essential oil of the month - rose

by Alison Harriman

christmas recipes here.......

Latin: Rosa damascena (damascus rose or rose otto); Rosa gallica (red rose); Rosa centifolia (cabbage rose)
Category: floral
Aroma: deep, sweet and floral
Parts used : petals

History: Rose is believed to be the first oil used in distillation by the Arabic physician Avicenna, in the 10th century. It was used by Nostradamus, the 16th century physician and seer, in the lozenges he made as a cure for plague. It was a popular plant in the East and was introduced to Eastern Europe in the 17th century by the Turks. Long a symbol of love and purity, rosa gallica, also called the Apothecary’s rose, was used in healing balms for lung disease and asthma in the Middle Ages. During the WW2, vitamin C was in short supply so rosehips were used.

Uses: Rose tends to be an oil you either love or hate. It's not one of my favourites, as I find the scent cloying and headache producing. It's used extensively in perfumery and cosmetics. It is a soothing oil for depression and grief. Gives a tonic effect on the heart, uterus and stomach. The ancient Romans valued it as a hangover cure, possibly because of its tonic effect on the liver.

Precautions for use: Avoid during pregnancy

Warning: Along with neroli and jasmine, rose oil is very expensive. Expect to pay around £20 for 5 ml of Moroccan damascus rose, and more than £30 for 5 ml of Bulgarian rose otto. Be wary of offers of rose essential oil at prices that seem too good to be true. It is more likely to be adulterated oil (which means it has been diluted with a carrier oil) or a "perfume" oil which has little or no therapeutic value. As with all essential oils, find a reputable seller.

Alison Harriman is a fully qualified Holistic Therapist with a special interest in essential oils and their use in aromatherapy. She is a Fellow of the International Council of Holistic Therapists (Federation of Holistic Therapists). If you wish to find a therapist in your area, or are interested in training as a therapist, the FHT may be of help to you.

Alison's own aromatherapy business may be found here.

see Alison's introduction to aromatherapy here...

or see her "ask the aromatherapist" column...

see past oils of the month here...basil...rosewood...linden blossom...aniseed...

see christmas recipes here...

- health
- body work
- magic + divination
- living space
- personal growth
- and more....

- gemstone/silver
- tarot jewellery
- celtic pewter
- magickal pendants
- pentacles + pentagrams
- chakra jewellery
- chip bracelets
- and more.....

- gemstone eggs
- gemstone hearts
- gemstone spheres
- t-light holders
- and more......

- window crystals
- crystal cascades
- crystal balls + pyramids
- LED lightboxes
- herbal magic candles
- herbal magic votives
- aromatherapy wax candles
- weeping rose candles
- solid-colour candles
- small spell candles
- black candles
- and more.....

- hand-made soaps
- huge, fab bath fizzers
- aromatherapy bath salts

- meraylah allwood cards
- spell cards
- zodiac cards
- sabbat cards
- chalice cards
- celtic moon cards

- spell kits
- charm bags
- groovy bags
- tarot + oracles

if you prefer to pay by cheque or over the phone, click here...