What it is
This is the aromatic essential oil obtained from the flowers of cultivated roses, most often the damask rose. It is used mainly to impart a natural rose fragrance and to provide light skin conditioning, and it can also help mask base odors in a formula. Because it is a potent essential oil, it is used at very low concentrations.
Safety & warnings
As a fragrant essential oil, rose flower oil naturally contains constituents such as geraniol, citronellol, and eugenol that are recognized fragrance allergens and are restricted and subject to declaration in the EU. It should be used at low levels, and individuals with fragrance sensitivities or reactive skin may wish to avoid products containing it.
Origin & sourcing
Natural, plant-derived. It is produced by steam distillation of rose petals, with the highly concentrated oil being one of the most valued raw materials in perfumery.
History
Rose oil, or attar of rose, has been distilled for fragrance and cosmetic use for centuries and is historically one of the most prized and labor-intensive essential oils, requiring large quantities of petals to produce a small amount of oil.
Questions everyone asks
Why is rose flower oil added to products?
Mainly to provide a natural rose fragrance and light conditioning; it is an aromatic essential oil used at very low concentrations.
Is rose flower oil a common allergen?
It can be an issue for fragrance-sensitive people because it naturally contains allergenic fragrance components such as geraniol and citronellol.