Roses Are Red

The rose is arguably the most recognizable flower. Rosa damascena and other fragrant rose species have been esteemed for centuries by almost every culture that has had access to their wonderful aromas. Rose has inspired artists to create masterpieces and kings and sultans to establish gardens for their beauty and fragrance. Rose has inspired legends, and humans throughout recorded history, and only recently, modern technology and chemical analyses have opened up new possibilities for this much-praised botanical.

Rose is a common name given to the thorny shrubs and climbing vines of the genus Rosa of the Rosaceae family. The name rosa comes from the Greek word ‘rodon’ meaning red. The roses of ancient Greece were of a deep red color lending to the legend that they grew from the blood of Adonis. The story goes that Aphrodite compelled the princess Myrrha to seduce her father Theias, King of Assyria. Myrrha as a result became pregnant and to her the beautiful infant Adonis was born. Aphrodite came to possess a great love for Adonis. One day, when he was hunting, Adonis was attacked by a wild boar and was mortally wounded. Because of her love for the man, Aphrodite rushed to his side. It was from her tears and the blood that ran from Adonis’ wounds that a rose bush grew.

It is probable that the rose originated in Persia. Here there grew a thriving industry of rose products, namely rose waters and perfumed oils. It was also in Persia where rose oil, or otto, was discovered.

It was between 1582 and 1612 Otto of Roses was discovered, as recorded in two separate histories of the Grand Moguls. At the wedding feast of the princess Nour-Djihan with the emperor Djihanguyr, son of Akbar, a canal circling the whole gardens was dug and filled with rose-water. The heat of the sun separating the water from the essential oil of the rose, was observed by the bridal pair when rowing on the fragrant water. It was skimmed off and found to be an exquisite perfume. The discovery was immediately turned to account and the manufacture of Otto of Roses was commenced in Persia about 1612 and long before the end of the seventeenth centuries the distilleries of Shiraz were working on a large scale.

The rose has certainly made a name for itself in cultures, both East and West. Yet, despite cultural differences, throughout the world the rose has been treasured for its beauty and its myriad of benefits to the human body and soul. The Arabian physician Avicenna (11th century AD) was the first scientist to emphasize the beneficial effects on the heart and brain. It was Avicenna that wrote “Because of its exquisite fragrance, the rose addresses the soul,” though his writings on this subject went on extensively. “It has a calming effect and is highly beneficial for fainting and for rapid heart-beats.” He praised rose waters effects on mind and spirit, and its beneficial effects on brain function and cognitive power, saying that it can enhance comprehension and can help to strengthen memory. Essentially, "Rose water strengthens the mind and the brain, sharpens the senses, increases life force; because of its fragrance it empowers the body.”

In his famous book Kemaliye, Mahmud of Shirvan (15th century AD) described a powder prepared by crushing dried rose petals in a mortar for application to the neck, breast, and armpits after bathing- while the skin is still moist- to impart a favorable smell to the body and to "treat the spirit". He claimed that this scent empowered spirituality and purified the heart. He wrote that "The fragrance of rose is the fragrance angels like". This is in line with the belief that the rose is the flower of heaven. It is a recurring motif in Rumi’s (Mewlana) Masnawi; "Rose is sent to earth by the gardeners of paradise for empowering the mind and the eye of the spirit."

The rose being beneficial to sight is a common theme between herbalists and legends alike. In the book The Earthwise Herbal- A complete guide to new world medicinal plants, author Matthew Wood writes:

It is interesting that rose is also used to enhance non-material vision. In the Scottish lowlands the thoughtless picking of rose flowers and the breaking of small sticks used to be considered dangerous because it can call up faeries from the Underworld. This method can also be used intentionally. In the ballad of Tam Lin, Janet wore her green tartan up above her knee, went to the hill of Carterhaugh, and boldly plucked roses and broke sticks to call up a virile young knight caught by the faeries on the hilltop. “How dare you pull those flowers!/ How dare you break those wands!/ How dare you come to Carterhaugh/ Withouten my command?” he exclaims. Through a series of bold actions- including pregnancy and threatened abortion- she manages to drag him out of the Underworld. The Faery Queen cries out in disgust that if she’d known Tam Lin was going to get away she’d have torn out his heart- because love saved him from captivity- and his eyes- because now he could see both worlds.

