Rose: petals, buds and rose water, history, symbols and precautions
The rose is the most symbol-laden flower in the West. Fragrant varieties, history, uses of dried petals, the pitfalls of treated roses and precautions.
Key points
| Botanical name | Genus Rosa; Damask rose: Rosa × damascena; May rose: Rosa × centifolia |
|---|---|
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Origin | Northern Hemisphere; the Damask rose probably comes from Central Asia or Iran |
| Parts used | Petals, dried buds, rose water, oil |
| Main production regions | Bulgaria (Rose Valley), Turkey (Isparta), Iran, France (Grasse) |
| Traditional symbols | Love, beauty, secrecy, remembrance (depending on the tradition) |
| Point of caution | Treated florist roses: never burn them or eat them |
What is a fragrant rose?
There are thousands of rose varieties, but very few are used to make perfumes or sachets. The best known are:
| Rose | Botanical name | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Damask rose | Rosa × damascena | Oil (“attar”), rose water, confectionery; produced in Bulgaria, Turkey and Iran |
| May rose, hundred-petalled rose | Rosa × centifolia | Perfumery in Grasse, absolute |
| French rose, Gallic rose | Rosa gallica | Dried roses, medieval tradition |
The Damask rose is a hybrid, derived from Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata, and does not exist in the wild. Its probable origin lies around Central Asia and Iran. Its arrival in Europe is sometimes attributed to the crusader Robert de Brie, after the siege of Damascus in 1148: the anecdote is often repeated but is debated by historians.
History and symbols
The rose has accompanied European culture since antiquity: it is linked to Aphrodite and Venus, then, in the Christian world, to the Virgin Mary, from whom the “rosary” takes its name. According to tradition, the Romans hung a rose on the ceiling of banquet halls to signal that what was said sub rosa (under the rose) must stay secret; the expression has survived. Alchemists, Freemasons and Rosicrucians made it an emblem. In the Middle East, rose water has a long, fragrant and sweet history.
These are rich and varied cultural traditions. They do not say what the rose “does”: they say what people have projected onto it.
Petals, buds and sachets
Dried rose is used in several ways:
- Petals and buds in potpourri and sachets, often with lavender or chamomile;
- buds as decoration in candles or on small dishes;
- fumigation: a few dry petals can be placed on a charcoal disc or a heating plate; the smoke is light and not very fragrant, because the scent of the rose is made mostly of fragile molecules that disappear when heated. For a rose scent in a burner, scented incense is generally used instead.
To dry petals at home, spread them in the shade, on a cloth, in a thin layer, in a dry room (see Drying and storing your herbs). They lose their scent within a few months: renew them every year.
Pitfall: florist roses
Roses sold by florists and supermarkets are grown for their beauty and vase life, often with pesticides and preservatives, and are not intended for food. Do not dry them to burn, infuse or cook with them. Choose:
- petals or buds sold for food use or from organic farming;
- or untreated roses from your own garden, away from roads.
Even without treatment, burning petals produces particles and a sometimes smoky scent: reserve fumigation for very small quantities.
Growing roses for drying
If you have a garden, a few fragrant roses (old roses, Damask roses, rugosa roses) are enough to supply petals all year round. Pick the flowers in the morning, once the dew has gone, before they open too far. Do not treat these rose bushes with chemicals, and choose sturdy varieties that resist disease well without treatment. A bed of old roses also attracts pollinators.
Essential oil and rose water
Rose essential oil is very expensive and is one of the products most often imitated or diluted with other fragrances: a very low price should raise suspicion. Like all oils, it must not be swallowed or applied undiluted to the skin (see Essential oils: caution). Rose water, a by-product of distillation, is a cosmetic or culinary product that must be sold for its intended use; check the ingredient list. Rose fragrances contain molecules (geraniol, citronellol) listed among the allergens that must be declared on labels in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Can florist roses be burned?
No, avoid it: they are often treated with products that are not meant to be heated or consumed.
Damask rose or May rose?
They are two different hybrids. The Damask rose is the source of Bulgarian and Turkish attar and rose water; the May rose is the one used by the perfume industry in Grasse.
Do rose petals keep their scent?
Only partly: it fades within a few months. Keep them in a closed jar, away from light.
What does sub rosa mean?
“Under the rose” in Latin. The rose was a symbol of discretion: what is said under the rose stays secret.
Can roses cause allergies?
Rarely through pollen, but rose fragrances can cause skin reactions in sensitive people.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Herbs, waxes and accessories.