Rose Essential Oil

These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals.

One final note:

Many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.

In the case of any and all alternative healing topics here (and anywhere else on the Internet), we strongly recommend your physician is aware of any methods you are applying. Alternative healing, holistic healing, homeopathic health care and all other related subjects should not be considered a replacement for a doctor's care but rather as a possible aid to such care.

If you are uncertain on the safety of using any information please be sure to consult your doctor prior to proceeding.

The birth place was probably northern Persia, or Faristan on the Gulf of Persia. It then spread acrossMesopotamia, Palestine and across to Asia Minor and Greece. The European name for the Damascus rose dates from the Crusades, but it is now incorporated in its botanical name.

Commercial rose growing to produce rose oil was well established in the Kazanlik region of Bulgaria by the end of the 17th century.

Bulgarian rose oil is still considered the most prized of all rose oils.

The Bulgarian rose industry is confined to one mountain district, having for its centre the town of Kazanlik.

The major rose oil producing countries are France, Bulgaria, Morocco, Turkey, Italy and China.

Rose absolute from Rosa damascena is an orange-yellow to brown-orange viscous liquid with a rich, warm, spicy-floral and very deep rose odour with a pronounced honey undertone.

Rose oil is obtained by steam distillation of the whole flower.

The flowers are generally picked manually and to minimise loss of oil harvesting needs to be done between 5 and 10 am as this is the period that the flowers are open and the oil content is highest.

Rose is one of the most complex essential oils known.

It contains more than 300 chemical compounds, of which the great part is still unidentified.

No other flower has been exalted in literature, mythology and used for so many sacred purposes as the rose.

In ancient art and literature the rose was the predominant flower symbol.

Its blossom symbolises beauty, love, youth, perfection and immortality.

Ancient Rome had an insatiable appetite for roses and rose water.

During festivals and banquets rose petals were strewn over the floor and along the streets.

Self-indulgent Romans wore rose garlands at their feasts, as prevention against drunkenness.

To them, the rose was a sign of pleasure, the companion of mirth and wine, but it was also used at their funerals.

Generally, therapeutic remedies containing rose have a cooling and soothing influence.

It is interesting to note that the fields of application of rose oil in ancient medicine are almost identical with those of modern aromatherapy.

Rose oil has the most diverse therapeutic properties of all essential oils.

Most aromatherapists agree that rose oil is effective in all levels of life - for the soul, spirit and body.

Rose oil has been assigned to the heart.

The essential oil of rose has a profound psychological effect.

It is referred to as a gentle but potent anti-depressant.

Rose may be used as a sedative for the nerves.

It is useful for the treatment of palpitations, irritability and insomnia.

It helps to release anger, despair and frustration.

Rose comforts in times of sorrow, dissolves psychological pain, refreshes a sad heart and opens doors to love, friendship and empathy.

Rose oil is valuable for the treatment of gynaecological problems.

Rose oil has an astonishing effect on the female sexual organs as a purifying and regulating agent.

It regulates menstruation and relieves menstrual cramps and excessive menstrual bleeding.

Rose is recommended for functional infertility.

It is beneficial when it is difficult to predict ovulation dates because of an irregular cycle.

Rose oil has excellent emollient, softening and hydrating properties which, accompanied by its stimulating and antiseptic qualities, make it ideal for all skin care, especially formature, dry or sensitive skin.

Rose oil has a tonic and astringent effect on the capillaries and can be used for the treatment of broken capillaries, redness and inflammation of the skin.

Rose oil is classified as cool and moist in nature, and is recommended for clearing heat and inflammation and for alleviating anxiety and depression.

It may be beneficial for hot conditions involving the liver and gall bladder that result in tension, irritability, headache and constipation.

Possible Uses: Depression, eczema, frigidity, mature skin, menopause, stress.

Topical application - massage, compress, bath, ointment, skin care.

Inhalation - direct inhalation, diffuser and oil vapouriser.

