June 18th, 2012 
As a universal symbol of love and beauty, it comes as no surprise that the beloved rose would have its own holiday. June is National Rose Month! When you consider how ancient rituals used the rose, rose oil in particular, as an essential tonic, health remedy, and aphrodisiac, it’s even more apparent why this beautiful flower is so widely appreciated today, but not at any cost. Because such a large quantity of rose petals is needed to produce a very small amount of oil (60,000 roses for a single ounce of pure rose essential oil), it is one of the world’s most expensive and luxurious essential oils. But would you believe you can make it yourself? With roses from coast to coast now in full bloom, it’s the perfect time of year to make your own rose oil!
Photo Credit: getty images
A commonly used ingredient in cosmetics and perfumery nowadays, rose oil not only provides its fragrance to the beauty products we love, it also has many health and wellness benefits. This essential oil has therapeutic, anti-aging, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidepressant properties due to its retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamins C and E, and essential fatty acids content. All this goes to show that the rose is truly full of flower power. Check out some of the benefits of rose oil:
- Moisturizes, soothes, softens, and tones skin
- Reduces wrinkles, signs of premature aging and increases skin elasticity
- Treats acne, scars, sunburns, burns, and reduces skin inflammation
- Relieves aches such as muscle and menstrual cramps
- Aromatherapy - insomnia, stress, and depression relief
- Promotes blood circulation and reduces blood pressure
- Strengthens the immune system and improves overall nerve and digestive function
To reap the benefits of this prized oil and in spirit of the nation-wide rose celebration, here is a homemade rose oil recipe, courtesy of Organic Bouquet.
You can use your homemade rose oil as a massage oil, bath fragrance oil, skin moisturizer (add a few drops to your face and body lotions), air freshener (in a water/sea salt/rose oil mix, spray your room), scented steam oil (add 3-5 drops to a bowl of hot water), and more. But before you get your supplies together, you want to think about the kind of roses you should utilize. Using pesticide-free petals is the most important factor in producing your own rose oil, according to Organic Bouquet. Naturally as the largest online eco-friendly and organic floral gift provider, Organic Bouquet grows its flowers without pesticides and offers a host of stunning rose bouquets that are also great for making rose oil.
Photo Credits: Organic Bouquet
What makes their flowers even more special and in line with the Miss A mantra (charity meeting style) is the fact that Organic Bouquet’s Flowers For Good program donates a portion of each purchase to a coinciding charity/non-profit. For instance, the Green America Rose Bouquet (chartreuse roses) goes to benefiting the mission to harness economic power in order to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society, the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Sweet & Lovely Rose Bouquet (long-stemmed pink roses) supports the mission to move breast cancer beyond a cure, while the YMF Griffin Rose Bouquet (orange roses) provides encouragement and recognition to gifted young musicians through financial assistance.
To learn more about Organic Bouquet’s Flower For Good program and to see all of their rose (and flower) options, visit their website. Happy National Rose Month!
References:
1. Hongratanaworakit, T. “Relaxing Effect of Rose Oil on Humans.” NBI, 2009.
2. Mukherjee, Aparup. “Health Benefits of Rose Essential Oil.” Organic Facts.
3. “Rose Essential Oil.” Aura Cacia Pure Essential Oils.
4. “Rosalia: An Elixir of Youth for the Skin.” Nature Purity.
Hi Marla!
What a delightful tribute to National Rose Month. It’s been years since I’ve tempted making Rose Oil at home. I just realized from this post how much I miss it.
Thank you so much for sharing…
P.S. So happy to have found you on Pinterest too!!!
Louise, thank you so much! I had a lot of fun researching for this feature and Organic Bouquet is great for providing the recipe. I’m happy you enjoyed it.
P.S. I’m glad to have been found.
[...] This luxurious oil can be used on its own or in a shampoo. It’s perfect for moisturizing the scalp, but also light enough to be used for wavy hair. The moisturizing properties of rose oil make it a great cure for brittle, dry hair and skin. Rose oil also reduces inflammation, so massage it into your scalp if you’re suffering from itchy, inflamed pores, dandruff, or psoriasis. The best part is that it actually smells like roses! Rose oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and is known for its calming effect. Add a few drops into your shampoo and breathe it in as you massage it into your scalp. The one drawback to using rose oil is that it can be pretty pricey. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, try making your own rose oil at home. [...]
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