Otto & Absolute)

Two Types of Essential Oil
There are 2 types of rose essential oil; rose absolute and rose otto. Rose absolute is extracted with solvents while rose otto is steam distilled and is more expensive.

Rosehip Seed Oil
There’s also the oil from the seeds, which is a great alternative to rose essential oil.

Rose Floral Water
Floral waters are a by-product of the distillation process and can be used in skincare and aromatherapy to help promote relaxation.

Luyue Artificial Rose Flower Red Silk Roses with Stem Flowers Bouquet Wedding Party Home Decor, Pack of 10 (Red)

It turns out there are many medicinal properties to these beautiful blooms. Rose oil protects, conditions, tones and even soothes skin, can treat acne and combats signs of aging. In addition to its many health benefits, rose oil is one of the most powerful fragrances on earth. Its universal appeal makes it perfect for rituals and ceremonies to bring peace, joy, and tranquility into the everyday life.

Rose oil has been used in medicine for thousands of years as a rejuvenative treatment to support health. It’s been a popular ingredient in beauty products for centuries and is now widely available in health food stores and online.

Hana Rose Absolute Essential Oil - Relieves Stress and Moisturizes Skin - for Sweeter Stress-Free Days - 100 Pure Therapeutic Grade for Aromatherapy and Topical Use - 30ml

Plant Therapy Rose Absolute Essential Oil 100% Pure, Undiluted, Natural Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Grade 5 mL (1/6 oz)

DID YOU KNOW?!
– All roses are edible!
– Rose floral water not only is thoroughly hydrating, but it is also a mild antiseptic
– The damask rose (famously grown in Bulgaria) has the most potent scent

Rose properties

Rose seed oil and essential oils are good for all skin types (dry, normal, combination and mature skin)

Benefits for Skin & Health

  • Improves appearance of scars
  • Improves appearance of stretch marks
  • Combats skin redness
  • Helps where there’s been sun damage
  • Soothing & anti-inflammatory
  • Great for dry or mature skin
  • Helps itchy or broken skin
  • Tones skin
  • Minimizes appearance of pores
  • Treats acne (it contains trans-retinoic acid which the body makes into Vitamin A)
  • Treats rosacea
  • Adds elasticity to the skin, reduces fine lines around the eyes
  • Detoxifier (massage oil)
  • Helps relieve menstrual pains (massage oil)
  • Supports lungs and heart (massage oil)
  • Great source of Omega 3 and 6 (great for tissue regeneration)
  • The essential oil has antimicrobial properties (skincare)
  • Calms the spirit, aids sleep (diffuser)
  • Lowers heart rate, good to reduce stress levels (diffuser)
  • Rose floral water is wonderful for combination skin, makes a fantastic skin toner, is also very good for mature skin, balances your skin

As you can see, there are many different ways to use this wonderful oil!

PURA D'OR Organic Rosehip Seed Oil (4oz / 118mL) 100% Pure Cold Pressed USDA Certified Organic, All Natural Anti-Aging Moisturizer Treatment for Face, Hair, Skin, Nails, Men-Women (Packaging may vary)

Rosehip seed oil by Pura D’or. Source of Omega 3 and Omega 6. It provides natural Vitamin A to the skin, restores and regenerates at a cellular level tissue and membrane.

Alteya Organics Rose Essential Oil, Pure Certified Organic Bulgarian Rose Otto, 2.3mL Sample Size

Rose Otto Essential Oil [Steam Distilled] The Bulgarian rose is meant to be the best rose in the world. This essential oil by Alteya Organics is 100% pure. You only need a few drops to reap the benefits.

Alteya Organics Bulgarian Rose Absolute (100% PURE Rose Oil) - 10ml, From Rosa Damascena Bulgaria, Authentic, Certified

Rose Absolute Essential Oil [Solvent Extraction] With a sensuous and intense rose fragrance, can be added to your skincare creams and lotions for extra rejuvenating oomph. Lighter scent than Rose otto.

