Damask rose flowers; the oil is taken from the petals.

Essential Oils & Aromatherapy · Essential oil

Rose Oil

Q: Is rose oil safe to swallow?

No. We do not advise swallowing essential oil or absolute. Poison Control warns that some essential oils are poisonous if swallowed and that oil breathed into the lungs can cause pneumonia. It does not name rose, and we found no rose poisoning report, but that is not proof of safety. If a child or pet may have swallowed any essential oil, call poison control (US: 1-800-222-1222) or your emergency number.

Q: Can rose oil cause a skin rash or allergy?

Yes, it can. Rose oil is rich in citronellol and geraniol, which are fragrance allergens. In German skin clinics 0.5% of patients tested reacted to citronellol and 0.4% to geraniol; in Spain geraniol was the most frequent single fragrance allergen. Those were people with skin problems, so these are not rates for everyone, and we found no figure for rose oil itself. Poison Control says to dilute in a carrier oil and not to use essential oils on damaged skin. Stop use and see a doctor or pharmacist if a rash appears.

Q: What is the difference between rose otto and rose absolute?

Rose otto is the oil traditionally made by water distillation of rose petals. Rose absolute is a different product made from a petal concrete. Many perfumery sources say solvents are used for absolutes, but we did not find a study that says so or measures what is left behind. Their smell and make-up differ, and no trial says which one it used.

Q: Why is rose oil so expensive, and is it often fake?

The yield from petals is low, so real oil is costly, and a 2023 paper calls it a common target for adulteration that can harm consumers. Geranium oil, palmarosa oil and synthetic phenylethyl alcohol are named as likely add-ins. A very cheap bottle labelled rose oil is unlikely to be pure; look for the botanical name, otto or absolute, country of origin and a batch test report.

Q: Does rose oil help with anxiety?

Possibly a little, and the evidence is weak. Small trials, mostly from Iran, found lower self-rated anxiety when people breathed rose aroma before a heart test, after a Caesarean section or during work stress. Many were not blinded, and in one the control group changed too. It is not a treatment for an anxiety disorder.

Q: Does rose aromatherapy help in labour?

Two small trials of first-time mothers found lower pain and anxiety with rose aroma than with saline or usual care, and a review that pooled lavender and rose found a pain effect. The trials were small, mostly self-rated and smell is hard to hide. Talk to your midwife or doctor before using any oil in labour.

Q: Does rose oil help period pain or PMS?

The results are mixed. A pooled review of seven trials found no significant effect on period pain, though small gains for headache, tiredness and bloating. Two small student trials from one team found PMS scores improved with rose aroma. These are low-certainty results.

Q: Is rose oil safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding?

We could not find a regulator or safety guide on this. Rose aroma was tested in labour and after Caesarean section, and rose oil on the skin in 120 pregnant women with back pain with no significant adverse effect reported. The abstracts say nothing about babies. Ask a doctor or midwife before using any essential oil in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Q: Is rose oil safe for cats, dogs and birds?

No source says so. Pet Poison Helpline says cats and birds are at the greatest risk from essential oils, with drooling, vomiting and sleepiness within 6 to 8 hours. Rose is not on its list of known poisoning oils, which is not proof of safety. If a pet shows signs after exposure, call a vet or an animal poison line.

Q: Is rose oil the same as rosehip oil, rose water or rose tea?

No. Rose oil is the aromatic oil from the flowers. Rose water is a different, watery product. Rosehip seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the fruit of another rose. Rose tea is petals in hot water. Each has its own page and results from one do not apply to another.

Rosa x damascena and Rosa x centifolia · also called Rose otto, rose absolute, damask rose oil, attar of roses, rose essential oil

Rose oil is the costly, sweet-smelling oil taken from rose petals. It comes as rose otto (distilled) and rose absolute (made another way), and is used as a scent and in massage and skin products. The research is small: a few trials on anxiety, labour pain and period symptoms, with low to very low certainty. The main cautions: its main scent chemicals are known skin allergens, it should not be swallowed, and expensive rose oil is often faked.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Rose Oil

Rose oil is a costly aromatherapy and perfume oil with a few small studies behind its uses. Safety comes first: its main scent chemicals are known skin allergens, it should not be swallowed or used undiluted, and cats and birds are at special risk from essential oils. Fakes are common. The evidence for benefit is limited and mostly from small trials of aroma.

What rose oil is: otto, absolute and other rose products

Rose otto (also called rose oil) is traditionally made by water distillation of Rosa damascena petals, and it costs a lot because the yield is low. Rose absolute is a different product: it is made from a petal concrete, an extract of the petals. Many perfumery books say solvents are used to make absolutes, but we did not find a source that spells it out or measures solvent leftovers.

Citronellol and geraniol are the main compounds, with phenylethyl alcohol, nerol and linalool. In one Indian study citronellol ranged from 16 to 35% and geraniol from 8 to 30%, depending on cultivar and growing site. Rose water is a different product, and rosehip seed oil comes from a different rose and part of the plant.

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Quality: fakes and pesticide traces

A 2023 paper calls rose oil a common target for adulteration that "can cause harm to consumers". Geranium oil, palmarosa oil and phenylethyl alcohol are named as likely add-ins, and synthetic mixes share the main compounds with the real thing, so a laboratory test is needed to tell.

A lab study found that pesticides on rose petals were concentrated 100 to 300 times in the absolute. In real Turkish samples chlorpyrifos reached 27 mg/kg in absolutes against 0.05 mg/kg in the flowers. Otto was not tested. Look for the botanical name, otto or absolute, the country and a batch test report.

