Need an exceptional treatment to comfort your skin and spirit?Damask Rose essential oil, precious and subtle, is a real gem of aromatherapy. On Soin-et-Nature, discover a rigorous selection of 100% pure and natural oils, renowned for their regenerating, anti-aging and balancing benefits . Ideal for mature or weakened skin, they also offer deep emotional soothing.
Botanical name and classification:
The Damask Rose, or Rosa damascena, is a mythical plant whose fame dates back to the earliest civilizations. Revered for its beauty and fragrance, but also for its medicinal virtues, it has survived the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on traditional cultures and medical practices.
In ancient Egypt, roses were associated with royalty and divinity: bouquets of roses were found in Tutankhamun's tomb, given by his wife, a poignant testimony to their symbolic value. In China, wild roses have been cultivated for over 5,000 years, and in Persia, the rose was a symbol of spiritual power and refinement. Its use is part of a long tradition of using floral plants with varied therapeutic properties, some of which have survived the centuries into modern pharmacopoeia.
In the Middle Ages, French crusaders discovered the Damask rose in Syria. Knight Robert de Brie is credited with introducing it to France in 1254, in the town of Provins. The rose soon became an emblem, both for its ornamental value and its medicinal applications: the "apothecary's rose" became a mainstay of local pharmacopoeia.
In the 17th century, Bulgaria (notably Kazanlik) became the world center for rose oil production. The Ottoman Empire made it a strategic product. Later, Turkey also became a major producer, notably in the Burdur and Isparta regions. By the 19th century, Europe, Algeria and Asia Minor were developing their own crops.
Rosa damascena is a hybrid between Rosa gallica, Rosa moschata and Rosa fedtschenkoana. This semi-double-flowering rose is distinguished by its flowers, which have a powerful, rich, sweet and bewitching fragrance. It can grow up to 2 meters high and is highly prized for the production of its essential oil.
Its cultivation requires extreme care: the flowers must be harvested at dawn, when the active ingredients are most concentrated. It takes almost 4 tons of flowers to obtain a single liter of essential oil.
Rose essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the fresh petals. This process yields a very fine essence, but with an extremely low yield, making it one of the most expensive essential oils in the world. Another form of extract,rose absolute, is produced by solvent extraction, and is highly prized in perfumery.
As far back as Antiquity, Oleum rhodium was used for massages to relieve gastric pain, ulcers, earache and toothache. In the Middle Ages, Avicenna recommended an astringent rose syrup for liver disorders. Rose water, which appeared in the 9th century, was used to purify the hands of guests before meals.
Texts by Mattioli and Schöffer extol the healing virtues of "rose sugar" and "rosat honey". In the 17th century, Baumé recommended its use in gargles, enemas and poultices to strengthen the intestines and soothe pain. Dioscorides used it to treat wounds and stimulate cognitive faculties.
Damask rose has several properties:
Rose essential oil inhibits the resistance of many pathogenic strains ( Enterobacter, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), by blocking their efflux pumps. It potentiates the efficacy of antibiotics and antifungals such as clotrimazole, ketoconazole or amphotericin B.
Its antispasmodic action affects smooth digestive and bronchial muscles. It inhibits contractions of the small intestine and promotes respiratory relaxation, useful in cases of spasmodic cough or intestinal colic.
When inhaled, rose is sedative, sympatholytic, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant. It acts on GABA-A receptors, increasing their affinity, making it useful for insomnia, depression, emotional shock and panic attacks.
It regenerates tissues, promotes healing, moisturizes and firms the skin. It is used against :
Numerous studies have demonstrated its effect on
A symbol of beauty, love and memory, Damask Rose is a true botanical panacea. With a history stretching back thousands of years, this mythical flower offers much more than just a subtle fragrance: it heals, soothes, regenerates and protects. Whether in aromatherapy, cosmetics or traditional medicine, Rosa damascena embodies the perfect balance between pharmacological efficacy, sensory prestige and symbolic depth.
Its rare and precious essential oil is a quintessential skincare product, an olfactory tribute to human history and plant wisdom. Even today, it remains a medicinal and cultural treasure, a living witness to a thousand-year-old heritage.
TheIndex of Essential Oils brings together a complete set of single oils, selected for their specific therapeutic properties and recognized use in clinical aromatherapy. Each essential oil is presented with its botanical name, indications, precautions for use and targeted benefits. This directory provides structured access to the natural solutions best suited to your needs, in a rigorous, documented approach that respects human physiology.
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