Discover these seven amazing rose essential oil, or absolute, benefits, and learn more about how this prized plant can be used daily from your skincare to your hair care routine to supporting your general happiness.
All About Roses
The rose has been a symbol of romance and femininity for centuries. The regard for these beautiful flowers exists across many cultures, from Europe to the Middle East.
According to legend, ancient Roman goddesses would bathe with rose petals to pamper and nourish their skin.
Anecdotally, throughout history, roses have been used for various health conditions to treat symptoms of: depression, major depressive disorder, sexual dysfunction, menstrual cramps, menstrual pain, heart disease, support for the immune system, and more.
While not proven through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are still numerous benefits associated with rose derived products.
Today, roses are among the most popular fragrant flowers in modern Western cultures. They are valued for their fragrance and their beauty. Rose is similarly valued as one of the most prized essential oils, or absolutes, with many potential therapeutic benefits.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at the benefits of rose, discuss essential oils vs. absolutes, and cover how to use rose in your skincare routine.
Essential Oils vs Absolutes
There are a few different ways to extract the properties we want from plants. Most commonly, steam distillation is used to create the essential oils we know and love.
Alternativley, you can get an absolute, which is made with the use of chemical solvents, like alcohol. This is similar to making a tincture at home.
When shopping, you may see rose oil labeled as either rose essential oil, rose absolute, or even rose absolute essential oil. It is said that the absolute extraction method is the best way to capture the essence of rose.
Facts About Rose Oil
- The botanical name of this plant is Rosa damascena, originating from Bulgaria
- Pure rose oil is quite expensive because it takes many roses and a great deal of labor to create it. Rose can be one of the most expensive essential oils to purchase. According to Pretty Opinionated, it takes 60,000 roses to create a single ounce of oil!
- Know the quality and purity of the oil. With rose oil in particular, which can be quite costly, many brands mix it with other oils and inactive ingredients. Rose oil is often diluted with carrier oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, rosehip oil, rosehip seed oil, or grapeseed oil. It's fine to buy mixtures of essential oils but you want to know what you're getting. Read the ingredients.
- Although it is a natural product, rose oil is meant for topical use only and should never be ingested internally.
The Leading Benefits of Rose Oil
Rose oil has a variety of physical and emotional benefits and other healing properties.
Calming Effect
One of the main benefits of rose oil is that it can help alleviate stress and anxiety. You can achieve this by using rose oil with a diffuser. You can also place a couple of drops on body parts such as your wrists and forehead.
Studies have shown that rose oil can slow down heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. For a highly refreshing experience, place a few drops of rose oil in a warm bath and soak. This allows the skin to absorb the oil and provides you with aromatherapy benefits.
Reduce Stress
Along with providing a calming effect, rose products offer additional anti-stress benefits. A review of 13 clinical trials found that rose oil can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. For many, just the scent of rose oil helps alleviate feelings of stress.
Anything that helps reduce your stress levels will also support the health of your skin. For example, since stress causes inflammation, a bad day at the office can lead to a week of breakouts or dullness.
If you've been having a tough time lately, plan a day of pampering with rose-infused skincare. Of course, self-care is always beneficial, but with the added boost of rose, you'll be glowing and unbothered in no time.
Promotes Healthy Hair
Using rose oil in the hair may help create healthier, more lustrous hair and may ward off hair loss.
In addition, its anti-fungal properties can potentially reduce problems such as dandruff and itchy scalp.
It may even stimulate hair growth. You can look for a shampoo containing rose oil or make your own. When applying to your hair, mix a few drops of rose oil with a carrier oil and apply directly to your hair roots and hair follicles.
Benefits of Rose Oil For Skin Care
You may have noticed that many skin care products such as moisturizing, anti-aging, and sun-blocking lotions contain rose oil.
The use of rose oil, which is rich in antioxidants such as vitamins A and C, has several benefits for the skin. Here are just a few:
- Provides UV protection from the sun
- Helps to cover scars from injuries, acne, and boils
- May improve skin tone and help to lighten dark circles from under the eyes
- Offers a soothing effect that protects the skin from diseases such as psoriasis and dermatitis
- Moisturizes the skin, plumps fine lines and may be beneficial for stretch marks
- Anti-aging effects for mature skin. Rose oil may help reduce wrinkles give the skin a more youthful appearance
While rose oil is one of the best oils, if you have sensitive skin, be sure to run a small patch test first to ensure you don't experience any negative side effects.
Moisture
Moisture is the key to keeping skin healthy and fresh. Whether you suffer from dry skin or not, you need a consistent moisturizing routine. Rose petals and skincare products containing rose oil help your skin stay hydrated.
According to a certified Nutritionist, "the sugars and natural oils found in rose petals trap moisture in your skin, making your skin look smoother and softer."
The antioxidants in rose petals also contribute to youthful skin. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals from pollution and stress. They strengthen skin cells and contribute to healthy tissue regeneration.
Clarity
We all want clear skin, but splotchiness, acne, and other skin issues sometimes feel impossible to overcome. The struggle is real, but skin clarity is achievable, and rose products can help.
Inflammation is the root cause of most skin problems. However, stress, allergies, and irritating products can all contribute.
Rose has anti-inflammatory properties and astringent properties that can reduce breakouts by helping to balance your skin's PH levels.
It may also soothe redness and other types of irritation by promoting healthy blood circulation.
The Best Ways to Use Rose Oil
It's easy to add roses into your skincare routine. A variety of products feature the pleasant aroma of rose.
Just keep your use for cosmetic purposes, as it is not recommended for internal use.
Some ways of testing out rose skincare include:
If you're unsure where to begin, try a basic rose water toner. It's the perfect way to deep clean your pores after a long day or before doing a face mask.
You can get my full step-by-step directions to making DIY Rose Water here.
Other ways to enjoy the benefits of rose oil:
- Get a diffuser to enjoy rose aromatherapy and spread the scent throughout your home.
- Place a few drops in your bath your favorite face or body wash. You can also add drops of the oil to a hot bath and dip into a sweet-smelling heaven.
- Soak your feet in warm water with rose oil and lavender oil.
- Place a few drops on areas such as your wrists, forehead, stomach, or the bottom of your feet. Some believe that it's helpful to place oils on acupuncture points such as behind the ears.
- Apply it as a perfume. Many people use rose oil mainly for its appealing scent. You only need a small amount to get your desired effect.
- Use it as a massage oil. Rose, either alone or blended with other oils, is great for a relaxing massage or other types of bodywork. If you're getting a massage, you can request that the masseuse use rose oil.
- Inhale the aroma directly from the bottle. This is the fastest and simplest way to take in the relaxing rose scent without any appliances or preparation needed.
Enhance Your Mood and Well-Being With Rose Oil
If you want to reap the benefits of aromatherapy and other uses of essential oils, you should seriously consider including rose oil in your collection.
Despite the high cost, a single drop can be powerful on its own, or you can use it in combination with other oils. First, make sure you buy a high-quality rose oil and then do some experimenting to find out how you can reap the maximum benefits.
Additionally, you can make your own potent oil with my DIY Rose Oil recipe made with rose blossoms.
Searching for more essential oil benefits? Learn more about:
- Beginners Guide to Using Essential Oils for Skincare
- How to Blend Essential Oils for Acne Prone Skin
- Benefits of Ylang Ylang Essential Oils
- How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne
- Sensitization: Signs You Need an Essential Oil Break
Are you interested in adding rose to your natural beauty routine? Have you tried it? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know!