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Writer's pictureJessica Buchanan

Queen of the Flowers

Suddenly, it is the 31st of August!  I am amazed with how fast this summer, and year, has flown by.  Everyday seems to flash by with not much time for relaxing.

Perhaps this in why, in the midst of all this busyness, that I have been developing a particular new product from 1000 Flowers.  This is a substance that embodies peace and calm, and love and beauty, and of course, a fragrance that is considered throughout history as being closely associated with enlightened beings, and with the gods.   What I am speaking of is of course- Rose.

Today I am announcing the launch of 2 variations of steam distilled Rosa Damascena essential oil sourced from the Valley of the Roses in Bulgaria.  The steam distilled oil is also known as Rose Otto or Attar of Rose.  (Purchase can be made directly in the 1000 Flowers online boutique.)   (Note: As of October 2015, we are temporarily out of stock of pure Rose Otto). 

The first version of this precious material is a 5ml mini flacon of pure steam distilled Rose Otto oil. 

The pure oil can be used in many different ways- by adding to your perfumes, cosmetics, lotions, oils, bath, atomizer, as well as in cooking.  (It is prudent to always dilute before use, as with all pure essential oils.)


The second, is a 15ml flacon of the Rose Otto diluted to 10% in fractionated coconut oil. (an odorless, colourless and extremely stable oil.)

The diluted version, can be worn as a natural perfume in its own right, but may also be added to your lotions etc since even at 10% this is a very potent product.  As a perfume, this version can also used for meditation, or be added as a top to middle note, to your own perfume blends. Even a touch of distilled rose oil will have an extremely positive effect on all perfume blends.

The packaging is typical of 1000 Flowers products, in small white decorated boxes:

     The origin of the Damask Rose, as its name implies, is Syria and the region of the city of Damascus.  (although the parent cultivated varieties of the Damask rose are thought to originate on the Persian Gulf, in the region now known as Iran).  It is believed that in the 16th century Ottoman crusaders originally brought the Damask rose to the area of the town of Kazanlik in Bulgaria, where the region’s climate was and is, ideal for the production of roses.  Kazan is the Turkish word for ‘still’, and Kazanlik literally means ‘the place of stills’.

The rose season begins in May and lasts about 3-4 weeks, depending on the season. All the flowers are picked daily, by hand early in the morning and distilled immediately thereafter.

On average, about 4000kg of the hand-picked blooms are required to produce 1kg of pure essential oil. (again depending on the conditions of the season).

During distillation, a large amount of oil is absorbed into the distillation water, which must then be recovered from this water to produce an acceptable yield. This is achieved by re-distilling the water from the first distillation; a process known as cohobation. (from what I have read, this includes capturing a high percentage of the water-soluble constituent phenyl ethyl alcohol).

Bulgarian pure rose oil is a generally a top note essential oil. Its frequency is extremely high and rapid. Rose oil has the highest frequency (320 Hertz) of all the essential oils on the planet. This in itself is an important factor. It means that the fragrant molecules of the rose oil, on inhalation or application, are able to quickly penetrate and travel the pathways of the body, rapidly energizing every cell, bringing balance, harmony and beauty to the body.

Rose essential oil is suitable for all skin types, but it is especially valuable for dry, sensitive or aging skins. It has a tonic and astringent effect on the capillaries just below the skin surface, which makes it useful in diminishing the redness caused by enlarged capillaries. For use on sensitive facial areas, always dilute to about 1% rose oil in a base oil or lotion.  This means about 5-6 drops of pure oil to each 30ml of base oil or lotion, or 50-60 drops of the 10% dilution.

QUOTATIONS

Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr

I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. Emma Goldman

The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends. Persian Proverb

Safety Considerations: *Do not take essential oils internally. *Do not apply to eyes, sensitive areas or mucous membranes. *Do not apply undiluted to skin (for directions on proper dilution refer to an aromatherapy text). *The information on this website is not intended to diagnose or prescribe. *Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should not use essential oils without first consulting an appropriately trained healthcare practitioner.

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