Alteya Organics Rose Water, Organic Facial Toner, 3.4 Fl Oz/100mL, Pure Bulgarian Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Award-Winning Moisturizer, BPA-Free Spray Bottle

Alteya Organics Facial Toner. Contains only 100% pure steam-distilled Bulgarian Rose Water. Suitable for all types of skin types, simply apply with a cotton ball to face and neck in the morning and evening after cleansing your skin. It will balance, refresh and tone your complexion. You can also use it on your hair by massaging the water into the roots after you wash your hair in order to improve softness and shine. Twice a week recommended.

Organics Rose Bud Tea USDA Certified Organic Herbal Tea 2.82 Fl Oz/80 gr Rosa Damascena

Alteya Rose Budes Whole. (100% Organic Rosa Damascena buds) Beautiful Rose buds hand picked and organically grown. For a delicate, calm, dreamy and delightful tea that will get you ready to go to bed. The buds are highly beneficial in antioxidants Vitamin C, B, K and polyphenols which help fight premature aging. With a mildly diuretic action.

Organic Rose Flower Rose Petals Tea caffeine free herbal tea (Organic Rose Flower 4 OZ)

Organic Rose Petals by Green Hill Tea if you prefer petals to buds. For tea, decoration or salads. Such a calming treat for the senses. Oh, and they contain move Vitamin C levels than fresh oranges or grapefruits. With a mildly diuretic action.

Have a Complete Rose Pamper this Week!

Skin

  • Add 2 drops of rose essential oil in a teaspoon of unscented body lotion and massage onto your skin.
  • Add 1-2 drops of Rosehip seed oil in your bathtub to help soften and smooth your skin (I don’t advocate baths in order to save water but once in a blue moon it will most definitely benefit us)
  • Mix 1/5th of a cup of oatmeal with 1 teaspoon honey then add in 2 drops of rose essential oil for an effective facial scrub. Massage and remove with warm water. Apply moisturizer.

Massage

Make a massage oil with a 50/50 combination of almond oil and rosehip seed oil. If you want an extra special treat add in 3-4 drops of rose essential oil. Massage yourself with this regularly to stimulate circulation and increase your skin’s elasticity.

Aromatherapy

Add a few drops of rose essential oil (otto or absolute) into your diffuser for an uplifting scent. It will help you sleep better as well as reducing stress. And the scent is heavenly.

Rose Buds

Make yourself a lovely cup of tea, add in a few dried buds to just boiled water (1 to 3 cups, depending on how strong or weak you want your tea), steep the tea for 5 minutes, then pour to your favorite cup and sip to your heart’s content. This is a caffeine free drink.

Petals

  • Use for decoration
  • Float in summer drinks
  • Scatter over salads
  • Add to vinegars and jams

Last Words

The benefits of rose essential oil and rosehip seed oil are far too numerous to list. They are two of the most important ingredients you can use to restore your health and improve your skin.

Now that you know a little more about these wonderful products, you can see how easy it would be to incorporate them into your beauty routines. Try out a few different ways and find which one works best for you!

I hope you found this article useful. Share it with your family, friends and the world. 🙂

Studies, Research & References

Investigating the effect of rose essential oil in patients with primary dysmenorrhea

Therapeutic efficacy of rose oil: A comprehensive review of clinical evidence

Evaluation of the effect of aromatherapy with Rosa damascena Mill. on postoperative pain intensity in hospitalized children in selected hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2013: A randomized clinical trial

The effect of self-aromatherapy massage of the abdomen on the primary dysmenorrhoea

Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans

Comparing the Effects of Aromatherapy With Rose Oils and Warm Foot Bath on Anxiety in the First Stage of Labor in Nulliparous Women

Rosa damascena oil improves SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction in male patients suffering from major depressive disorders: results from a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial

Adjuvant Rosa Damascena has a Small Effect on SSRI-induced Sexual Dysfunction in Female Patients Suffering from MDD

The effects of clinical aromatherapy for anxiety and depression in the high risk postpartum woman – a pilot study

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