Damask roses (scientific name rosa x damascena) is also known as the Iranian Rose. It is a hybrid rose species. The Damask Rose exudes a very fine fragrance. It is used for producing rose oil (aka Rose Otto), rose water and “rose concrete”. Rose concrete is a semi-solid, waxy substance with a strong fragrance of roses that is extracted from rose flowers using solvents so that more of the aromatic compounds are released. Rose concrete can be processed further to to produce Rose Absolute which is a highly concentrated version of rose oil and an important component in perfumes and skincare.
Rose oil is used in skincare for :
- lending a soft calming fragrance to the skincare product.
- the anti-oxidants in it to help combat free radicals and fight the effects of aging.
- the monoterpenes inside it. Monoterpenes are organic compounds that are commonly found in essential oils. They exhibit antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antimicrobial characteristics.
Image Credits :
- Damask Rose Header
- Photo by : Rajesh S Balouria: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flowering-shrub-of-damask-rose-18345252/
- Rose Essential Oil