Battaglia S, Complete Guide to Aromatherapy 2nd Ed 2003 ICH

Worwood VA, The Fragrant Mind, Doubleday MY 1995

Davis P, Aromatherapy an A-Z CW Daniel Co 2000

Valnet Dr Jean, The Practice of Aromatherapy CW Daniel Co 1980

It takes approximately 60,000 roses to produce just 1 oz of Rose Oil (Rose Otto) That's about two & half dozen roses to make just one drop.

A few drops of high quality Rose Oil (Rose Otto) will - Enliven: romance, auras, chakras, love, libido, sensuality, happiness.

Enhance: inner vision, angelic connection, clairvoyance, relationships, meditation, devotion.

Assist with: skin care, easing grief, encouraging contentment, dissipating guilt, liver detoxing, opening the heart, balancing the female reproduction system, healing.

Ease: menstrual tension, frigidity, hangovers, depression, symptoms of menopause.

Bring: harmony, comfort, calmness, purity, patience, luck and joy.

Reference: Sourced directly from the Bulgarian Rose Valley

Make your own rose water or oil at home with this method.

You can make other herb extracts as well.

You will need a lot of ice for this project, so plan ahead.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Ingredients:

* Clean rose petals or herbs (grown without pesticides)
* Water
* Ice

Preparation:

You can make rose water (or any other herb) and extracts at home with a bit of time and patience.

Place a heavy glass ramekin into a deep stockpot.

Fill the ramekin 3/4 full with water to weigh it down.

Place rose petals or herbs around the exterior of the ramekin in the bottom of the pot and cover with water halfway up the side of the ramekin.

Place a shallow soup bowl on top of the ramekin.

Bring the water and rose petals to a boil.

Lower heat to simmer.

Place a stainless steel bowl on top of the stockpot. It should be large enough to seal the pot, but shallow enough so that its bottom is above the top level of the soup bowl.

Fill the top bowl with ice.

Simmer the mixture 3 to 4 hours, depending on the amount.

As the mixture boils, the heat rises and hits the cold bowl, causing it to condense and drip down into the inner bowl.

Replace ice as needed as it melts.

When done, the small bowl will contain the rose water (or herb water).

It will have a layer of rose oil (or herb oil) that is the essential oil or extract.

The oil may be separated from the water.

The ultimate woman's oil, Rose Otto (Rose Oil) is calming, and supportive.

In my experience nothing strengthens a woman's spirit as well as true rose oil.

Rose has no parallel in treating grief, hysteria or depression.

Rose Oil is believed by many to help balance female hormones, regulate the menstrual cycle, and ease the discomforts of PMS and menopause.

In Europe it is used to treat genito-urinary infections.

Sexual difficulties also respond well to Rose's gentle support.

(There is a wonderful case study about Rose Otto's use in a douche to cure frigidity.)

It is helpful to all skin types.

Please note that true, undiluted Rose Otto can become solid at a cool room temperature.

If this happens to yours, you can roll the bottle around in your hand for a few minutes, or put it in some warm water, and it will liquefy.

BLENDS WITH:

All the different roses blend especially well with Frankincense, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Mandarine, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Vetiver.

(Rose and Sandalwood are one of my favorite perfume blends... any proportion works well... Sandalwood with a hint of rose is lovely for a man's cologne; Rose with a touch of Sandalwood works beautifully for women. Either make a wonderfully romantic massage oil.)

Essential oils derived from flowers are luxurious ingredients found in many spa therapies because of their hidden healing properties.

Because of its many health and beauty benefits, rose oil is a key ingredient in signature spa treatments.

Rose oil is often used in massage therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology treatments, hydrotherapy, facials, body wraps, and hair/scalp therapies.

Rose oil is also found in some of the world's most renowned perfumes and in numerous home spa products.

Producing Rose Oil

Rose oil refers to any type of rose oil, including rose otto (rose attar), an oil made by steam distillation of rose petals, and rose absolute, a type of rose oil produced by chemical (via solvents or carbon dioxide) extraction of the oil from rose petals.

