# Rose essential oil > Rose is one of the most concentrated floral oils available — a rich, romantic aroma with a long history in skincare and perfumery. Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/rose Type: Single oil ## At a glance - **Botanical name:** Rosa damascena - **Plant part:** Petals - **Extraction:** Steam-distilled - **Aroma:** Rich, deep floral - **Origin:** Bulgaria - **Blends with:** Sandalwood, geranium, bergamot ## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate) Based on 40 GC-MS samples from 11 peer-reviewed papers (2021–2026); Strong evidence base. 58 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range): | Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | citronellol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 21.5 | 12.61–37.1 | 39.05 | 9 | | geraniol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 14.83 | 8.47–22.85 | 29.2 | 10 | | heneicosane | Aliphatic / other | 6.42 | 5.18–8.36 | 19.32 | 6 | | nerol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 5.51 | 3–6.16 | 23.4 | 5 | | methyl eugenol | Phenylpropanoid / aromatic | 2.1 | 0.9–2.85 | 5 | 6 | | geranyl acetate | Oxygenated monoterpene | 2.46 | 1.4–3.3 | 5.58 | 5 | | linalool | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.26 | 0.89–2 | 7.1 | 9 | | eugenol | Phenylpropanoid / aromatic | 1 | 0.83–1.71 | 3.5 | 10 | | eicosane | Diterpene | 1.2 | 1.02–1.72 | 2.33 | 7 | | germacrene d | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.26 | 0.98–1.48 | 1.6 | 6 | | tricosane | Aliphatic / other | 1.59 | 1.27–2.06 | 2.6 | 4 | | neryl acetate | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.55 | 0.85–2.15 | 2.6 | 4 | Chemotypes seen in the samples: citronellol (45% of samples), β-citronellol+ nerol (18% of samples), geraniol (10% of samples), n-nonadecane (10% of samples), linalool (5% of samples). ## Key constituents - **Citronellol** (20-34%) — A leading rosy-floral compound - **Geraniol** — Adds sweet, floral depth - **Nerol** — Contributes to the fresh, floral character - **Phenylethanol** — A signature rose-like aroma compound found in the fresh flower itself ## How to use it - **On skin:** Dilute to 1–2% in a carrier oil; long used in blends for a radiant, even-toned look. - **In the diffuser:** Just 1–2 drops delivers a full, rich aroma — more is rarely better. ## Safety - For topical use, dilute to 1–2% in a carrier oil and keep out of reach of children. - Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin. - A gentle, well-tolerated oil; its citronellol and geraniol are recognised fragrance allergens, so patch-test if you have sensitive skin. - Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children. ## What the research says - Rose oil's major constituents geraniol and citronellol have been studied for effects such as vasorelaxation in laboratory models. These are early mechanistic findings, not clinical proof of a health benefit. — Fitoterapia study (2022) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105243) ## Evidence - Steam-distilled rose otto is built on citronellol and geraniol, with a characteristic band of paraffins (like nonadecane) that can make the oil semi-solid at cool temperatures. — Loghmani-Khouzani et al. (2007), Journal of Essential Oil Research (https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2007.9699241) ## Frequently asked questions ### What's the difference between rose otto and rose absolute? Rose otto is steam-distilled and citronellol/geraniol-rich; rose absolute is solvent-extracted and higher in phenylethyl alcohol, giving a fuller, more 'true-to-flower' scent. Otto is preferred where a solvent-free oil is wanted. ### Why does rose oil sometimes turn semi-solid? Rose otto contains natural paraffin waxes (stearoptenes) like nonadecane that solidify when cool. Warming the bottle in your hands returns it to liquid — it's a sign of a genuine distilled rose oil, not a fault. ### Is rose oil phototoxic? No — rose isn't phototoxic. It's gentle when diluted, though its geraniol and citronellol are recognised allergens worth patch-testing. ## Sources (GC-MS studies) - Kumar A, Gautam RD, Singh S, Chauhan R, Kumar M, Kumar D, Kumar A, Singh S. Phenotyping floral traits and essential oil profiling revealed considerable variations in clonal selections of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.). _Scientific reports_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10198992 - Shivani, Mahajan M, Thakur BK, Pal PK. Ground-Level Pruning at Right Time Improves Flower Yield of Old Plantation of Rosa damascena Without Compromising the Quality of Essential Oil. _Frontiers in plant science_, 2022. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9152358 - Dobreva A, Nedeltcheva-Antonova D. Comparative Chemical Profiling and Citronellol Enantiomers Distribution of Industrial-Type Rose Oils Produced in China. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9919184 - Raeber J, Favrod S, Steuer C. Determination of Major, Minor and Chiral Components as Quality and Authenticity Markers of Rosa damascena Oil by GC-FID. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC9921129 - Kiani HS, Noudehi MS, Shokrpour M, Zargar M, Naghavi MR. Investigation of genes involved in scent and color production in Rosa damascena Mill. _Scientific reports_, 2024. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11379714 - Askianaki R, Tsiropoulos NG, Giannoulis KD, Ntalli N. Paralysis Activity of "Basic Substances" and Rose Extracts on <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i> Second-Stage Juveniles. _Plants (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2026. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12899623 - Özsoy E, Barak TH, Yörük E, Servi H, Yli-Mattila T. Chemical Composition, Antifungal Activity, and Plant-Protective Potential of <i>Rosa damascena</i> Mill. Essential Oil Against <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>. _Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12030332 - Vilhelmova-Ilieva N, Nenova R, Kalinov K, Dobreva A, Peshev D, Iliev I. Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Activity of <i>Rosa damascena</i> Mill Essential Oil and Floral Water in Retinal Infection In Vitro and In Silico. _International journal of molecular sciences_, 2025. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12347982 - Hadipour E, Rezazadeh Kafash M, Emami SA, Asili J, Boghrati Z, Tayarani-Najaran Z. Evaluation of anti-oxidant and antimelanogenic effects of the essential oil and extracts of Rosa × damascena in B16F10 murine melanoma cell line. _Iranian journal of basic medical sciences_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10440142 - Abdallah HM, Koshak AE, Farag MA, El Sayed NS, Badr-Eldin SM, Ahmed OAA, Algandaby MM, Abdel-Naim AB, Ibrahim SRM, Mohamed GA, Proksch P, Abbas H. Taif Rose Oil Ameliorates UVB-Induced Oxidative Damage and Skin Photoaging in Rats via Modulation of MAPK and MMP Signaling Pathways. _ACS omega_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10515598 - Ghavam M, Afzali A, Manca ML. Chemotype of damask rose with oleic acid (9 octadecenoic acid) and its antimicrobial effectiveness. _Scientific reports_, 2021. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC8044169 _Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._