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What people use it for, and how strong the evidence is

For anxiety and pain in labour, two small hospital trials and a pooled review point the same way: lower scores with rose aroma. The pooled review counts lavender and rose together. For anxiety around a heart test or Caesarean section, and for stress and sleep in staff, results are small, self-rated and not blinded. Certainty is low to very low.

For period problems the picture is mixed: one short trial of rose aroma added to a pain injection did slightly better, but a pooled review of seven trials found no significant pain effect, only small gains for headache, tiredness and bloating. For PMS, two student trials from one team were positive against baseline. For pregnancy back pain there is one trial. For migraine the one trial was null overall.

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The research in one view

Most trials came from Iran, with small groups, self-rated outcomes and a scent that people can identify. No trial said whether it used otto or absolute. Cell and bacteria findings have not been tested in people. A 2024 review of blossom oils calls the use "safe in studies" but also notes skin side effects and says clinical research is thin.

Nothing here shows that rose oil treats a disease.

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Oil, absolute, water and tea are different things

Rose tea (petals in hot water), rose water and rosehip seed oil are different products with their own evidence and risks. Do not judge the oil by tea or water results, or the reverse.

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What regulators say

We did not find a regulator that approves rose oil as a medicine. Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline give general essential-oil warnings that do not name rose. NCCIH describes aromatherapy but the part we could read does not name rose. We could not read the EU allergen labelling law, Tisserand, IFRA or SCCS entries, so none is quoted.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Scent in perfumes, cosmetics and household products (review of blossom oils).
Aromatherapy, inhaled or applied diluted to skin (NCCIH describes aromatherapy this way).
Rose oil, rose water, concrete and absolute are made from the same flowers.

Studied for research

Pain and anxiety in early labour, aroma, low
Anxiety and pain around a procedure, aroma, very low
Anxiety and sleep in stressed staff, aroma, very low
Painful periods, aroma, mixed
Premenstrual syndrome, aroma, low
Pregnancy back pain, on the skin, low
Migraine, on the skin, insufficient

Main compounds

Citronellol and geraniol, the main scent chemicals and fragrance allergens
Phenylethyl alcohol (mainly in rose water and absolutes)
Nerol, linalool, rose oxide and long-chain hydrocarbons

Common forms

Rose otto (water-distilled essential oil)
Rose absolute (made from a petal concrete)
Rose water and hydrosol (different products)
Rosehip seed oil (a different oil from a different part of the plant)

Research links: Poison Control: Essential oils · Pet Poison Helpline: Essential oils · NCCIH: Aromatherapy · Rose oil authenticity and adulteration (abstract) · Skin allergy to essential oils, IVDK data (abstract) · Pesticides in rose absolute (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

What it is and its history

Accepted scientific name: Rosa x damascena Mill. (damask rose); the absolute and some oils also come from Rosa x centifolia L. (cabbage or Provence rose)
Naming authority: Rosa x damascena Mill., Gard. Dict. (Ed. 8) Rosa No. 15 (1768); Rosa x centifolia L., Sp. Pl. 1: 491-492 (1753) (GBIF)
Common names: Rose oil (English); Rose otto (English); Rose absolute (English); Damask rose (English); Burgundy rose (NCBI name for R. x centifolia) (English)
Family or group: Rosaceae (rose family).
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Rosales > Rosaceae > Rosa > Rosa x damascena; Rosa x centifolia
Native range: NOT verified from a source read.
Habitat: NOT verified.
What it looks like: Part used: The oil comes from the flowers. A 2011 study distilled oil and rose water from Rosa damascena petals at bud, half-bloom and full-bloom stages and says the plant is grown commercially for rose oil, water, concrete and absolute.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Rosehip seed oil (Rosa canina and relatives); Note: A fatty oil pressed from fruit seeds, not an essential oil. It has its own page. Do not use rose oil results for it, or the reverse.; Name: Rosa alba, Rosa gallica and other oil-bearing roses; Note: Bulgarian oils from R. alba and R. gallica differ from R. damascena in a lab study; products may not state the species.
Sustainability and conservation: Not assessed here.

Photographs

Pink damask roses and buds around a small amber dropper bottle — Damask roses; the oil is taken from the petals.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Perfumery and cosmetics	A review says oils from blossoms including Rosa x damascena are very popular as fragrances in perfumes, cosmetics and household products and are used in aromatherapy.	Prosche 2024
Rose oil trade	A 2023 paper says rose oil is traditionally produced by water distillation of Rosa damascena and is of high economic value because the yield is low. A 2011 paper says Rosa damascena is grown for rose oil, rose water, concrete and absolute.	Raeber 2023; Verma 2011
Older medical history	No source read describes older medical use of rose oil, so none is stated.	none

Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Citronellol PubChem 8842	acyclic monoterpene alcohol	Flower (oil) 21.22% in one analysed sample; 15.9-35.3% in North Indian oils	Main scent chemical; a fragrance allergen in patch tests (0.5% positive in one series). ^{36 35 27}	Analysis
Geraniol PubChem 637566	acyclic monoterpene alcohol	Flower (oil) 14.1% in one sample; 8.3-30.2% in North Indian oils	Main scent chemical; the most frequent fragrance allergen in a Spanish series; the authors of a lab TB study link geraniol plus nerol to the oil's effect on bacteria. ^{36 35 29 34}	Analysis
Nerol PubChem 643820	acyclic monoterpene alcohol	Flower (oil) 4.0-9.6% in North Indian oils	Scent chemical related to geraniol. ^{35 34}	Analysis
2-Phenylethanol (phenylethyl alcohol) PubChem 6054	aromatic alcohol	Flower (rose water, absolute) 66.2-81% of rose water volatiles; main compound in rose distillate	Honey-rose smell; also a cheap adulterant. ^{35 17 3}	Analysis
Linalool PubChem 6549	acyclic monoterpene alcohol	Flower (oil) 0.7-2.8% in North Indian oils	Minor scent chemical and a labelled fragrance allergen (0.2% positive in one series). ^{35 27}	Analysis
Rose oxide PubChem 27866	monoterpene ether	Flower (oil) Not quantified in the abstracts read	Named by the authors as one of the minor quality markers; chiral forms separated. ²⁶	Analysis
Long-chain hydrocarbons (nonadecane, heneicosane, eicosane)	alkanes	Flower (oil) Nonadecane 4.5-16.0% and heneicosane 2.6-7.9% in Indian oils; eicosane 11.03% in one sample	Long-chain hydrocarbons; levels vary with growing site and distillation. ^{35 36}	Analysis

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
Calming of autonomic arousal (proposed)	not identified	The 2009 skin-application test suggests lower breathing rate and blood pressure; the review mentions less sympathetic activity. No mechanism was shown in people. ^{13 19}	Hypothesis
Tyrosinase inhibition	TYR	In a test tube the oil was a reversible mixed-type inhibitor of tyrosinase and lowered melanin in mouse cells. ³⁶	Laboratory research
Antibacterial action on M. tuberculosis	efflux pump genes (strain differences)	Oils were active in culture; the authors hypothesise geraniol and nerol drive the effect. ³⁴	Laboratory research
Cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines	not identified	Concrete and absolute were toxic to HepG2 and MCF7 cells in a dish and not to normal lymphocytes at 10 micrograms/mL. ⁹	Laboratory research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: No human blood-level data were found for inhaled or skin-applied rose oil. The 2009 test with breathing masks suggests skin application can change body measures, but no absorption was measured.
Distribution: Not studied.
Metabolism: Not studied.
Elimination: Not studied.
Bioavailability: Not studied.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Rose oil is a mixture of many chemicals; citronellol and geraniol dominate, with phenylethyl alcohol in the water-soluble fraction and in absolutes. Composition changes with cultivar, growing site and flower stage, and cheap look-alikes copy the main compounds. Results for one product therefore do not transfer reliably to another, and none of the trials say whether they used otto, absolute or a diluted blend.

Nutritional composition

Not a food. Rose oil is not a source of nutrients.

11benefits and uses looked at

36studies and sources checked

Low certaintybest evidence rating found

8lab markers tracked in trials

1 mixed findings4 low certainty4 very low certainty2 not enough evidence

What is Rose Oil good for?

The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is for each. Read the certainty label first: none of these is better than low, most trials came from Iran, and the smell of rose cannot be hidden from the people in the trials.

Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma)Low certaintyIn two hospital trials, first-time mothers who breathed rose aroma rated pain and anxiety lower than women given saline or usual care. A review pooled the pain results, counting rose and lavender together. Anxiety and pain around a medical procedureVery low certaintyTwo small trials found lower anxiety, and lower pain after Caesarean section, with rose aroma than with water or saline. In the angiography trial the control group changed too. Anxiety and sleep in stressed hospital staffVery low certaintyIn one unblinded trial of 80 operating-room staff, a month of rose oil scent gave lower anxiety and better sleep scores than paraffin oil. Calm and lower breathing rate after rose oil on the skinVery low certaintyIn a 2009 test of 40 healthy volunteers wearing breathing masks, rose oil on the skin lowered breathing rate and blood pressure and people felt calmer. One small experiment. Anxiety, sleep and low mood overall (review)Very low certaintyA 2022 review of 38 studies, including animal work, called rose promising, but it mixes oil, extracts, dried plant and swallowed forms, so it does not describe the oil alone. Painful periodsMixed findingsOne short trial found a small extra drop in pain when rose aroma was added to a pain injection. A pooled review of seven trials found no significant pain benefit. Premenstrual syndrome symptomsLow certaintyTwo student trials from one team found PMS scores improved over two months with rose aroma, compared with their own starting scores. Headache, tiredness and bloating around periodsLow certaintyThe pooled review found small, significant drops in these three symptoms with rose products in many forms, not only the oil. Low back pain in pregnancyLow certaintyOne trial of 120 pregnant women found less back pain with rose oil in almond oil than with almond oil alone or no treatment, with no significant adverse effect reported. Ask a doctor or midwife before use in pregnancy. Migraine painNot enough evidenceOne small cross-over trial found no overall pain difference from placebo. A "hot type" subgroup result is only a hypothesis. Test-tube findings (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines)Not enough evidenceThe oil blocked an enzyme in a dish, slowed TB bacteria in culture and was toxic to two cancer cell lines. These are lab findings with no human test.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital)

Low certainty

In two small hospital trials, women who breathed rose aroma in early labour rated their pain and anxiety lower than women given saline or usual care. A review that pooled pain results counted rose and lavender together. The evidence is low.

3 studiesRose (Rosa damascena) oil or essence inhaled by aroma; the amount per…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Hamdamian 2018: 110 first-time mothers in Iran; rose essence or saline repeated through the first stage; pain and anxiety were lower in the rose group at every time point (p < 0.05). Li 2025: 76 first-time mothers analysed in early labour; rose aroma, saline placebo in the same device, or usual care; anxiety and pain were lower with rose at 60 and 120 minutes. A 2021 systematic review of obstetric aromatherapy could pool only the pain results, and found an effect for lavender and Rosa damascena oils together.

