Some people call it the queen of all oils - and for good reason. From soothing stressed skin to calming the mind and adding a radiant touch to hair care, Rose Essential Oil is one of nature’s most luxurious multitaskers and a favourite in health and wellness circles.
But what sets this essential oil apart from the hundreds of others? In this blog, you’ll discover why sweet-scented Rose Oil is so popular, as we share its history, benefits, popular uses, and how to enjoy it safely in your personal care routine.
What is Rose Essential Oil?
Commonly referred to as Rose Oil or ‘liquid gold’, Rose Essential Oil is a timeless classic.
Known as one of the most delicate and luxurious essential oils in the world, Rose Oil has been distilled carefully for over 300 years. Its story begins in 16th-century Bulgaria, where the first rose plantations bloomed in the town of Kazanlak. Blessed with ideal soil, humidity and sunlight, this region soon became known as the Valley of Roses - now celebrated as the global centre of Rose Oil production.
Interesting fact: AWO’s 100% pure Rose Essential Oil, also known as Rose Otto or Damask Rose Essential Oil, is still harvested by hand in Bulgaria’s Valley of Roses. The oil is distilled from the flowering tops of the Rosa damascena species, and because each bloom yields only a trace of oil, it takes around 4–5 tonnes of petals to produce just one litre — that’s roughly 50 to 80 roses per drop.
With its sweet, floral scent that’s rich, romantic and slightly honey-like, Rose Essential Oil captures the essence of beauty and balance. Beyond its captivating aroma, it’s prized for its ability to soothe the skin, calm the mind and uplift the spirit, making it a true queen among essential oils.
Benefits of Rose Essential Oil
A beautifully delicate, floral and romantic aroma is just one thing to love about Rose Essential Oil. Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll discover there are multiple health benefits of Rose Oil - particularly for skincare. In fact, it is widely recognised as one of the best essential oils for promoting clear, healthy and radiant skin.
When diluted and applied topically, Rose Essential Oil helps reduce redness, ease irritation and balance moisture levels, leaving the skin soft, smooth and rejuvenated. Many users also find it helps minimise acne, scars, pigmentation, and fine lines, and may even assist with conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea, thanks to its calming nature.
In aromatherapy, Rose Essential Oil is equally admired for its uplifting and restorative effects. Its luxurious scent can help relieve symptoms of stress, ease menstrual discomfort, support circulation, and encourage a more positive mood and mindset.
How does Rose Oil work? Its impressive range of properties comes down to its naturally occurring chemical constituents, including citronellol, geraniol, nerol and phenylethyl alcohol. Together, these compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and soothing actions, which make Rose Oil a prized ingredient in natural beauty and aromatherapy.
How to Use Rose Essential Oil in Aromatherapy?
- Calms inflammation and soothes sensitive or irritated skin
- Helps reduce acne, redness, scars and pigmentation
- Restores hydration and supports natural skin renewal
- Softens and strengthens hair roots and strands
- Promotes relaxation and reduces symptoms of stress
- Eases menstrual cramps and supports emotional balance
- Encourages a deep and restorative sleep
Popular Uses and Benefits of Rose Essential Oil
Rose Essential Oil for Skin
How To Use Rose Essential Oil for Skin
Due to its gentle and balanced composition, Rose Essential Oil is known to have incredible skin benefits, particularly good for sensitive and inflamed skin.
Here’s how Rose Essential Oil works on different skin types and conditions:
Rose Essential Oil for Acne & Inflammation
- Studies have shown that Rose Essential Oil contains powerful antibacterial, antiseptic and astringent properties due to its key constituents: Phenylethyl alcohol, citronellol, geraniol and nerol. These properties work to kill existing and potential bacteria whilst reducing redness and inflammation.
- It has also been said that acne prone skin is best when kept hydrated. When the skin lacks moisture, the body naturally produces more sebum (oil in the skin) which often increases the likelihood of breakouts.
Rose Essential Oil for Acne Scars & Pigmentation
- Along with its vitamin C content, the powerful antimicrobial properties in Rose Oil make it one of the best essential oils for reducing the appearance of scars, dark spots and pigmentation.
