Rose essential oil—the product of one of the most recognizable and culturally significant flowers in the world—has a rich, intoxicating aroma that’s just as beautiful as the bloom itself.

Rose oil uses include topical application to create an inspiring atmosphere and elevated spiritual experiences. Its sweet, rich aroma encourages feelings of positive self-reflection and can create an uplifted feeling when inhaled. Rose has also been used topically for thousands of years, and today it can be found in many skin care products.

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.1 Rose essential oil is typically touted as an aromatherapy remedy for the following health concerns:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headaches
• Menopausal symptoms2
• Menstrual cramps3
• 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: