Rose otto (Rosa damascena) is also known as Summer damask rose, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, Attar of rose, Otto of rose.
Jennie Harding describes Rose Otto as delicate, enriching and encouraging.
Cultivation
Otto means “oil” in Bulgarian, and the city of Kazanlic in Bulgaria has been one of the most important sources of rose essential oil since the 20th century. Now Rose Otto is cultivated mainly in Bulgaria, Turkey and France, and similar types are grown in China, India and Russia.
Chemical components
Mainly citronellol (34-55 per cent), geraniol and nerol (30-40 per cent), stearopten (16-22 per cent), phenyl ethanol and farnesol (0.2-2 per cent), with many other trace constituents.
Safety data
Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing.
Therapeutic properties
Rose Otto has several therapeutic properties and indications:
• Antibacterial
• Antiinfeccious: acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, mouth ulcers
• Antiinflammatory: blotchy skin, gingivitis, conjunctivitis
• Astringent
• Cicatrizant: mouth ulcers, skin problems, sprains, wounds
• Neurotonic: debility, depression
• Sexual tonic: frigidity, sexual debility
Plant characteristics and essential oil extraction
Small prickly shrub between 1 metre and 2 metres high, with pink, very fragrant blooms with thirty-six petals and whitish hairy leaves.
The pure oil is extracted by water or steam distillation from the fresh petals and the concrete and absolute are extracted by solvent from the fresh petals.
Oil characteristics: a pale yellow or olive yellow liquid with a very rich, deep, sweet-floral scent.
Personal notes on Rose Otto
Rose Otto is a very expensive oil, but it is money well spent. I would avoid the rose absolute (obtained by chemical extraction) since it is more likely to cause allergic reactions due to the presence of solvents.
In skin care, Rose Otto is largely used for dry, aging skin and it can help in many other dry skin conditions. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, rose essential oil is also recommended for sensitive skin.
In Chinese medicine, Rose Otto is a slightly cool and yin oil and it is used to lift the spirits and relieve depression.
Rose Otto combines well with:
• Carrier oils: apricot kernel, avocado, borage, calendula, hazelnut, hypericum, lime blossom, argan oil (my favorite for skin care).
• Essential oils: clary sage, geranium, lavender, palmarosa, and/or cypress (for dry, aging skin), and with chamomile, lavender, patchouli, and sandalwood (for sensitive skin).
References:
• Price, Shirley, Price, Len 2007 Aromatherapy for Health Professionals UK: Elsevier
• Lawless, Julia 2002 The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils UK: Thorsons
• Jean Cousin, Pierre 1999 Facelift at your fingertips UK: Storey Publishing
