Rose oil is one of the most widely used oils in the cosmetic industry due to its high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids.
This healthy cocktail improves the appearance of the skin and has a positive impact on physical and mental well-being. In addition, thanks to it, you can enjoy a very relaxing fragrance while using it.
If you want to discover the properties and benefits of rose oil and want to make it at home, read on because here you will find the easiest ways to prepare it.
Benefits of Rose Oil
Rose oil is recommended for sensitive skin because its components protect and strengthen the cutaneous tissues. It is also perfect for all skin types.
Extracted from the petals of roses, this oil has many properties, and each one brings some benefit to our well-being.
Let’s take a look at some of them.
- Purifying. The vitamins present in this oil (A, C, E) and several bioflavonoids help to purify and detoxify the body.
- Antibacterial. It favors the elimination of bacteria present in acne, reduces skin redness, and prevents marks following this skin condition.
- Moisturizers. Rose oil is indicated for moisturizing dry skin, as it nourishes, softens, and restores skin elasticity.
- Regenerating. Thanks to its vitamins and antioxidants, this oil improves the quality of the tissue, thus attenuating age marks and refining stretch marks.
- Increases blood flow. Increased blood circulation in the treated area improves its appearance. With the increase of oxygen and nutrients, the skin and deep tissues are regenerated.
- Digestive. It works as a digestive by relieving stomach discomfort and promoting appetite control.
- Therapeutic. Rose oil has therapeutic uses thanks to its relaxing and calming properties that can help in episodes of anxiety, nervous exhaustion, or stress.
Now that you know about its properties and benefits, you will surely want to enjoy them.
If, instead of buying it, you prefer to make it yourself, read on to find out how to do it.
How to Make Rose Oil: Two Formulas
Rose oil is obtained by steam distillation, which results in pure essential oil. It is one of the most expensive essential oils, as about three kilos of rose petals are needed to extract one ml of oil. The best, and therefore most famous, is the one obtained from the Damascus rose.
But we are going to use the maceration technique, which is a simple and easy process to do at home.
Ingredients
To obtain a high-quality rose oil, the selection of the right ingredients is very important and necessary:
Roses
Select roses that do not contain pesticides or chemicals, so if you buy them in a store, make sure they are organically grown.
The petals must be dry to prevent mold and mildew from developing and to obtain a durable product. If you have fresh rose petals, it is best to let them dry for one or two days.
As for the selection of the species, the most used and cultivated are the Damask rose, Rosa damacea, which I mentioned earlier, and also the rose of Provence or rose of a hundred petals (rosa centifolia).
Vegetable Oil
This type of oil is cold-pressed to maintain all the properties and benefits of the seeds or nuts from which it is extracted.
They are widely used for the preparation of facial and body oils and medicinal purposes.
Many of them prevent premature aging thanks to their fatty acids and vitamins E, C, and D which protect the skin from free radicals. They are also excellent moisturizers and very nourishing.
On the other hand, they are used to dilute the essential oils, something mandatory if we want to apply the latter on the skin, being used as base or carrier oils.
The vegetable oils most commonly used in maceration are olive oil, sweet almond oil, and grapeseed oil.
Maceration
When vegetable oil is worked together with rose petals, we are transmitting the properties of the roses to the oil.
What we get from roses are their vitamins, essential oils, and phytoelements. The oil provides us with their properties. Therefore, you have to choose vegetable carrier oil according to your tastes and needs.
The resulting product has a mild aroma with many skin and health benefits and can be included in cosmetics or used as a facial or body oil.
We propose two procedures so that you can choose the one that best suits your tastes or needs.
Depending on the time you have and the quality or concentration of roses you want, you will use one of those listed below.
The method is the same in both cases; only the period and mode of maceration vary.
Homemade Rose Oil Recipe
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil. You can use extra virgin olive, sweet almond, or grapeseed oil
- Untreated rose petals or air-dried petals (no added products)
Materials
- A casserole or saucepan
- Glass bottle with an airtight lid
- A spray bottle containing 96º alcohol
- Sieve, gauze, or cloth strainer
- Stainless steel funnel
- Dark glass bottle for storage
Prepared by
First, separate the petals and clean them, if necessary, because they come from fresh flowers. Let them dry for one to two days.
You can use them whole or cut them into smaller pieces.
Spray the inside of the glass jar and wait for the alcohol to evaporate completely. This step will prevent the proliferation of bacteria.
Insert the petals in the jar, making sure not to leave gaps between them.
Cover them completely with the oil you have chosen. Depending on the benefits you want to add, think about the properties of the oil you choose.
Cap and shake the bottle.
Techniques
Now it is time to choose one of the following maceration methods:
- Maceration in forty days
Place the airtight jar near a source of sunlight.
Shake it daily during these forty days.
- Bain Marie Maceration
Put a pot with a little water on the fire.
When the water is hot, introduce the closed jar with the oil and the petals.
Leave it for approximately one hour over low heat.
In both cases, once the maceration is complete:
1. Strain it to remove the remains of the petals.
2. Pour it into the dark glass bottle, again cleaning and sterilizing.
3. Store in a cool, dark place.
To Conclude…
If you want a plus, add Vitamin E because, in addition to benefiting from all its properties, you will prevent it from going rancid.
Rose oil is safe, as long as you use it in its diluted form if it is a pure essential oil, or infused with the methods we have just explained.
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