From the Apothecary: Damask Rose (Rosa damascena)
Damask rose (Rosa damascena) is a treasured botanical ally. Long revered across cultures for beauty, fragrance, and traditional use in caring for the mind, body, and spirit.
A member of the Rosaceae family, rose has prominence in ancient healing systems, including Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s used in formulations for emotional balance, anxiety, low mood, and psycho-spiritual wellbeing.
In herbal traditions, rose has strong aromatic compounds, phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. These compounds have been studied for their antioxidant activity and potential support for emotional wellbeing, skin comfort, and menstrual care. Having graced temples, gardens, and vanities for thousands of years, let’s stop and smell the roses, shall we?
This Flower Knows Its Worth
Historically, rose petals and rosewater have been used in foods, sweets, perfumes, skin preparations, and traditional remedies. Rosewater is a staple in desserts across the Middle East and South Asia. Rose-infused skincare has been a beauty staple for generations. In folklore and symbolism, rose has a strange duality: Beauty and thorn, sensuality and grief.
They are also practical. Rose petals are gentle yet astringent. Rosewater cools and refreshes the skin. Rose aroma has potential effects on anxiety, stress, and our perception of pain.
Inside the Petals: Bioactive Elements
Volatile aromatic compounds, including citronellol, geraniol, nerol, phenethyl alcohol, and others. These all make up parts of Damask rose’s distinctive scent. This can be used in aromatherapy, particularly for mood, sensuality, and relaxation.
Phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which are naturally occurring plant chemicals that contribute to rose’s antioxidant activity. These compounds protect cells from oxidative stress.
Tannins, mildly astringent botanical compounds. They tone tissues and are a big reason rose is used in skincare and sensitivity-focused topical preparations.
Anthocyanins and pigments, especially in richly-coloured petals, which contribute to the plant’s antioxidant profile and its stunning variety of colours.
Practical Applications
Skin support
The European Medicines Agency recognises rose flower preparations, including Rosa damascena, as relief of minor skin irritation.
It is ideal for delicate, reactive, flushed, and dry skin. We can use rosewater as a gentle toner, facial mist, compress, or a supportive ingredient in creams and masks.
Its mild astringency is great when the skin needs soft, silky toning rather than harsh stripping.
Emotional Wellbeing and Stress
In aromatherapy research, Rosa damascena has potential effects on anxiety, mood, and stress-related symptoms.
Clinical studies suggest that rose aroma may help support calm, comfort, and emotional ease for some people. For overstimulated nervous systems, roses can be a welcome sensory aid.
Female Support
Damask rose has been studied in menstruation-related discomfort, including pain, anxiety, headache, fatigue, and bloating. A 2021 systematic review found Rosa damascena, although not statistically helpful for direct pain, was otherwise significantly helpful in menstruation-related headache, fatigue, and bloating.
Digestive and Culinary Use
Rose petals and rosewater have long been used in food and drink, from teas and syrups to desserts and ceremonial beverages.
Traditionally, rose preparations are used to support digestion, soothe heat, and refresh the body. The flavour is floral, slightly bitter, and cooling.
Rose tea can be enjoyed on its own or blended with herbs such as hibiscus, lemon balm, oatstraw, hawthorn, or tulsi, depending on the desired effect.
Self-Care & DIY
Rose is a natural fit in beauty rituals: facial steams, baths, body oils, linen sprays, hydrosols, and tea blends. It encourages one to slow down and return to the body.
Topically, rose hydrosol is an easy way to work with the plant. Mist over clean skin, use in the cool water phase of DIY formulations, or add to clay masks. Essential oils are easily incorporated into lotions, oils, and aromatherapy blends, while the raw food-grade botanical is most effective in culinary preparations and potpourris.
Safety & Precautions
Rose petals and rosewater are generally well tolerated when used as foods, teas, or simple topical preparations. However, anyone with a known allergy to plants in the Rosaceae family must apply caution.
Safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established for medicinal rose flower preparations, so use during those times is not recommended without professional guidance.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and should not be applied undiluted to the skin. Refer to our dilution guidelines below when working with essential oils.
Dilution Guide
Start low. Go slow. Keep it simple.
Proper dilution keeps essential oils safe, balanced, and comfortable on the skin.
When in doubt, choose less. You can always add more.
- Face: 0.25–1% | 1–6 Drops
- Body: 2–5% | 12–30 Drops
Quick Reference:
- 1% = 6 drops / 30 mL
- 2% = 12 drops / 30 mL
- 3% = 18 drops / 30mL
- 5% = 30 drops / 30 mL
At Optimum Health, we very carefully source our rose preparations. Feel confident you are working with the highest quality botanicals available. As always, feel free to contact us with your questions or stop by our Edmonton-area stores for personalized guidance.
Shop our Rose Collection.
References
Akram, M., Riaz, M., Munir, N., Akhter, N., Zafar, S., Jabeen, F., Ali Shariati, M., Akhtar, N., Riaz, Z., Altaf, S. H., Daniyal, M., Zahid, R., & Said Khan, F. (2020). Chemical constituents, experimental and clinical pharmacology of Rosa damascena: A literature review. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.
Boskabady, M.H., Shafei, M.N., Saberi, Z. and Amini, S. (2011) Pharmacological Effects of Rosa Damascena. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences.
European Medicines Agency. (2014). Assessment report on Rosa gallica L., Rosa centifolia L., Rosa damascena Mill., flos. European Medicines Agency.
Koohpayeh SA, Hosseini M, Nasiri M, Rezaei M. (2021). Effects of Rosa damascena (Damask rose) on menstruation-related pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, and bloating: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Educ Health Promot.
Xu S, Shen X, Xu L, Xue L, Wu P, Wang S, Hu X. (2025). The effects of Rosa damascene aromatherapy on mood and sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health.