Rose Essential Oil for Wrinkles & Ageing Skin
- The complex properties and natural antioxidants within Rose Oil absorb deep into the skin’s dermis layer, helping to visibly reduce signs of ageing by refining and smoothing the skin’s texture.
- These antioxidising agents also reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, while brightening the complexion and providing a radiant glow.
- Its renewing properties are also known to inhibit the breaking down of collagen and elasticity, making Rose Oil good for the face and skin tightening.
Rose Essential Oil for Eczema & Other Skin Complaints
- The natural components in Rose Essential Oil are known to nourish and hydrate the skin. Because of this, it is a popular choice for alleviating various skin complaints such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Rose Essential Oil for Stress
How To Use Rose Essential Oil for Stress
- Renowned for its beautifully floral scent and naturally balancing properties, Rose Essential Oil is widely used in aromatherapy to ease stress and uplift the mood. Studies have shown that diffusing and inhaling pure Rose Oil can help lower breathing rate and blood pressure, creating a sense of calm and relaxation.
Rose Essential Oil for Sleep
How To Use Rose Essential Oil for Sleep
- Due to its deeply soothing aromatic composition and incredible calming effect, Rose Oil has been seen to assist people with sleep issues and insomnia. A 2022 study revealed that inhaling Rose Essential Oil before rest helped participants feel calmer and sleep more soundly - highlighting its natural ability to promote better sleep and relaxation.
Rose Essential Oil for Pain and Cramps
How To Use Rose Essential Oil for Pain and Cramps
- A study published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine concluded that when diluted and applied topically, Rose Essential Oil was effective in reducing menstrual related cramping by more than 50%.
How to Use Rose Essential Oil Safely
There are numerous ways to use essential oils depending on what you want to achieve. Here are some common ways to appreciate the many Rose Essential Oil benefits for skin, hair, pain relief and relaxation.
How to Use Rose Essential Oil in Aromatherapy
- Diffusing: Enjoy the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of Rose Essential Oil by using yours in an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporiser. This is ideal for those wanting to use Rose Oil for sleep or simply to appreciate its pleasurable and balanced aroma in any living space or entertainment area.
- Warm Bath: For those wanting to ease tension, soreness, mental exhaustion and create a relaxing environment, try adding a few drops of Rose Oil to a warm bath.
How to Use Rose Essential Oil on the Skin (Topical Application)
- Massage Oil: To appreciate Rose Oil benefits by massage, combine a few drops in a carrier oil or base massage oil and apply to body areas affected by pain and cramps.
- Skin Serum: Dilute your Rose Oil in a favourite carrier oil and create a natural anti-ageing skin serum. To reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, pigmentation and dark circles, apply the formulation to the affected areas and let the oil absorb into the skin.
- Moisturisers: Rose Oil can also be added to any base moisturiser (such as a natural Sorbelene cream) or skincare products to enhance their existing benefits - a fantastic remedy for those wanting to hydrate and nourish the skin.
- Roller Blend: To receive the calming and mood boosting benefits of Rose Oil, dilute it safely into a carrier oil and add to a glass roller bottle before applying to the pulse points (temples, wrists and behind the ears).
Safe Use of Rose Essential Oil
While essential oils are natural products, they are extremely potent and can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. For this reason, we recommend the following:
- In line with the Therapeutic Goods Act, we do not recommend ingesting essential oils without the guidance of a registered Aromatherapist or Naturopath.
- Avoid using Rose Essential Oil during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
- We recommend storing Rose Essential Oil in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that it is not directly exposed to sunlight and is out of reach of children or pets.
- Rose Essential Oil is very concentrated and is likely to cause irritation or reactions if applied directly to the skin. For this reason, it is important to dilute your essential oils before using them topically (on the skin). See our recommended dilution guidelines for more details about the safe use of Rose Essential Oil.
