Prose about Roses

“Fossil records indicate that Rosa species have existed on the planet for at least 40 million years. The earliest historical records on Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets indicate that rose became known to humans about 5,000 years ago.” more

Humans have been capturing the aroma and developing fragrant ways of using the rose for a long (long, long time). One simple recipe suggests applying crushed rose petals to the body after bathing, the simplest and most sensual way of applying the scent to the skin.

In 1871 the three primary molecules that make roses smell like roses were isolated by O. Jacobsen: damascenone, geraniol and citronellol. Bang a little beeswax in there and you have a creditable formula for the scent of roses.

We are still counting the constituents, “the principal components of rose extracts are various molecules, especially citronellol, geraniol, phenyl-ethyl alcohol, nerolol, quercetin, and linalool”.

Perfumery as we know it, and the manufacture of rose water by steam distillation is a pretty modern invention.

“Most attribute it to Arabs’ Alembic (9th century CE) and some attribute it to the alchemists of Alexandria (from 50 BCE onwards). 

According to one record, however, distillation by earthenware ceramic pots was first employed by the Indus Valley civilization (5000 BCE). The remnants of a distillation pot were excavated in Harappa.”

Rosewater didn’t become accessible or in common use in Europe until they began distilling rosewater as a plague treatment in the 1200s in Italy. Rosewater as a stand alone cosmetic or as an ingredient in wide use in lotions during the Victorian era. 

Anywhere they grow. Roses are symbolic as a standard for beauty: they possess the energetic ability to heal body and spirit - reverence for roses is understandable.

Landscape roses and the ones in the florists cooler just don’t make us feel poetic about the aroma and beauty of roses -because when you breed them for longevity and to survive transport and last in bouquets, you begin to lose the very element that gives garden varieties their aroma.

The chemical breakdown of roses in bloom is what gives us the fragrance. It’s striking  that it is the decay and decadence of their blossoms that cause us to wax poetic about roses.

  • Why roses don’t smell the way they used to: source

  • From American Botanical Conference: Turkish Rose

The essential oil and absolute are exquisite. But aside from that, roses are great skincare, they moderate body temperature, are nervine, tonic and can even work to help re regulate hormone imbalances. Rose water hydrosol is my go-to when formulating emulsions, and glycerine extracts. The tea is herbal and delicious. 

It’s their shared genealogy with fruits and herbal allies that inspired the formula of Compass Rose.

Compass Rose

Roses are a powerful symbol of compassion, transformation and love in all its forms: they find a home in poetry and prose; the magical and mundane; the cottage garden and the palace one too. Inspired by the family tree roses share with edible fruits and herbal allies, CR is formulated as potion and perfume - a nostalgic nod at their shared genealogy. You are invited to enjoy CR as a high-vibrational perfume or craft rituals for trusting, protecting and healing your tender heart.

Monique Herzig