Petal Damask Rose
Appreciated for its beauty and the subtlety of its fragrance, the Damask rose is particularly fragrant. A shrub of the Rosaceae family, the rose blooms intensely as its corolla of petals blossoms. It has been celebrated since ancient times for its stimulating power and aphrodisiac properties.
Damask rose essential oil is extracted from the rose petals by steam distillation. A minute quantity is produced so it literally takes thousands of rose petals to produce the aromatic deep, sweet, floral oil. Consequently, damask rose essential oil is very expensive.
Finally the Damask rose is believed to have anti-aging properties. Its petals are edible and they can be used to flavor food, as a garnish, as an herbal tea, and can be preserved in sugar.
R. damascena is traditionally used for treatment of abdominal and chest pains, strengthening the heart, menstrual bleeding, digestive problems and constipation. This paper reviews the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmaceutical investigations on R.