Rose Absolute
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Rosa x damascena
BIOTANICAL FAMILY
Rosaceae
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
France, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, China, and Morocco
PLANT PART
Flowers
NOTE
Middle-base
EXTRACTION METHOD
Solvent extraction; flowers are picked manually between 5:00AM and 10:00AM as the petals are open and oil content is highest
AROMA
Rich, warm, spicy-floral, honey-like aroma
GC/MS REPORT
Monoterpenols: Citronellol (11%); geraniol (7%); 2-phenylethyl alcohol (73%)
NOTES ON CHEMICAL COMPONENTS
Citronellol's known therapeutic properties include: antifungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antianxiety, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, CNS depressant, hypotensive,myorelaxant, and appetite suppressant Geraniol's known therapeutic properties include: airborne antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, cooling, and neuroprotective 2-phenylethyl alcohol's therapeutic properties fit within the monoterpenol family: anti-infectious, immune stimulant, and skin healing.
THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS
Skin healing - helps treating acne; moisteurizing and cooling. Nervous system - helps relieve stress, emotional anxiety, irritability, and depression; sedative. Musculoskeletal system - helps relieve muscolar aches and pains; anti-inflammatory, calming. Reproductive system - regulates menstruation, relieves cramps, hot flashes, and balances menopause.
EMOTIONAL/ENERGETIC QUALITIES
Conveys a feeling of calm, love, and warmth; helps relieving anxiety, irritability, and depression; helps achieving emotional balance; strenghtens the heart and refreshes soul.
ADMINISTRATION METHOD
Bath, topical application (diluted), and inhalation
ETNOBOTANY LORE AND ANCIENT PARTICLES
There are thousands of rose varieties, three are usually used for essential oil production: Rosa damascena, R. centifolia, R. gallica. It is considered native of Europe and western Africa. Cultivation of Rosa damascena was brought to Bulgaria in the fifteenth century - then part of the Ottoman Empire. It is the Bulgarian rose oil that today is considered the most prized. The word Rosa comes from the Greek word rodon - meaning red - and legend says it came out of Adonis' blood. In ancient time, Rosa was indeed a deep crimnson color. In Homer's Iliad, Hector's body was anointed with rose before his burial. According to Islam, when Mohammad went to heaven, some of his sweat fell to the ground and a rose grew in that spot. The flower was prized in Babylon, Assyria, China, Rome, and Greece. Roman philosopher Pliny in his book Natural History describes at length the scent qualities and cultivation best practices. Ancient Rome loved rose and rosewater, often used during festivals, banquets, and funerals, spreading petals on the floor and streets or wearing it as garland to prevent drunkenness. Production of Rose essential oil was fisrt documented in Iran in the ninth century. In traditional medicine, rose and its oil was used as an anti-inflammatory agent, applied to soothe headaches, cool spirits, and comfort the heart. In Chinese and Sanskrit manuscripts, Rose was used to treat diseases of the liver, blood, and stomach, and to drive away melancholy.
SAFETY
Non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing; however, it is recommended a maximun topical use of 1% for facial application
DISCLAIMER: The information provided above is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease; these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Please consult a licensed healthcare specialist for specific medical advice.