~ ROSE (TRUE) OTTO ~
( Rosa damascena )
by KG Stiles, Clinical Aromatherapist
Keywords: EMOTIONAL FREEDOM
An aphrodisiac Rosa damascena (Rose Otto) oil’s fragrant nectar and hypnotic lure is legendary.
The magical and rapturous allure of a new day dawns with the warm, softly complex and floral aroma of Turkish Rosa damascensa. Rose Otto from Turkey is delightfully fresh, light and sensuous.
For those who love drama the Bulgarian variety of rosa damascena is sure to please with its deep and lilting note.
Rose oil frees the emotions. Just a single drop of Rosa damascena is all that’s needed to stimulate a transformative and lasting effect upon the human psyche!
The Rose plant species used to produce pure essential oil is a large bushy plant with small to medium sized pink flowers. As with Jasmine the petals of the Rose plant must be harvested before sunrise when their oil content is at it’s highest!
AROMA FACT: Did you know that it takes about thirty roses to produce one drop of Rose oil?
Historically Rosa damascena has served as a symbol of love and the inspired soul. Softly it touches our heart strings with its mysterious music. True Rose has the sublime power to awaken the human heart at its innermost core. Such potent magic has the ability to free the soul.
A fragrance of purity and innocence the Red Rose represents our soul and the White Rose is a symbol of pure love.
Legend has it that it was the Greek poet Sappho (ca.610-570 BC) who anointed Rose with the title, ‘Queen of Flowers.’
Admired and written about more than any flower ever known the Queen of Flowers enjoys unparalleled popularity as a perfume. True Rose oil is unsurpassed for its fragrant and rare beauty.
True Rose oil aids semen production in men and can be used for sexual difficulties. Its aphrodisiac effect may help alleviate impotence and frigidity for both men and women.
During the most decadent era of Rome historians report that rose petals were strewn in huge amounts at arenas, during celebrations and at marriage feasts. Rose petals continue to be used today during the marriage ritual, to grace the wedding banquet hall and most especially in the honeymoon chamber.
Rosa damascena’s ability to dissolve psychological and emotional pain makes it the first oil to choose for balancing and calming your mind and emotions whether you are male or female.
Considered the fragrance of the Goddess Aphrodite Rose oil is YIN in character!
Rose Otto is excellent for balancing and charging the heart chakra energies. Often used in ceremonies for ritual cleansing of the auric field along with Rose quartz crystal.
HEART TONIC: Blend 1 drop of Pure Rose Essential Oil with 1 drop of Pure Light Coconut Oil and rub into your heart area once daily.
True Rose oil is a wonderful addition to any wealth attraction formula as it allows prosperity, joy and happiness to flow into one’s life.
Rose’s restorative and elevating effect on the spirit and emotions make it useful in a blend with Helichrysum for healing emotional scars and forgiving old hurts.
True Rose oil allows us to let go of past relationships and is especially helpful for those suffering from grief and loss.
Rose oil may help to gently melt blocked feelings, past hurts and disappointments.
A powerful anti-depressant! During the middle ages Rose oil was documented as being a beneficial remedy for depression.
Rose oil comforts and give its gentle support in times of sorrow and is useful for relieving symptoms of hysteria, confusion and despair.
Rose oil calms feelings of inner turmoil, jealousy and rage.
Allows for fresh growth and new possibilities to flow in while gently letting go of the old ways and patterns needing release.
Rose oil gently reduces our fears and reassures us that it is safe to let go and allow our heart to heal.
Rosa damascena is an excellent companion during times of major life transition, i.e. puberty, marriage, birth, menopause, death.
HEART TONIC: Blend 1 drop of Pure Rose Essential Oil with 1 drop of Pure Light Coconut Oil and rub into your heart area once daily.
A grieving heart, unable to come to terms with loss, cannot experience the Life Energy of JOY and thus is unable to balance the body’s energetic systems for continuous healing and health to occur. Ideally each night as we sleep our BodyMind integrates the day’s experiences after which we awaken refreshed to greet a new day with a renewed and joyous heart.
When our BodyMind is out of balance we are more susceptible to illness. It is through True Rose oil’s deeply harmonizing and balancing effect upon the heart that the physical body is healed!
A tonic and relaxant. Rosa damascena is a wonderful sedative and is known to have a pervasive influence on the nervous system. Gently relieves stress and nervous tension!
Research has shown that Rosa damascena has a stimulating effect on the human brain and may be a helpful aid to memory.
Rose oil is excellent as beauty oil for skin care and is harmonizing for ALL skin types. Rosa damascena’s skin nourishing action makes it is a useful addition to most facial and skin care formulas.
Its cooling effect is ideal for soothing sensitive or inflamed cell tissue. Rose oil promotes cellular regeneration.
Rose oil’s cleansing, moisturizing and tonic properties make it excellent choice for smoothing and softening facial lines and wrinkles.
A key ingredient in many Regenerative Skin Serums. Rose oil is especially nourishing and balancing for Mature, Sensitive and Dry Skin types.
Use Rose oil to fade old scars, blend with Helichrysum to enhance this effect!
ROSE OIL REGENERATIVE SERUM for MATURE SKIN: To a 5 ml colored glass bottle with euro-dropper insert for dispensing filled with pure Jojoba oil add: Pure Essential oil of True Rose (3 drops), Frankincense (1 drop), Ylang Ylang (1 drop), Carrot Seed (1 drop).