Results

Positive on self-rated pain and anxiety in both trials, and in a pooled review that mixes lavender and rose.

Effect sizes as reported

Statistically significant at each time point; the abstracts do not give point sizes. The pooled review result is for rose and lavender together.

Why this rating

Two randomised trials and one review point the same way, but they are small, from one or two countries, rely on self-rated scores, and the smell of rose cannot be hidden from the women, so expectation can drive the result.

Form and dose studied

Rose (Rosa damascena) oil or essence inhaled by aroma; the amount per session is given in each paper and is not advice.

Who was studied

First-time mothers in hospital labour wards.

Limits

Unblinded by smell; only first-time mothers; no comparison with a different pleasant scent; adverse effects and effects on the baby are not reported in the abstracts.

Why researchers looked

Labour is painful and frightening, and gentle non-drug options are popular, so research teams tested rose aromatherapy next to usual care.

Traditional use

Rose is a popular aromatherapy scent. No regulator we found accepts it for labour pain.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here. Anyone pregnant should ask a doctor or midwife before using any essential oil.

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Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section)

Very low certainty

Two small Iranian trials found lower anxiety (and lower pain after Caesarean section) in people who breathed rose aroma, compared with water or saline. It is very low certainty.

2 studiesRose oil inhaled from a pad or cotton ball; the amounts are in the pa…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Bikmoradi 2022: 98 people before coronary angiography breathed rose or distilled water for 20 minutes; stress, anxiety and several heart measures changed (p = 0.001 to 0.02); the control group also changed significantly. Abbasijahromi 2020: 90 women after Caesarean section; pain and anxiety were lower with rose or lavender than with saline (p < 0.001), and the abstract says rose showed a larger effect than lavender.

Results

Positive on self-rated anxiety and pain versus control; the angiography trial also found changes in the control group.

Effect sizes as reported

Statistically significant; the abstracts do not give sizes.

Why this rating

Two small single-centre trials from the same country, self-rated outcomes, and strong smells are hard to blind. The angiography abstract reports changes in the control group too.

Form and dose studied

Rose oil inhaled from a pad or cotton ball; the amounts are in the papers and are not advice.

Who was studied

Adults before angiography; women after Caesarean section.

Limits

Single hospitals; short follow-up; no repeat; no comparison of rose with any other scent in the angiography trial.

Why researchers looked

Waiting for a procedure causes anxiety, so researchers tested a scent in hospital.

Traditional use

Rose is a popular aromatherapy scent for calm.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here.

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Anxiety and sleep in hospital staff under stress (one trial)

Very low certainty

In one Iranian trial, operating-room staff who breathed rose oil and kept a scented cloth by the pillow for a month scored lower on anxiety and better on sleep than staff given paraffin oil. The trial was not blinded. Certainty is very low.

1 studiesRose (Rosa damascena) oil on a pillow cloth and inhaled; amounts are …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Mahdood 2022: 80 operating-room staff; rose oil or paraffin oil inhaled at work and on a pillow cloth for 30 nights; state anxiety fell more with rose both 90 minutes after the first session and at day 31, and sleep quality scores improved more at day 31 (all p < .001). The authors say it was not blinded.

Results

Positive on self-rated anxiety and sleep versus paraffin oil.

Effect sizes as reported

Statistically significant (p < .001); sizes are not in the abstract.

Why this rating

One trial of 80 people, not blinded, self-rated, in a very stressful period; no replication found.

Form and dose studied

Rose (Rosa damascena) oil on a pillow cloth and inhaled; amounts are in the paper and are not advice.

Who was studied

Hospital operating-room staff.

Limits

Not blinded; one site; pandemic setting; no objective sleep measurement.

Why researchers looked

Hospital staff were under heavy stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, so a gentle bedtime scent was tested.

Traditional use

Rose is a popular aromatherapy scent; no regulator we found accepts it for sleep.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here.

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Calm and lower breathing rate after rose oil on the skin (healthy adults)

Very low certainty

In a 2009 test, 40 healthy volunteers wore breathing masks so they could not smell the oil. Rose oil on the skin lowered breathing rate and blood pressure and people felt more calm. It is one small experiment.

1 studiesRose oil applied to the skin in a controlled test; the amount is in t…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Hongratanaworakit 2009: 40 healthy volunteers; rose oil or placebo applied to the skin with breathing masks; compared with placebo, rose oil lowered breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure, and people rated themselves as more calm and relaxed and less alert.

Results

Positive on breathing rate, systolic blood pressure and self-rated calm; oxygen saturation also fell.

Effect sizes as reported

Statistically significant versus placebo; no numbers in the abstract.

Why this rating

One small experiment from 2009, no replication found, short test in healthy people, abstract lacks sizes and randomisation details.

Form and dose studied

Rose oil applied to the skin in a controlled test; the amount is in the paper and is not advice.

Who was studied

Healthy volunteers.

Limits

Healthy people, not patients; the lowering of oxygen saturation is not clearly a benefit; no long-term data.

Why researchers looked

Researchers wanted to separate the effect of smell from the effect of oil absorbed through the skin.

Traditional use

Rose oil is used in aromatherapy; NCCIH describes aromatherapy as inhaling oils or applying them diluted to skin.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Authors suggest absorption through the skin lowered "autonomic arousal" (the body's alert state). No blood levels were measured.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here.

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Anxiety, sleep and low mood overall (a 2022 review of rose in many forms)

Very low certainty

A 2022 review of 38 studies (including 10 in animals) concluded that Rosa damascena looks promising for anxiety, sleep and low mood. But it mixes oil, extracts, dried plant, aromatherapy and swallowed forms, so it cannot tell you about rose oil alone.