Slight deviations to these manufacturing processes, the dilution of the final product, or the type of roses used can also yield organic rose oil, rose geranium oil, musk rose oil, tea rose oil and others.

The damask rose, indigenous to Bulgaria, Turkey, India, Russia, Iran and China, is primarily used to produce rose oil.

Cabbage rose, which hails from France, Egypt, and Morocco, is also used as a source or rose oil.

Occasionally, other varieties of roses are used.

Once the rose oil is extracted from the petals, the remaining water-soluble portion of the liquid is known as rosewater, which also has a variety of cosmetic uses, including its use as an antiseptic agent.

Traditionally, rose oil has been used for its effects on the skin.

Safe for all skin types, rose oil, which is rich in both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, is particularly beneficial for dry, rough, chapped, sensitive, burned, or aging skins.

Because of it's safety it's often used in prenatal massages, such as the 50-minute Rose Oil Prenatal Massage at the Spa Hilton in San Marcos.

Rich in the antioxidants vitamin A and vitamin C, rose oil has a tonic and astringent effect on the capillaries that lie just below the skin surface.

Consequently, rose oil reduces the redness and ruddiness caused by enlarged capillaries, irritations and burns, or inflammatory skin conditions. such as rosacea.

The scent of rose is relaxing to the nervous system and is known to reduce emotional and psychological stress as well as depression.

Rose oil is often used in spa therapies designed to reduce stress and tension and in conditions such as gastrointestinal ulcer, and cardiovascular disease.

With the exception of large climbers, most roses can be grown successfully in containers.

It is important that the container be large enough to provide ample space for the roots; also to have good drainage, good soil and a location with adequate light and air circulation.

The container may be plastic or clay.

Plastic fares better in cold climates where freezing may actually crack clay containers.

Clay containers do provide a cooler condition for the roots during hot weather.

If choosing plastic, it is better to obtain the lighter terra-cotta colour rather than the darker plastics, as they heat up faster.

When met with these requirements one can grow miniatures right through roses that can attain a height and spread of up to five feet.

It is important that bush roses and small shrub roses be placed in containers no less than 15 inches in diameter.

They will do well there for about two years and then will need transplanting.

Roses in containers tend to deplete the soil of its nutrients more rapidly than if they were in the ground.

Often they will also outgrow their containers and need a larger home.

In this case one can provide the rose with a container one or two sizes up from the previous one.

To prepare a container for the rose to be planted in, place a layer about one inch deep of gravel or other medium sized rocks in the bottom of the container.

This serves as drainage and prevents the soil from becoming too compressed at the bottom.

Next, to prepare the soil, combine one third good quality commercial potting soil, one third well- aged garden compost (if this is not available then substitute more of the potting soil) and one third well-composted mushroom or steer manure.

You may wish to add an extra cup of perlite to the mix to enhance drainage.

It is beneficial to the rose to add one cup of bonemeal to the soil.

To increase the nutrient level, fishmeal and bloodmeal may be added.

Roses are heavy feeders, as they need fertile conditions to produce many blooms over the growing season.

Fill the container about two-thirds full with the soil mix.

Place the rose, with its roots spread out comfortably, over the slightly mounded soil.

Then fill in around the rose with the remaining earth.

Press down gently and firmly around the protruding canes.

The soil surface should be level with the bud union (where the rose is grafted onto the rootstock).

If the rose seems too deep in the container or the soil level is well below the brim of the pot, repeat the planting procedure.

The soil will compress somewhat with time and the entire contents will sink somewhat in the container.

It is advisable to fill the container right to the top.

Water so that the contents are well saturated.

Containers dry out more quickly than soil in the ground; it is important to water container roses often, especially during long periods of drought and heat.

A quick spot-check for dryness will determine whether a rose needs to be watered.

Scratch about an inch down into the soil. If it is totally dry the rose is in need of fluid.

For health it is necessary to place the rose in a situation where it receives some moving air.

Space containers about two feet apart.

