Exquisite Rose Otto Essential Oil: A Drop of Heaven
Damask Rose. The very name conjures images of romance, luxury, and timeless beauty. These beautiful, fragrant roses are the source of one of the most coveted oils in the aromatherapist’s and/or skin care formulator’s collection: Rose Otto essential oil.
[This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links I may earn a commission. This does not impact your price. For more information, please see our disclosure.]
In this Post:
About the Damask Rose
These beautiful voluptuous roses are 2-3 inches in diameter, ranging from blush pink to deeper rose in color with a luminous pearlescent glow about them. The petals are velvety soft with a ruffled texture that gives them a sense of movement and depth.
The delicate flowers stand out against the deep green leaves, gracing tall arching canes in singles or small clusters. The Damask Rose bush has a naturally untamed appearance, with a wildness that’s expressed in its many thorns!
While lovely to look at, in scent is where the Damask Rose truly shines. Its fragrance is legendary—intensely floral, sweet, and entirely romantic. It’s a complex aroma with notes of honey, spice, and even a hint of citrus. The scent is often described as uplifting, calming, and intoxicating, making Rose essential oil a prized ingredient in perfumes and aromatherapy. It’s the quintessential rose scent that most people envision when they think of roses.
The Damask Rose is a feast for all the senses. Its soft pink blooms, velvety petals, and heady fragrance combine to create an experience of pure beauty. It’s no wonder it’s considered one of the most beloved and historically significant roses.
Roses, Roses, Roses
More than a beautiful aroma, the Rose can support overall wellness.
Get a Dozen Ways to use the Rose to enhance self-care—Rose essential oil, hydrosol, and herb
Rose Otto is Liquid Gold
Beyond the evocative scent lies a potent and precious essential oil, known as Rose Otto, celebrated for its therapeutic properties and skin-enhancing benefits. Unlike Rose Absolute, which is extracted using a solvent, Rose Otto is the result of steam distillation, a process that captures the delicate essence of the rose in its purest form.
NOTE ABOUT ROSE ABSOLUTE
Although Rose Absolute is extracted with a solvent, none of the solvent remains when you receive the oil from your supplier.
The journey from rose petal to essential oil is nothing short of remarkable. It takes an astonishing volume of rose petals to produce even a small quantity of Rose Otto. We’re talking thousands of pounds of petals—often upwards of four tons—to yield just a single kilogram of this precious rose essential oil. This laborious process, combined with the sheer volume of raw material required, explains why Rose Otto is one of the most expensive essential oils in the world.
Damask Rose Field to Rose Otto Essential Oil
Imagine this…The first blush of dawn paints the sky with streaks of apricot and gold, a gentle prelude to the day’s work. A hush hangs over the dew-kissed fields of Damask Roses, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The air is thick with the intoxicating perfume of thousands of blooms, a fragrance so exquisite it seems to shimmer in the cool morning air.
Rows upon rows of Damask Rose stretch as far as the eye can see, each one laden with blossoms. The most perfect flowers, those just beginning to unfurl their velvety petals, are the targets of the pickers’ careful attention. These are the roses destined for the distillery, their precious essence to be captured and transformed into Rose Otto essential oil.
The workers move with a practiced grace and speed. Their hands, nimble and experienced, avoid the thorns, gently cradling each rose, assessing its perfection before carefully snipping the stem just below the bloom. There’s a quiet reverence in their movements, a respect for the delicate beauty they are harvesting. They know that these roses, fleeting in their perfection, hold the key to an oil of immense value and therapeutic power.
Woven baskets, lined with soft cloth to protect the fragile petals, are filled with the freshly picked Damask Roses. When the baskets reach their capacity, they are whisked away by waiting hands, loaded onto carts, and rushed off to the nearby distillery. Time is of the essence. The precious oils within the rose petals are volatile, and the quicker they are processed, the more of that exquisite fragrance and therapeutic power will be preserved in the precious Rose Otto essential oil.
Rose Otto: More than a Fragrance
Beyond its captivating aroma, what makes Rose essential oil so special?
Fill to the shoulder with neutral carrier like Jojoba or Apricot
Insert roller and rock to combine
Roll over pulse points as a gorgeous perfume
Roll over palms then inhale for balancing aromatherapy
Roll over heart before a gratitude meditation
Or roll gently over face as a luxurious DIY facial serum
Benefits for the Psyche:
- Reduce anxiety and stress: Its calming properties can help soothe frayed nerves and promote a sense of peace.
- Regulate mood: Rose Otto’s uplifting aroma can help elevate mood and foster feelings of hope and joy.
- Promote relaxation: It can be used in massage or aromatherapy blends to induce deep relaxation and improve sleep quality.
- Enhance sensuality: Rose has long been associated with romance and passion, and its essential oil can be used to create a sensual and inviting atmosphere.
Benefits for the Skin:
- Hydration: Rose help lock in moisture, leaving the skin feeling soft, supple, and hydrated.
- Anti-aging: Rich in antioxidants, Rose Otto (and Rose Absolute, too) help protect the skin from free radical damage, which contributes to wrinkles and age spots.
- Soothing: Its anti-inflammatory properties can help calm irritated or sensitive skin. Rose Otto essential oil, Rose Absolute, Rose hydrosol, and Rosehip Seed oil are all beautifully soothing to the skin.
- Improved skin tone: Rose Otto can help even out skin tone and texture to reduce the appearance of redness.
Rose Otto is more than just a beautiful scent; it’s a potent and precious essential oil with a rich history and a wealth of benefits for both mind and body. If you’re looking for a luxurious and effective way to enhance your well-being, a drop of Rose Otto might be just what you need!
Where to Find Rose Everything!
I’m Rose’s biggest fan! It’s a plant I have a true affinity with. In addition to Frankincense, I go a little nuts for all things Rose. Here are my favorite suppliers.
- Rose Otto essential oil (Rosa damascena):
- Aromatics International, Otto, organic
- Plant Therapy, Otto, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Rose Absolute (Rosa spp.):
- Aromatics International, Absolute, organic
- Plant Therapy, Absolute, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Rose Hydrosol (Rosa damascena):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Rosehip seed oil (Rosa spp):
- Powdered Rose Petals (Rosa spp):
- Anima Mundi Apothecary (on Amazon).
- Rose Petals (Rosa spp):
- TooGood Botanics, organic (on Amazon)
- Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon).
- Rose Hips (Rosa spp):
- Elanen naturals, organic (on Amazon)
- FGOrganics, organic (on Amazon).
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
