Rose
Rosa damascena
Fragrant petals, rose water, and calm
Moderate evidenceAbout Rose
The damask rose is one of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world, grown less for how it looks than for how it smells. Its petals are steam-distilled into rose water and rose otto, both used for centuries across Persian, Anatolian, and Ayurvedic traditions for the skin and for settling the mood. Rose water is the gentle everyday form: a mild, alcohol-free floral water that suits most skin types, including reactive ones.
Key benefits
- Traditionally used as a gentle toner for sensitive or reddened skin
- May help soothe minor irritation and redness
- Its scent is widely used in aromatherapy to encourage calm
- A mild, alcohol-free alternative to astringent toners
How to use
Use pure rose water as a facial toner or a pillow and room mist, steep dried petals for a light floral tea, or add a well-diluted drop of rose oil to a carrier oil for massage.
Did you know?
It takes roughly three tonnes of hand-picked petals to distil a single kilogram of rose oil, which is why rose otto has long been one of the most expensive oils in the world. The crop is still picked by hand at dawn, before the day's heat carries the scent off the flower.
Research
Boskabady et al., Iran J Basic Med Sci, 2011 - Pharmacological review of Rosa damascena; Mahboubi, J Tradit Complement Med, 2016 - Review of traditional and modern applications
Remedies that use Rose
Frequently asked questions
What is Rose good for?
Traditionally used as a gentle toner for sensitive or reddened skin; May help soothe minor irritation and redness; Its scent is widely used in aromatherapy to encourage calm; A mild, alcohol-free alternative to astringent toners.
What is Rose?
The damask rose is one of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world, grown less for how it looks than for how it smells.
How do you use Rose?
Use pure rose water as a facial toner or a pillow and room mist, steep dried petals for a light floral tea, or add a well-diluted drop of rose oil to a carrier oil for massage.
What does the research say about Rose?
Boskabady et al., Iran J Basic Med Sci, 2011 - Pharmacological review of Rosa damascena; Mahboubi, J Tradit Complement Med, 2016 - Review of traditional and modern applications