This will reduce the incidence of fungus-related rose diseases.

A rose should also have a full day of sun, or at least seven hours.

Roses can spend their lifetime in this situation, excepting those places where the temperatures can drop dramatically over the winter months.

It is advisable to move roses to a sheltered site or temporarily indoors.

Finally, in spring offer roses in containers a tablespoon of epsom salts sprinkled around the base of the plant.

This provides the necessary magnesium for healthy foliage.

Also a kick-start of a fish emulsion feed in spring to get them off to a healthy start.

Take a peak at these suggestions for choosing an area to plant your rose, as well as step by step planting instructions.

Site: good drainage, and 4-5 hours of sun.

First of all, it is very important to choose a sunny area of the garden that gets at least 4 to 5 hours of sun for your rose. Do not crowd your rose with other trees and plants. Some roses, such as climbers and shrubs, don't mind company, but most like to mix with other roses or other non-invasive plants. If you're replacing an older rose bush, it is important to remove an 18 cubic inch area of soil and replace it with fresh soil. A newly planted rose doesn't like to grow in the same soil that an older rose bush has been in. Picky darn thing isn't it!

Step-by-Step Rose Planting:

Here are the basics:

1) Dig a hole, slightly larger than the pot size or root system of your rose bush.

2) Add a small handful of bonemeal to the planting hole. Spade in some compost or peatmoss to loosen the soil. Mix the soil you took out of the hole with more compost or peat moss.

3) Remove the rose from the pot. Carefully place in the hole and shovel the extra soil around the new plant. Plant the rose with the crown slightly deeper than the original soil. The crown or bud union should be about 1 inch under the soil

4) Gently firm the rose into its new home and water well.

5) Stand back and watch it grow!

Important note!!

NEVER fertilize a new rose bush with anything other than bonemeal.

Planting Your Rose Bush:

A little more detail:

If you have received bare-root bushes from a mail order nursery or have some healed in from winter storage you may want to soak them in a bucket of water for a few hours before planting. If you have purchased your roses in containers, you do not have to pre-soak them before planting.

Dig a hole large enough for the root mass and loosen the bottom of the hole. Depending on your soil type, you may want to spade some compost into the hole along with a sprinkle of bone meal. Bone meal is a slow acting source of Phosphorus and promotes healthy root growth. I like to mix the soil from the hole with some additional compost and another light sprinkle of bone meal.

Place the rose in the hole spreading the roots slightly. I plant mine with the bud union (crown) slightly below the soil level (about 1-2 inches after a couple years of mulching). Refill the hole and make sure the soil settles around the roots of your plant, then finish filling the hole. Just before putting the final couple inches of soil over the roots, water your new plant and let it drain before the final topping. I do a little dance around each of my new roses, just to firm the soil lightly and also because it's fun. Nothing thrills me more than seeing a newly planted rose bush. Ohhh the excitement of what's to come!

Planting Depth Of Roses:

Rose growers will argue until they're blue in the face about the correct planting depth for roses, but it really depends on the climate you live in. If you live in a colder area, plant a bit deeper and consult with the people growing roses in your area. If you're buying own-root type roses, you should plant them about 1 inch deeper than their potted level. Again, this varies according to climate. I'm told that sun on the crown of ageing roses will help promote basal breaks from the bud union. I wonder if any significant studies have been done on this issue. Some of my roses produce wonderful basal breaks from well below the soil level, others do not. It seems to reflect more on the variety of the rose than anything else.

Recently, there has been a great surge of interest in old roses. These consist of all the classes that were in existence before 1867, when the first hybrid tea rose called "La France" appeared. Gardeners of today are in love with the disease resistance, wonderful fragrance, hardiness and old-fashioned flower forms of the many beautiful varieties that are now widely available.

