Rosa Damascena

Extraction: solvent extraction

Origin: Turkey

Description: 

There are only a few species of roses that have the fragrance sought after by perfumers and aromatherapists. The most popular choice is Rosa damascena, also known as Damask rose, Pink rose, or Oil-bearing rose.  It is a perennial shrub with pink flowers native to Europe and the Middle East that is a member of the Rosaceae family. Turkey is the main producer with approximately 10,000 tonnes of flowers grown annually for essential oil production.

Rose absolute is an extract similar to rose essential oil  (rose otto) but it is produced using hexane  and ethanol rather than by steam distillation. The hexane is used over and over again and little if any traces can be found in the actual oil. This extraction method produces 5-10 times the amount of oil and creates a much better representation of the true perfume of the flower because it is not heated up by steam to the point of having chemical changes occur. It contains higher levels of antioxidant and antibacterial properties than its essential oil counterpart.

The main chemical constituents of rose absolute are phenylethyl alcohol, citrenellol, nonadecane, nerol and geraniol.

Components: Alcohols - citronellol (antioxidant), geraniol and eugenol (antibacterial), monoterpenes, and damascenone (contributes the rose scent). 

Skin Benefits:

• anti-inflammatory and cooling to skin conditions such as rosacea 
• tones capillaries
• fights aging with antioxidants

Benefits:

• Antibacterial
• Anti-inflammatory
• Astringent
• Cooling and soothing
• Contains beta carotene, tocopherols and phenols giving it excellent antioxidant abilities
• Great for relaxation especially for hormonal stress due to premenstrual syndrome and menopause

Rose absolute can be found in Rosey Cheeks Organic Facial Cream.