Rose Essential Oil vs. Rose Oil 3% vs. Rose Infused Oil vs. Rose Bulgarian
If you’re looking for Rose Oil, it’s likely you’ve discovered there are several types available – some more expensive than others! How do you know which one to buy?
As one of the world’s most precious oils, it takes thousands of petals to produce just a few millilitres of Rose Oil, which explains its exceptional potency – and higher than usual price point. Because of this, it’s available in different forms to allow everyone to experience its benefits based on their needs and budget. Here are the key differences between each oil type:
Rose Essential Oil (100%)
This is the pure, undiluted oil distilled directly from the petals of Rosa damascena. It’s highly concentrated and rich in compounds like citronellol, geraniol, nerol, and phenylethyl alcohol, which account for its powerful aroma and therapeutic effects. Because of its strength, it should always be diluted before topical use or blended into formulations.
Rose 3% Essential Oil
To make the luxury of Rose Oil more accessible, AWO offers a 3% dilution of Rose Essential Oil (in Jojoba Oil). This version delivers the same beautiful scent and skin-soothing benefits as the pure oil, but it’sready to use directly on the skin and much more affordable. It’s ideal for those who want to experience the benefits of Rose Oil without investing in the full-strength version.
Rose Infused Oil
Rose Infused Oil is created by soaking rose petals in a carrier oil, which gently absorbs the flower’s aroma and nutrients. It’s less potent than distilled essential oil but still deeply moisturising and nourishing, making it a lovely everyday oil for body or facial care.
Rose Bulgarian Absolute Oil
Also derived from the Rosa damascena species, Rose Bulgarian Absolute Oil is sourced from Bulgaria’s renowned Valley of Roses. It shares many of the same properties as traditional Rose Otto but offers a slightly deeper, more floral aroma with a velvety sweetness unique to its regional origin. It’s ideal for those who want a full-strength oil with a rich scent profile and exceptional versatility in aromatherapy and skincare.
In summary, Rose Essential Oil provides maximum potency, Rose 3% is your ready-to-use and budget-friendly option, Rose Infused Oil serves as a gentle, hydrating daily treatment, and Rose Bulgarian offers a beautifully intense floral aroma and equally powerful benefits.
Where to Buy Rose Essential Oil
While Rose Essential Oil is available at many cosmetics, beauty and health stores, the quality and purity of the oil can differ vastly. To ensure you are purchasing 100% pure Rose Essential Oil, we recommend buying from a reputable supplier who can provide full product documentation. A supplier like AWO!
The quality and purity of our oils is hugely important to us. That's why we only supply 100% pure and natural products, whether it’s our regular Rose Essential Oil, Rose Essential Oil 3% or Rose Bulgarian Absolute Oil – all produced authentically to retain their natural properties.
Still not sure which type of Rose Oil to buy? Click on the link below and explore the entire Rose Oil range from AWO.
FAQs
What is Rose Essential Oil good for?
Rose Essential Oil is cherished for its wide range of benefits in skincare, haircare, and aromatherapy. It helps maintain healthy, radiant skin and hair, while its calming aroma is known to ease stress, reduce pain, and promote restful sleep.
Is Rose Essential Oil the same as Rosehip Oil?
No - they’re completely different oils. Rose Essential Oil comes from rose petals and is prized for its aroma, emotional and skincare benefits, while Rosehip Oil is pressed from the fruit and seeds of the rose plant and is mainly valued for its fatty acids which nourish the skin.
No - they’re completely different oils. Rose Essential Oil comes from rose petals and is prized for its aroma, emotional and skincare benefits, while Rosehip Oil is pressed from the fruit and seeds of the rose plant and is mainly valued for its fatty acids which nourish the skin.
Can Rose Oil be applied directly to my skin?
Because it’s so concentrated, pure Rose Essential Oil should always be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to the skin. For easier skin application, try AWO’s Rose 3% Essential Oil, which is pre-diluted and safe for direct use.
Because it’s so concentrated, pure Rose Essential Oil should always be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to the skin. For easier skin application, try AWO’s Rose 3% Essential Oil, which is pre-diluted and safe for direct use.