Essential oil extracted from roses contains an array of natural organic compounds.
Rose essential oil's strong floral scent has made the oil popular for a wide range of applications. Aromatherapists use the oil in massages to reduce stress and treat skin conditions, while consumers sprinkle a few drops into scent diffusers to freshen air inside the home. Rose essential oil contains numerous natural chemicals and compounds.
Citronellol and Geraniol
Each of these organic compounds helps lend rose essential oil its fragrance. Citronellol is a natural ingredient in plant oils, fruits, teas and wines. It also serves as a pest control targeting mites, though it's not harmful to humans and has long been included in makeup and flavorings. Geraniol provides backup flavors in foods featuring peach, watermelon, pineapple and blueberry taste profiles. In addition to enjoying geraniol in rose essential oil, consumers will find the substance in lotions, lipsticks, bath soaps and sun blocks, among other goods. Both compounds share a rose-like scent and a yellow hue.
Nerolidol and Farnesol
Like citronellol, these floral scent compounds were initially isolated from roses, citronella and lemon grass and used as mite-control chemicals. Both substances are nontoxic in animals and people, so they're safe in foods and topically applied products. Scientists now know make synthetic nerolidol and farnesol in laboratories, so these chemicals no longer come from plant sources.
Limonene
A natural chemical present in the skins of oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits, limonene brings a subtle citrus essence to rose essential oil. Limonene's astringent properties make it ideal in smaller doses for skin treatments and tinctures. Isolated and used in higher concentrations, limonene is a natural cleaning solvent. In higher concentrations, it's even used to make paints and in cooling fluids.
Eugenol
A component of clove oil, eugenol brings soothing, anti-inflammatory properties to rose essential oil. Eugenol harbors a natural painkiller that can numb the skin. Eugenol also appears in soaps, cosmetics and perfume.
Linalool
A natural alcohol present in rosewood, linalool brings a hint of cinnamon scent to rose essential oil. In other forms, linalool serves as a topical insect repellent, and its high Vitamin E content can be therapeutic for the skin. Many makers of personal products including body lotions, soaps and shampoos also include linalool in their ingredients. Linalool can cause flare-ups of eczema if products containing the substance are applied too heavily to people with a history of the skin disorder.
Myrcene and Pinene
These related essential oil compounds serve as chemical components in the creation of flavors and scents. Manufacturers frequently use myrcene in perfumes and in prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Pungent-smelling pinene represents an important ingredient in tea tree oil, and is deployed in deodorants and in skin medications. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have reported that pinene possesses antibacterial properties when applied to the skin.
Tags: rose essential, floral scent, from roses, higher concentrations, organic compounds