Today there are thousands of varieties of rosa spp. There are roses bred to look beautiful, and some to smell beautiful. Some are bred to be small and some to be large. They can be found in nearly every color of the rainbow. So, practically anyone can find a type to their liking. However, even with all this variety, only a handful are suitable for use as medicine or in cosmetics. The most common type being Rosa damascena (Bulgarian or Damask rose). Oil from the Bulgarian Kazanlik rose, rosa damascene trigitapetala, is commercially considered best and is used in perfumes from such makers as Chanel and Christian Dior. Amazingly it takes approximately 60,000 roses (180lbs of flowers) to produce just 1oz of oil.

In the twelfth century, essential oils were brought to and spread throughout Europe by the Crusaders who had learned the art of distillation from the Arabs. By 1200 AD, 47 different oils were being distilled in Germany. The most notable healer of the time, Hildegard of Bingen included rose in many of her remedies saying, “rose strengthens any potion or ointment or any other medication when it is added to it.” It was a main ingredient in her oil for someone who gets “angry”, using two parts rose oil to one part sage oil diluted by almond or olive oil. Her age old advice still holds true today. Aromatherapists and beauty experts today are touting the benefits of rosewater and continually adding to its popularity in the health and beauty industries.

Historically the most famous figure to have treasured roses was Cleopatra. She is said to have taken rosewater baths, had every inch of her palace floors covered in flower petals, and even soaked the sails of her ships in rosewater so she could always sail with the scent of roses on the breeze. The Romans were just as opulent in their use of flowers. The Roman elite would add rosewater and petals to their public baths. Oils and balms were also popular as perfume and cleansers. Emperor Nero reportedly had silver pipes installed along the dinner halls so his guests could be sprinkled with rosewater at his parties.

While it is unlikely that anyone today will be installing rosewater sprinklers in their dining rooms, there are plenty of ways to experience the benefits of rose in daily life:

• Rosewater is a great thing to carry on you throughout the day and give your face a spritz whenever you may need a freshening or pick-me-up.
• Rose Otto (essential oil of R. damascena) just on its own is a wonderful moisturizer and perfume to the skin, but it is also a beneficial addition to all-natural beauty products, such as shampoos and conditioners, lotions, baths and makeup. Rose oil is particularly useful for around the eyes- when diluted- as it is powerfully moisturizing and soothing to skin while at the same time being gentle.
• A jelly made from rose flowers and rosehips is a delicious way to add vitamin C to your system, as is a rose flower tea sweetened with honey. Not only can these treats help support the immune system but they are also of great benefit to the digestive system.

Furthermore, rose oil (essential oil) is still in use, and in fact in high demand today. Its benefits are numerous, including:

• Topical use to create an inspiring atmosphere and elevated spiritual experiences.
• Encourages feelings of positive self-reflection and can create an uplifted feeling when inhaled.
• Is gentle yet incredibly moisturizing to skin, and so is a wonderful addition to lotions, shampoos and conditioners.
• Also helps to promote healthy digestive functions.

It would seem roses are so much more than just another pretty flower...

For more information or to purchase rose essential oil, go to http://semperflorens.marketingscents.com.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Photo credit: https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/r/roses-18.html
• Grieve, Margaret A Modern Herbal, Vol II. New York: Dover, 1971.
• Culpeper, Nicholas Culpeper's Complete Herbal.
• Wood, Matthew The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants. Berkley: North Atlantic Books, 2009.
• K. Hüsnü Can Başer1,3, PhD; Ayten Altintaș2, PhD; Mine Kürkçüoglu3, PhD TURKISH ROSE A Review of the History, Ethnobotany, and Modern Uses of Rose Petals, Rose Oil, Rose Water, and Other Rose Products. http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/pdfs/HG96-Rose.pdf