1 studiesMixed: oil, essence, extract and dried plant, by aroma and by mouth.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Mohamadi 2022: 10 animal studies and 38 studies in total were included; people with anxiety, sleep problems or depression were studied with essential oil, essence, extract and dried plant, by aroma and by mouth. The authors called R. damascena effective but asked for better research.

Results

Positive overall in the authors' words; no pooled effect size given in the abstract.

Effect sizes as reported

No effect size in the abstract.

Why this rating

The conclusion covers many forms and uses, includes animals, and the abstract gives no quality rating or pooled number; it should not be applied to the oil alone.

Form and dose studied

Mixed: oil, essence, extract and dried plant, by aroma and by mouth.

Who was studied

People with anxiety, sleep disturbance or depression, plus animals.

Limits

Mixed forms; no pooling; abstract only.

Why researchers looked

Many small studies of rose in different forms existed, so a team gathered them.

Traditional use

No traditional-use source was read for this use.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

The review lists lower sympathetic nervous system activity and changes in brain chemicals, mostly from animal work.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here. Swallowing is not advised for the oil.

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Painful periods (rose oil aroma, with a drug or alone)

Mixed findings

One trial found a small extra drop in pain when rose aroma was added to a diclofenac injection, but a 2021 pooled review of seven trials found no significant pain benefit overall. Results are mixed.

2 studiesRose oil aroma, skin or oral products in the review; amounts are not …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Uysal 2016: 100 people with primary dysmenorrhea got diclofenac injection alone or with rose aroma; pain fell in both groups and was lower at 30 minutes with the rose add-on (p = 0.019). Koohpayeh 2021 pooled seven trials (276 treated, 272 comparison; aroma, skin and oral forms mixed): menstrual pain difference -0.47 (95% CI -1.25 to 0.31), not significant.

Results

Mixed: one positive add-on trial, but the pooled result for pain is not significant.

Effect sizes as reported

Pooled pain difference -0.47, 95% CI -1.25 to 0.31 (not significant). Single trial: add-on lower at 30 minutes, p = 0.019.

Why this rating

The best summary found no significant effect on pain; the one positive trial is short and used a drug as the base.

Form and dose studied

Rose oil aroma, skin or oral products in the review; amounts are not advice.

Who was studied

Women aged 18-35 with period pain or PMS.

Limits

Few trials; forms mixed; short follow-up; no scent-matched control.

Why researchers looked

Period pain is common and women look for gentle add-ons.

Traditional use

No traditional-use source was read for this use.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here.

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Premenstrual syndrome symptoms (rose aroma in two trials)

Low certainty

Two student trials from one Iranian team found PMS scores fell over two months with rose aroma. The comparison was mostly to the starting score, so it is hard to say how much came from the oil. Certainty is low.

2 studiesRose aroma inhaled briefly for several days a cycle; amounts are in t…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Heydari 2018: 66 students (64 finished); rose aroma or sweet almond oil aroma twice daily for 5 days each cycle, over 2 months; psychological, physical, social and total scores improved with rose versus baseline (P < 0.001 to 0.002) and not with almond oil. Heydari 2019: 95 students; rose, bitter-orange blossom or almond oil; rose improved physical and social scores significantly and mental scores (P = 0.007).

Results

Positive within the rose groups; between-group differences are not given in the abstracts.

Effect sizes as reported

Significant improvement versus baseline in rose groups.

Why this rating

Two small trials from the same team and the same type of participant, self-rated, and the abstracts compare to baseline rather than group versus group.

Form and dose studied

Rose aroma inhaled briefly for several days a cycle; amounts are in the papers and are not advice.

Who was studied

Female students with PMS.

Limits

Same research group; students only; no repeat elsewhere.

Why researchers looked

PMS affects mood and body for many women, and a pleasant scent is an easy thing to try.

Traditional use

Not stated in any source read.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here.

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Headache, tiredness and bloating around periods (pooled review)

Low certainty

The same 2021 review found small but statistically significant drops in period-related headache, tiredness and bloating with rose products. The trials mix aroma, skin and swallowed forms, so this is not specific to the oil.

1 studiesAromatherapy, skin and oral Rosa damascena products pooled together.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Koohpayeh 2021: pooled differences were -0.42 for headache (95% CI -0.74 to -0.11), -0.48 for fatigue (-0.87 to -0.09) and -0.72 for bloating (-1.21 to -0.22); anxiety was not significant (-0.40, -0.91 to 0.11).

Results

Positive for three symptoms, not significant for anxiety and pain.

Effect sizes as reported

Headache -0.42, fatigue -0.48, bloating -0.72 (all significant); anxiety -0.40 (not).

Why this rating

Pooled from only seven small trials with mixed forms; the authors call for better quality studies.

Form and dose studied

Aromatherapy, skin and oral Rosa damascena products pooled together.

Who was studied

Women aged 18-35.

Limits

Forms mixed; the review says quality was a problem.

Why researchers looked

The review looked at secondary period symptoms alongside pain.

Traditional use

Not stated.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

¹⁵

Low back pain in pregnancy (rose oil rubbed on the skin)

Low certainty

One Iranian trial of 120 pregnant women found less back pain after four weeks with rose oil in almond oil than with almond oil alone or no treatment. Function did not differ from the carrier. This is one trial and the safety of essential oils in pregnancy is not settled.