Alba Roses

Albas comprise an ancient group of roses that have been in existence since classical times and were widely grown in the Middle Ages for medicinal purposes. They are thought to have been brought to Britain by the Romans. A natural hybrid between the damask rose and rosa canina, they are tall, shrubby plants, disease proof, and extremely winter hardy. Although they bloom only once a year, in the late spring or early summer, they are very vigorous and pest resistant. aThe word Alba means white, but this lovely rose also comes in shades of pink. Albas have a tall, slender and upright growth habit reaching heights of 6 to 9 feet. They are wonderfully fragrant and have distinctive grey-blue green foliage. They have an ability to grow well even in the most difficult of situations, including light shade. However, they do require dormancy in the winter. Albas can be trained to grow as climbers, and appreciate some pruning of the longest and oldest canes once grown into a mature bush. This will result in new canes being produced from the bottom of the bush. Some Albas have showy autumn hips.

Examples of Alba roses:
o Felicite Parmentier
o Small Maiden's Blush
o Semi-Plena
o Queen of Denmark
o Celestial

Damask Rose

The Damask rose also dates back to ancient times. It seems that it originated from the Eastern Mediterranean, and was introduced to the Europeans by the Crusaders. Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, and Romans all grew this extraordinarily fragrant, perfume-like rose. Although Damasks are thought to have a mixed parentage, it is likely that they originated from a natural hybrid between the Gallica rose and a wild rose species. They are quite hardy, very thorny and have a rather lax and arching growth habit reaching 3 to 7 feet. To show off the lovely pink or white blooms of the Damask rose, staking may be necessary. Most varieties only bloom once a year, and require good fertile soil if they are to look their best. Damask roses are pruned after flowering.

Examples of Damask roses:

o Madame Hardy
o Ispahan
o Semi-Plena
o Celsiana

Gallica Roses

Gallica roses are the oldest cultivated species that is still available today. Grown by the Persians as early as the 12th century B.C. they were also loved by the Greeks and Romans. These most ancient of roses have in some way influenced the development of all other families of roses. Empress Josephine's famous rose garden at Malmaison was mainly comprised of Gallicas. Even though they bloom only once a year in early summer, they give an amazing show. They are heavy bloomers and almost all Gallicas are fragrant. They are fairly hardy, and quite tolerant of poor soils. They have a strong, dense and upright growth habit of 4 to 5 feet. However, they are quite prone to mildew and have a tendency to spread by underground suckers. This can be annoying for the smaller garden; growing a variety that has been bud grafted onto an understock will alleviate that problem. Gallicas come in many shades of pink, deep red, purple, marbled and striped with white. In the fall you will be rewarded with beautiful, round, red hips. Mature Gallicas will benefit by pruning out some of the old wood to encourage new growth, and by shortening all the other canes by 1/3.

Examples of Gallicas roses:

o Charles de Mills
o Complicata
o Rosa Mundi
o Apothecary's Rose
o Belle de Crecy
o Belle Isis

Centifolia Roses

Centifolia roses seem to have originated early in the seventeenth century by Dutch breeders. Rosarians believe that they are a mix of about 6 different species of roses. Centifolia roses, which literally mean, "one hundred-leaved" were frequently used by Old Dutch and Flemish masters in their paintings. Also known as the cabbage rose, they have huge, richly fragrant blooms in shades of crimson, pink, and white that appears once a year in late spring or early summer. Ranging in height from 3 to 7 feet, they are a lax and thorny shrub with long arching canes that bend downwards with the heavy weight of the blooms. They can be susceptible to powdery mildew.

Examples of Centifolia roses:

o Fantin Latour
o Petite de Hollande

Moss Roses

A close relative of the Centifolia rose is the Moss rose. Resulting from a mutation around 1700 they are similar to Centifolias in their lanky growth and flowering habit. However, they have a unique characteristic that sets them apart from all other roses. Covering the stems, sepals and calyx of the rose is a sticky and fragrant moss-like substance. This mutation was hybridized and many new varieties were introduced. They bloom once in early summer and come in shades of white, pink, red and purple. Moss roses should be pruned back by 1/2 after flowering.

