Plants make fragrant flowers to entice winged creatures to come on over and roll around in their pollen. It’s one big plant and bee orgy, and the bees aren’t alone in their pleasure… when we inhale the fragrance of blossoms (and bark, seeds, stems, and other fragrant plant parts), we’re affected too.
The nervous systems responds to what we inhale through our nose or absorb through our skin. The fragrance molecules literally make their way through our bodies… calming, stimulating, easing, supporting us. Healing through fragrance – also known as aromatherapy – can bring balance to the oft-bumpy weave of our heart’s fabric… the daily woof and warp of our emotions and feelings.
The fragrance of roses, in particular, is magical. These precious flowers have been used for medicine, beauty and perfumery since antiquity. The crazy thing about rose absolute (the essential oil, extracted by a solvent and alcohol), is that it takes the petals of one whole rose to make just ONE DROP of rose oil or, a million blooms to make just one kilo of rose essential oil!
It’s precious.
Said to have deep connections to the heart, with the power to unite spiritual and physical love, rose is a wonderful fragrance to incorporate into baths and massage. Rose oil contains farnesol, an active balancing molecule that makes dry skin less dry and oily skin less oily. I have a personal favorite potion of rose facial oil that I have been using for years. It smells beautiful and is soothing, nourishing and softening, especially for aging or dry skin.
Here are a few ideas for using essential oil of rose, to add to your goddess arsenal. For others, please see our past posts on essential oils, lavender here and jasmine here.
- To aid in deep sleep and support lucid dreaming, place one drop of oil into the palm of your hand. Rub the oil directly on the sole of the opposite foot, three times in a clockwise direction. Apply the same way to the other foot. Sweet sleep, and dreams, await.
- The simplest and perhaps most beautiful way to experience roses: grow them. They do beautifully in pots and planting one near your doorway or gate is especially nice. Look for organic at your local nursery or order online from Stargazer Perennials. here
- Use our EO Rose and Chamomile shampoo and conditioner here to take special care of your hair. Take an extra minute to inhale the fragrance while you’re using it.
- Add a few drops of oil to a base oil such as almond for a pure, sensual massage oil. Give your special someone a heart-opening massage tonight.
- Try our rose and sandalwood perfume, Amma’s Rose, here, inspired and worn by Amma, the celebrated humanitarian from India. For the past 30 years, Amma has dedicated her life to the uplifting of suffering and is recognized as an extraordinary spiritual leader. We’re deeply moved by Amma’s work and contribute to funding Amma’s humanitarian projects.
We’d love to hear from you – please share in the comments any experiences or thoughts you have about roses. Signing off – in one of the best ways I know – with Rumi.
Stop learning.
Start knowing.
The rose opens
And opens
And when it falls
Falls outward.
Rumi
Written by Susan Griffin-Black, EO’s co-CEO