1 studiesRose oil diluted in almond oil on the skin; the amount is in the pape…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Shirazi 2017: 120 pregnant women with low back pain; rose oil in almond oil, almond oil alone, or no treatment, for 4 weeks. Pain was lower than with the carrier or no treatment; function improved versus no treatment but not versus the carrier. The authors report no significant adverse effect.

Results

Positive for pain versus carrier and no treatment; function not different from carrier.

Effect sizes as reported

Significant pain decrease; no numbers in the abstract.

Why this rating

One trial, one site; rubbing in any oil can ease pain, and the carrier-only group is the useful comparison.

Form and dose studied

Rose oil diluted in almond oil on the skin; the amount is in the paper and is not advice.

Who was studied

Pregnant women with back pain.

Limits

One trial; no data on the baby beyond the abstract's statement of no significant adverse effect.

Why researchers looked

Back pain is common in pregnancy and medicines are limited.

Traditional use

Not stated.

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here. Pregnant women should ask a doctor or midwife before using any essential oil.

²⁸

Migraine pain (rose oil on the skin)

Not enough evidence

In a small cross-over trial the rose oil did not lower migraine pain more than placebo overall. A split into "hot" and "cold" types by a traditional system found less pain only in the hot type, which is a hypothesis, not a result to rely on.

1 studiesRose oil on the skin; amount in the paper, not advice.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Niazi 2017: 40 people with migraine; two attacks treated with rose oil or placebo on the skin, then cross-over. No significant overall difference in pain, nausea, light or sound sensitivity. Subgroup: lower pain in "hot" migraine.

Results

Null overall; subgroup finding is a hypothesis.

Effect sizes as reported

No significant overall difference.

Why this rating

One tiny trial with a null main result; the subgroup was an after-the-fact split.

Form and dose studied

Rose oil on the skin; amount in the paper, not advice.

Who was studied

People with migraine headache.

Limits

Small; subgroup analysis.

Why researchers looked

Skin application of oils is traditional for headaches in some medicines.

Traditional use

Traditional Persian medicine "hot and cold" types (described in the abstract).

Proposed mechanism Hypothesis

Not worked out in people. Authors of the trials suggest a calming effect of scent on the nervous system, but none of the abstracts we read tested a mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety is covered in the Safety tab: rose oil and absolute can cause skin allergy, they are not for swallowing, and they should not be used undiluted. No amounts are advised here.

²²

Findings in test tubes and cells (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines)

Not enough evidence

In lab dishes, rose oil blocked an enzyme that makes skin pigment, slowed tuberculosis bacteria and was toxic to two cancer cell lines. These are cells and bacteria, not people, and they say nothing about treating anything.

3 studiesNot applicable

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human trials. Wu 2024: enzyme and mouse melanoma cells. Valcheva 2024: tuberculosis bacteria in culture, four Bulgarian rose species. Hagag 2014: concrete and absolute from Taif rose on human cancer cell lines and blood cells.

Results

Lab activity only.

Effect sizes as reported

No human data.

Why this rating

Cells and bacteria in a dish; no animal or human test is described.

Form and dose studied

Not applicable

Who was studied

None.

Limits

Results at lab concentrations do not predict effects on people or on skin.

Why researchers looked

Rose oil is rich in geraniol, which the authors of one lab study link to its effect on bacteria.

Traditional use

Not stated.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Tyrosinase blocking (pigment), effects on bacteria linked by the authors to geraniol and nerol, and cell toxicity at tens of micrograms per mL.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Do not read lab findings as a reason to use the oil on skin or to swallow it.