Examples of Moss roses:

o William Lobb
o Salet
o Mousseline
o Henri Martin

Portland Roses

The Portland Rose resulted from a cross between a China rose and the Autumn Damask Rose. It was this crossing that gave the Portland Rose the distinction of being the first family of roses that had a repeat flowering habit. Portlands opened the door to the hybridization of modern roses. They have a bushy, upright and compact growth habit of about 4 feet, with characteristically short-stemmed fragrant blooms. They are the perfect size for today's smaller garden. Similar in many ways to the Bourbons, they are not quite as vigorous, but are more floriferous with darker and richer colored blooms. They are summer flowering and like to be pruned back by about 1/2 in the spring to encourage heavier blooming.

Examples of Portland roses:

o Comte de Chambourd
o Rose de Rescht
o Jacques Cartier
o The Portland Rosee

Bourbon Roses

Bourbon roses were very popular in the early nineteenth century. They originated from a small island in the Indian Ocean called Ile de Bourbon, and were first brought back to France about 1819. Rosarians believe the first Bourbon rose to be the result of a natural cross between R.chinensis and a variety of R.damascena. Bourbons have a tall, open and vigorous growth habit reaching heights of 6 feet or more. A profuse bloomer in the late spring and early summer, they boast large, old fashioned and very fragrant blooms in shades of white, pink, red and purple. Bourbons appreciate some support to show off their beautiful flowers. Some are repeat flowering until the autumn. They have a tendency to winter tenderness and pruning and fertilizing is especially important for them to look their very best. Bourbons should be pruned back by 1/3 after the first blooming to encourage a second flush of blooms.

Examples of Bourbon roses:

o Louise Odier
o Souvenier de la Malmaison
o Boule de Neige
o Boubon Queen
o Madame Pierre Oger
o Reine Victoria

Hybrid Perpetual Roses

No one really knows who the parents of these roses are, but it is most likely a mixture of Noisettes, Bourbons, Teas and Portlands. They were very popular during the later part of the 1800's, during Queen Victoria's reign. Considered to be the precursor to the modern rose, Hybrid Perpetuals are hardy and vigorous plants with large, fragrant blooms in shades of white, pink and maroon. They are repeat flowering, blooming in late spring or early summer and again in the autumn. They are not the best garden performers, being a little too tall and upright to be very attractive in the garden. They are heavy feeders and do need to be pruned vigorously to about 1/2 of their size.

Examples of Hybrid Perpetual roses:

o Baroness Rothschild
o Ferdinand Pichard
o Frau Karl Druschki

Rugosa Roses

An ancient rose that was native to the Orient, Rugosa roses seem to have it all. Very disease and pest resistant, they are extremely hardy with a vigorous growth habit of up to 8 feet. They have a slight fragrance with purplish flowers that turn into large, red, showy hips in the fall. They are repeat flowering and easy to grow, needing hardly any attention at all other that a minimal pruning to remove old and weak wood.

Examples of Rugosa roses:

o Blanc Double de Coubert
o Hansa Fru
o Dagmar Hastrup
o Sarah van Fleet
o Mrs Anthony Waterer
o Pink Grootendorst

China Roses

Westerners discovered China Roses around the late 1700's. Because they flowered in early summer and again in the fall, they were a great improvement over most of the roses that were available at that time. They are not showy roses and not very hardy either. They like a moist, humus soil and have a light and twiggy growth habit that will reach 2 to 3 feet in height. They are repeat bloomers, but the pink and red blooms are small and not fragrant.

Examples of China roses:

o Hermosa
o Old Blush China

Tea Roses

Tea roses are the forerunners of our modern Hybrid Teas, originating from a cross between a China rose and various Bourbons and Noisettes. These very tender roses bloom throughout the summer and into the fall and as one might imagine have a distinctive tea fragrance. The full, large flowers come in shades of white, pink and yellow. They only like to be pruned lightly.

Examples of Tea roses:

o Anna Oliver
o The Bride
o Catherine Mermet

Noisette Rose

Cultivated sometime before 1811 from a cross