Holistic Health Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Health Benefits of Rose Essential Oil By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Lana Butner, ND, LAc on August 27, 2020 facebook linkedin Lana Butner, ND, LAc, is a board-certified naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in private practice in New York City. Learn about our Medical Review Board Lana Butner, ND, LAc on August 27, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Uses Health Benefits Possible Side Effects What to Look For Rose essential oil is a type of essential oil commonly used in aromatherapy. Sourced from the Rosa damascena plant, it contains the flower's aromatic compounds. Because these compounds are thought to possess healing properties, rose essential oil is used for a number of health-related purposes. Voisin / Getty Images Uses When combined with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, or avocado), rose essential oil can be applied directly to the skin or added to baths in very small amounts. When applied directly to the skin, skin care products containing rose essential oil are purported to hydrate dry skin, clear acne, reduce signs of aging, minimize the appearance of scars, and help with conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Aromatherapy Uses Rose essential oil also can be inhaled after sprinkling a drop or two of the oil onto a cloth or tissue, or by using an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer. According to aromatherapy practitioners, inhaling essential oil molecules, or absorbing essential oils through the skin, transmits messages to the limbic system—a brain region responsible for controlling emotions and influencing the nervous system. These messages are believed to affect biological factors such as heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function. Rose essential oil is typically touted as an aromatherapy remedy for the following health concerns: Anxiety Depression Headaches Menopausal symptoms Menstrual cramps Migraines In addition, rose essential oil is said to enhance libido, reduce stress, stimulate circulation, sharpen memory, and boost mood. Health Benefits So far, scientific support for the benefits of rose essential oil is fairly limited. Here's a look at some key findings from scientific research on the health benefits of rose essential oil: Stress Rose essential oil may help relieve stress, according to a 2009 study published in Natural Product Communications. For the study, 40 healthy volunteers absorbed either rose essential oil or a placebo through their skin. Results revealed that those who received rose essential oil experienced a greater increase in feelings of calm and relaxation, as well as a greater decrease in breathing rate and blood pressure, compared to those who received the placebo. Sleep A small study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2014 indicates that rose essential oil may improve sleep quality in people hospitalized in coronary care units. In a trial involving 60 people, those who received routine care plus rose oil aromatherapy for three subsequent nights had a better quality of sleep compared to those who received routine care. Anxiety Several preliminary studies suggest that rose essential oil may help alleviate anxiety. For example, a study published in Nephro-Urology Monthly in 2016 examined the use of aromatherapy with rose water for anxiety in hemodialysis patients and found that rose water noticeably reduced anxiety levels. Menstrual Cramps and Pain When combined with lavender, cinnamon, and clove oils in a base of almond oil, rose essential oil used for abdominal massage may be effective in decreasing the severity of menstrual cramps. In a study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2013, scientists found that women who had an abdominal massage once daily for seven days prior to menstruation using the oil blend experienced less pain (both intensity and duration) compared to the women who received a massage with almond oil alone. Another study, published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2015, found that women who applied aromatherapy self-massage using rose oil had less menstrual pain by the second cycle compared to those who did self-massage with unscented almond oil or had no treatment. Possible Side Effects Essential oils are highly concentrated, so you should use caution when using them. Rose essential oil should not be taken internally. Essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil before being applied to the skin and shouldn't be applied to the eyes or mucous membranes or used excessively (the oil is absorbed through skin and toxicity can occur if too much is applied). With any essential oil, there is the risk of contact sensitivity. A skin patch test is recommended prior to using any new essential oil. Children as well as people who are pregnant or nursing should consult their primary healthcare providers before using essential oils. It's also important to note that self-treating a chronic condition (such as depression) with rose essential oil and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. How to Use Essential Oils for Aromatherapy What to Look For Widely available for purchase online, rose essential oil is sold in many natural-foods stores and in stores specializing in self-care products. Buying Tips for Essential Oils Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Barati F, Nasiri A, Akbari N, Sharifzadeh G. The effect of aromatherapy on anxiety in patients. Nephrourol Mon. 2016;8(5):e38347. doi:10.5812/numonthly.38347 Hur MH, Yang YS, Lee MS. Aromatherapy massage affects menopausal symptoms in korean climacteric women: a pilot-controlled clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008;5(3):325-8. doi10.1093/ecam/nem027 Marzouk TM, El-Nemer AM, Baraka HN. The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating menstrual pain in nursing students: a prospective randomized cross-over study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:742421. doi:10.1155/2013/742421 Hongratanaworakit T. Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans. Nat Prod Commun. 2009 4(2):291-6. Hajibagheri A, Babaii A, Adib-hajbaghery M. Effect of Rosa damascene aromatherapy on sleep quality in cardiac patients: a randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014;20(3):159-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2014.05.001 Sadeghi Aval Shahr H, Saadat M, Kheirkhah M, Saadat E. The effect of self-aromatherapy massage of the abdomen on the primary dysmenorrhoea. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;35(4):382-5. doi:10.3109/01443615.2014.958449