^{36 34 9}

Connections to the rest of health

How Rose Oil connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Pain Relief	Low certainty	Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital): In two small hospital trials, women who breathed rose aroma in early labour rated their pain and anxiety lower than women given saline or usual care. A review that pooled pain results counted rose and lavender together. The evidence is low. Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section): Two small Iranian trials found lower anxiety (and lower pain after Caesarean section) in people who breathed rose aroma, compared with water or saline. It is very low certainty.	^{10 16 4 2 1 28}
Anxiety Support	Low certainty	Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital): In two small hospital trials, women who breathed rose aroma in early labour rated their pain and anxiety lower than women given saline or usual care. A review that pooled pain results counted rose and lavender together. The evidence is low. Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section): Two small Iranian trials found lower anxiety (and lower pain after Caesarean section) in people who breathed rose aroma, compared with water or saline. It is very low certainty.	^{10 16 4 2 1 18}
Womens Wellness	Low certainty	Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital): In two small hospital trials, women who breathed rose aroma in early labour rated their pain and anxiety lower than women given saline or usual care. A review that pooled pain results counted rose and lavender together. The evidence is low. Premenstrual syndrome symptoms (rose aroma in two trials): Two student trials from one Iranian team found PMS scores fell over two months with rose aroma. The comparison was mostly to the starting score, so it is hard to say how much came from the oil. Certainty is low.	^{10 16 4 11 12 28}
Stress Reduction	Very low certainty	Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section): Two small Iranian trials found lower anxiety (and lower pain after Caesarean section) in people who breathed rose aroma, compared with water or saline. It is very low certainty. Anxiety and sleep in hospital staff under stress (one trial): In one Iranian trial, operating-room staff who breathed rose oil and kept a scented cloth by the pillow for a month scored lower on anxiety and better on sleep than staff given paraffin oil. The trial was not blinded. Certainty is very low.	^{2 1 18}
Better Sleep	Very low certainty	Anxiety and sleep in hospital staff under stress (one trial): In one Iranian trial, operating-room staff who breathed rose oil and kept a scented cloth by the pillow for a month scored lower on anxiety and better on sleep than staff given paraffin oil. The trial was not blinded. Certainty is very low.	¹⁸
Calm Relaxation	Very low certainty	Calm and lower breathing rate after rose oil on the skin (healthy adults): In a 2009 test, 40 healthy volunteers wore breathing masks so they could not smell the oil. Rose oil on the skin lowered breathing rate and blood pressure and people felt more calm. It is one small experiment.	¹³
Stress Relaxation	Very low certainty	Calm and lower breathing rate after rose oil on the skin (healthy adults): In a 2009 test, 40 healthy volunteers wore breathing masks so they could not smell the oil. Rose oil on the skin lowered breathing rate and blood pressure and people felt more calm. It is one small experiment.	¹³
Mood Balance	Very low certainty	Anxiety, sleep and low mood overall (a 2022 review of rose in many forms): A 2022 review of 38 studies (including 10 in animals) concluded that Rosa damascena looks promising for anxiety, sleep and low mood. But it mixes oil, extracts, dried plant, aromatherapy and swallowed forms, so it cannot tell you about rose oil alone.	¹⁹
Anxiety Support	Very low certainty	Anxiety, sleep and low mood overall (a 2022 review of rose in many forms): A 2022 review of 38 studies (including 10 in animals) concluded that Rosa damascena looks promising for anxiety, sleep and low mood. But it mixes oil, extracts, dried plant, aromatherapy and swallowed forms, so it cannot tell you about rose oil alone.	¹⁹
Better Sleep	Very low certainty	Anxiety, sleep and low mood overall (a 2022 review of rose in many forms): A 2022 review of 38 studies (including 10 in animals) concluded that Rosa damascena looks promising for anxiety, sleep and low mood. But it mixes oil, extracts, dried plant, aromatherapy and swallowed forms, so it cannot tell you about rose oil alone.	¹⁹
Womens Wellness	Mixed findings	Painful periods (rose oil aroma, with a drug or alone): One trial found a small extra drop in pain when rose aroma was added to a diclofenac injection, but a 2021 pooled review of seven trials found no significant pain benefit overall. Results are mixed.	^{33 15}
Pain Relief	Mixed findings	Painful periods (rose oil aroma, with a drug or alone): One trial found a small extra drop in pain when rose aroma was added to a diclofenac injection, but a 2021 pooled review of seven trials found no significant pain benefit overall. Results are mixed.	^{33 15}
Mood Balance	Low certainty	Premenstrual syndrome symptoms (rose aroma in two trials): Two student trials from one Iranian team found PMS scores fell over two months with rose aroma. The comparison was mostly to the starting score, so it is hard to say how much came from the oil. Certainty is low.	^{11 12}
Hormone Balance	Low certainty	Premenstrual syndrome symptoms (rose aroma in two trials): Two student trials from one Iranian team found PMS scores fell over two months with rose aroma. The comparison was mostly to the starting score, so it is hard to say how much came from the oil. Certainty is low.	^{11 12}
Womens Wellness	Low certainty	Headache, tiredness and bloating around periods (pooled review): The same 2021 review found small but statistically significant drops in period-related headache, tiredness and bloating with rose products. The trials mix aroma, skin and swallowed forms, so this is not specific to the oil.	¹⁵
Reduce Fatigue	Low certainty	Headache, tiredness and bloating around periods (pooled review): The same 2021 review found small but statistically significant drops in period-related headache, tiredness and bloating with rose products. The trials mix aroma, skin and swallowed forms, so this is not specific to the oil.	¹⁵
Mobility Support	Low certainty	Low back pain in pregnancy (rose oil rubbed on the skin): One Iranian trial of 120 pregnant women found less back pain after four weeks with rose oil in almond oil than with almond oil alone or no treatment. Function did not differ from the carrier. This is one trial and the safety of essential oils in pregnancy is not settled.	²⁸
Pain Relief	Not enough evidence	Migraine pain (rose oil on the skin): In a small cross-over trial the rose oil did not lower migraine pain more than placebo overall. A split into "hot" and "cold" types by a traditional system found less pain only in the hot type, which is a hypothesis, not a result to rely on.	²²
Healthy Skin	Not enough evidence	Findings in test tubes and cells (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines): In lab dishes, rose oil blocked an enzyme that makes skin pigment, slowed tuberculosis bacteria and was toxic to two cancer cell lines. These are cells and bacteria, not people, and they say nothing about treating anything.	^{36 34 9}
Cellular Protection	Not enough evidence	Findings in test tubes and cells (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines): In lab dishes, rose oil blocked an enzyme that makes skin pigment, slowed tuberculosis bacteria and was toxic to two cancer cell lines. These are cells and bacteria, not people, and they say nothing about treating anything.	^{36 34 9}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Nervous System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital) Studied for: Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section)	^{10 16 4 2 1 18 13 19 22}
Reproductive System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital) Studied for: Painful periods (rose oil aroma, with a drug or alone)	^{10 16 4 33 15 11 12 28}
Stress Mood	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section) Studied for: Calm and lower breathing rate after rose oil on the skin (healthy adults)	^{2 1 13 19 11 12}
Sleep Recovery	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Anxiety and sleep in hospital staff under stress (one trial)	¹⁸
Pain Inflammation	Biological association	Mixed findings	Studied for: Painful periods (rose oil aroma, with a drug or alone) Studied for: Migraine pain (rose oil on the skin)	^{33 15 22}
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Low back pain in pregnancy (rose oil rubbed on the skin)	²⁸
Skin Hair Beauty	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Findings in test tubes and cells (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines)	^{36 34 9}
Cells	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Findings in test tubes and cells (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines)	^{36 34 9}