True Rose oil is also beneficial for treating skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis and shingles.
Rose oil has a long history of use in medicine! Since antiquity physicians have extolled the virtues of Rose oil for its healing properties!
A heart tonic use Rose oil to promote circulation and tone blood capillaries, as well as to relieve cardiac congestion and palpitations.
HEART TONIC: Blend 1 drop of Pure Rose Essential Oil with 1 drop of Pure Light Coconut Oil and rub into your heart area once daily.
Rosa damascena’s chemical structure is primarily made up of Monoterpene Alcohols. This synergy has been termed “the cold and flu synergy” as Monoterpenes are known to stimulate expectorant action, as well as have anti-microbial properties. True Rose oil’s chemical structure is less drying than most expectorants and more well tolerated by the kidneys and thus may be used more frequently.
Because of the human body’s high tolerance to Monoterpene Alcohols these essential oils may be used more often. It is with repeated use that the effects of True Rose oil become more apparent.
True Rose oil is useful for treating pathogenic micro-organisms!
Rose oil tones the heart, liver, stomach and uterus.
Use Rosa damascena for healing gengivitis, cold sores and gum problems.
Good for digestive complaints associated with emotional upset.
Rose oil’s ability to reduce infection and relieve cramps makes it useful remedy for treating intestinal inflammation! Helpful aid for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s Disease.
A wonderful woman’s oil! True Rose is good for the genito-urinary system and is known to have a balancing and regulating effect on the female hormones and the menstrual cycle.
True Rose oil cleanses the uterus and may be helpful for relieving premenstrual tension (PMS), as well as menopausal symptoms.
Rosa damascena may relieve mood swings from hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and is one of the most helpful oils to use during labor and delivery! Eases labor pains and relieves postpartum depression!
Use in dilution as an Aromatic Mist to purify your auric field or to clear the atmosphere of a room. Creates a lovely ambiance!
AROMATIC MIST DIRECTIONS: This is a favorite way of mine for using aromatic oils. You may use your aromatic mist as a facial toner, an all over body freshener, or as a room spray and deodorizer. The amount of oil you use depends on the purpose of your aromatic mist!
To 4 ounces of pure water add Rosa damascena oil, shake well and spray!
1) Face – 8-10 drops
2) Body – 30-40 drops
3) Room and air freshener 80-100 drops
FOOD FLAVOR: Rosa damascena is often used to soften and add lift to food flavors in many baked goods, gelatines, soft candies and beverages. Small traces of rosa damascena are used to tastefully enhance strawberry, raspberry, apricot and bitter-almond food products.
APHRODITE MARTINI RECIPE with Rosa damascena (shaken or blended)…
Iced Martini Glass. Fill Shaker or blender 1/2 with ice. Add 2 parts Absolute Vanilla Vodka, 1 part strawberry nectar, 2 parts liquor (Midori, Godiva or Cointreau) and 1-3 drops of Rosa damascena pure essenital oil. Shake or blend well. Strain if shaken, or pour if blended into an empty Martini glass. Garnish with a fresh strawberry!
In Ayurvedic Medicine, an ancient system of healing practiced in India, the softly sweet floral warmth aroma of Rosa damascena is ideal to regulate and pacify ALL the Doshas or bodymind types. Vata, Pitta and Kapha imbalances respond well to Rosa damascena’s regulating influence.
Symptoms of Vata imbalance are premenstrual syndrome, constipation, insomnia, restlessness, nervousness, anxiety and worry.
Symptoms of Pitta imbalance are high blood pressure, anger, frustration and emotional upsets.
Symptoms of Kapha imbalance are high cholesterol, low metabolic forces, slow to lose weight, fluid retention, stagnation and blockage, lethargy and depression.
PLEASE NOTE: Rosa Damascena or Damask Rose from Bulgaria has the reputation for consistently producing the most sublime oils for therapeutic effect. I love the sensuous feel of Bulgarian Rose oil, no doubt, but personally prefer Turkish Rosa damascena with its lighter note. To me its effect is more freeing and uplifting to the Spirit and emotions. As with all pure essential oils its your personal preference that must be your guide when selecting an oil!
MY RECOMMENDATION: Purchase a small sample vial of an expensive oil like Rosa damascena (Rose Otto) to ensure your satisfaction before purchasing in larger quantities. Insist that the Rose oil be pure (undiluted) and produced from True Rose petals. A 10% dilution of a potent oil like Rosa damascena is well worth considering. Remember it takes about thirty roses to produce one drop of Rose oil. The aroma intensity of a single drop of Rose oil is quite potent and its excellent tenacity makes it long lasting, so only trace amounts are needed to produce an incredible effect, making it quite affordable really! Also the aroma of Rosa damascena oil matures with age like fine wine. Definitely in the category of an inheritance quality pure essential oil.
BLEND WITH: Clary Sage, Geranium, Helichrysum, Himalayan Cedarwood (for male bereavement), Lavender, Neroli, Sandalwood and Veitiver.
CAUTION: Please avoid during pregancy due to its hormonal effect. If you do want to use Rose oil while you are pregnant please consult a qualified professional aromatherapist, as some can be especially beneficial in certain situations.
