Rose Otto Essential Oil

Botanical Name: Rosa damascena

Standing up to two meters in height, this spiked plant known for its 36-petaled fragrant blossoms is also called Summer damask, Turkish and Bulgarian rose. Requiring a specific soil and climate, this species is native to the Asian continent, yet has been cultivated since the 16th century in Bulgaria, Turkey and France.

This oil is steam distilled using the petals of organically grown Damask Rose petals from Bulgaria.

The term 'otto' is used simply to differentiate the steam distilled variety from the absolute. In aromatherapy applications, the otto is more potent than the absolute, and therefore a smaller amount is needed to achieve the same level of aroma potency. Some perfumers consider a fraction of a percent sufficient for some blends.

Though the rose is renown for its fragrance, the flower actually contains very little aromatic oil by weight. Some 60,000 roses are needed to distill a single ounce of oil, and the oil of 60 roses are contained in each drop, thus bringing the relatively high cost of rose oil into perspective.

This Rose otto essential oil has light, floral top notes followed by sweet nectar-like and ripe stone fruit middle notes all underpinned by a distinctly musty and slightly wooded undertone.

It blends well with: Jasmine, Cassie, Orange (sweet, Mandarin, Petitgrain), Geranium, Bergamot, Lavender, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Chamomile (both German and Roman), Balsam, Clove and Palmarosa.

The Rose absolute is deeper of the two aromas. It carries a middle note (rather than high) and both are beautiful and complex. For all therapeutic uses, we highly recommend this Rose otto. For simple aromatic uses and perfumery, where a true Rose flower aroma is desired, we recommend the absolute.

Rose otto is considered the essential oil with the highest vibration used in aromatherapy today.

Rose essential oil was first distilled by the Arabic Physician Avicenna, who wrote an entire book on its plethora of healing properties. These include: nervous tension, liver congestion,

In traditional Chinese medical practice (TCM), Rose has a cool, moist nature and therefore is very useful for conditions relating to excess heat and inflammation.

Antibacterial, Antidepressant, Antiphlogistic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitubercular agent, Antiviral, Aphrodisiac, Astringent, Choleretic, Cictrisant, Depurative, Emmenagogue, Hemostatic, Hepatic, Laxative, Sedative (nervous system), Stomachic, Tonic (heart, liver, stomach and uterus). (See Definitions.)

Respiratory System:

• Aids with asthmatic symptoms
• Calms coughing
• Helps with symptoms of hay fever
• Treats bronchitis

Digestive System:

• Cools and regulates the liver
• Can quell nausea

Genito-Urinary System:

• Effective in treating conditions of the reproductive system
• Can help promote and regulate menstrual cycles
• Can tone the uterus and therefore lessen excessive menstrual bleeding

Dermatological:

• Hydrates mature, dry and sensitive skin
• Smooths out wrinkles

Cardiovascular and Circulatory System:

• Helps relieve cardiac congestion
• Restores good circulation
• Tones the capillaries
• Can regulate heart palpitations

Psychological:

• Aids in overcoming insecurities
• Elevating to the mind and spirit
• Aids in fully opening the heart
• Promotes balance and harmony
• Supports the healing of emotional wounds

Note: this oil will slowly solidify (as do all true steam distilled Rose oils) below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This does not alter the quality of the oil. Simply warm the bottle by rolling in your hands until it is again liquid.

Topical & Inhalation:

• Rose makes a great skin oil for all skin types, and especially for dry, sensitive, or aging skin - for this we recommend a 1-3% dilution in jojoba oil, or a carrier oil combination that best suits your skin type. Rose otto is also considered strongly anti-viral, and has been used successfully to treat herpes lesions
• Steam distilled rose can be utilized in a number of ways; it is very gentle, being suitable for use on the skin 'neat', in massage oil, and in a bath, as well as in a diffuser. As a perfume, the absolute can be worn directly on the skin. Its 'tenacious' quality will have the aroma slowly released for many hours. For therapeutic use for the emotions, a dilution of 10% of in jojoba oil is often used, being massaged into the heart area; a diffuser is very effective for this purpose as well. The absolute can also be added in small amounts to any skin cream, though using a home-made natural recipe is often the nicest.

Rose essential oils are non-toxic, non-irritants and non-sensitizing. If pregnant, please consult a doctor prior to ingesting any essential oil.

More to come shortly!