C. Body parts and organs

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Skin	Adverse effect or risk	Low certainty	Allergy and irritation risk; never use undiluted. Allergy and irritation risk. Preparation or compound: Rose oil, absolute	^{24 27}

E. Health conditions

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Contact dermatitis	Adverse effect or risk	Documented risk	Patch-test data on rose's main chemicals; no rose-specific figure. Patch-test data on rose's main chemicals. Preparation or compound: Rose oil and absolute (geraniol, citronellol)	^{27 29 8}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Anxiety score (self-rated)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{18 1 16}
Labour or surgical pain score (self-rated)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{10 1}
Blood pressure, breathing rate, heart rate	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{13 2}
Sleep quality score (PSQI)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: improved. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁸
Period pain score (VAS)	Biological association	Mixed findings	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{33 15}
Premenstrual symptoms score (PSST)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{11 12}
Back pain and disability score	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²⁸
Migraine pain intensity over 24 hours	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Measured in trials: no change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²²

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
TYR	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Tyrosinase (skin pigment enzyme) inhibition in a test tube.	³⁶

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Geraniol	Adverse effect or risk	Low certainty	Fragrance allergen; most frequent single fragrance allergen in a Spanish series. Fragrance allergen and a main rose oil compound. Preparation or compound: Geraniol (rose oil component)	^{29 27 36}
Citronellol	Adverse effect or risk	Low certainty	Fragrance allergen, 0.5% positive patch tests in one series. Fragrance allergen and a main rose oil compound. Preparation or compound: Citronellol (rose oil component)	^{27 36}
Citronellol	Biological association	Analysis	Main scent chemical; a fragrance allergen in patch tests (0.5% positive in one series). Preparation or compound: Flower (oil)	^{36 35 27}
Geraniol	Biological association	Analysis	Main scent chemical; the most frequent fragrance allergen in a Spanish series; the authors of a lab TB study link geraniol plus nerol to the oil's effect on bacteria. Preparation or compound: Flower (oil)	^{36 35 29 34}
Nerol	Biological association	Analysis	Scent chemical related to geraniol. Preparation or compound: Flower (oil)	^{35 34}
2-Phenylethanol (phenylethyl alcohol)	Biological association	Analysis	Honey-rose smell; also a cheap adulterant. Preparation or compound: Flower (rose water, absolute)	^{35 17 3}
Linalool	Biological association	Analysis	Minor scent chemical and a labelled fragrance allergen (0.2% positive in one series). Preparation or compound: Flower (oil)	^{35 27}
Rose oxide	Biological association	Analysis	Named by the authors as one of the minor quality markers; chiral forms separated. Preparation or compound: Flower (oil)	²⁶
Long-chain hydrocarbons (nonadecane, heneicosane, eicosane)	Biological association	Analysis	Long-chain hydrocarbons; levels vary with growing site and distillation. Preparation or compound: Flower (oil)	^{35 36}

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 6 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Other6

The evidence

The research centre for Rose Oil. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Pain and anxiety in early labour (rose aroma in hospital) 3 studies · 186 people in trials Low certainty Anxiety and pain around a medical procedure (heart angiography, Caesarean section) 2 studies · 188 people in trials Very low certainty Anxiety and sleep in hospital staff under stress (one trial) 1 studies · 80 people in trials Very low certainty Calm and lower breathing rate after rose oil on the skin (healthy adults) 1 studies Very low certainty Anxiety, sleep and low mood overall (a 2022 review of rose in many forms) 1 studies Very low certainty Painful periods (rose oil aroma, with a drug or alone) 2 studies · 100 people in trials Mixed findings Premenstrual syndrome symptoms (rose aroma in two trials) 2 studies · 161 people in trials Low certainty Headache, tiredness and bloating around periods (pooled review) 1 studies Low certainty Low back pain in pregnancy (rose oil rubbed on the skin) 1 studies · 120 people in trials Low certainty Migraine pain (rose oil on the skin) 1 studies · 40 people in trials Not enough evidence Findings in test tubes and cells (skin pigment, TB bacteria, cancer cell lines) 3 studies Not enough evidence

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read the abstracts of the PubMed papers listed, plus the Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline pages and part of the NCCIH aromatherapy page, checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI and compounds in PubChem. We could not read EU law, Tisserand, IFRA, SCCS or LiverTox.

Study library: every study we checked 36

Design Research type Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Abbasijahromi 2020 Compare the effect of aromatherapy using lavender and Damask rose essential oils on the level of anxiety and severity of pain following C-section: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial. J Complement Integr Med · PMID 31730539 · DOI	Controlled trial	90 90 women after Caesarean section at one Iranian hospital (three groups)	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) (damask rose) or lavender oil, inhaled from cotton balls oil 30 minutes, measured 5 minutes after · vs Normal saline on cotton	Pain and overt anxiety were lower with lavender or rose than with saline (p < 0.001); the abstract says rose showed a larger effect than lavender, but no difference between the two oils in anxiety. Statistically significant versus control; numbers not in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pain (VAS) and anxiety (STAI) Limitations: One hospital; short follow-up; smell makes blinding hard; the abstract says double-blinded but gives no detail. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Bikmoradi 2022 Impact of inhalation aromatherapy with Damask Rose (Rosa damascena) on stress, anxiety and hemodynamic parameters of patients undergoing coronary angiography: a single blind randomized clinical trial. J Complement Integr Med · PMID 34018381 · DOI	Controlled trial	98 98 patients before coronary angiography at one Iranian hospital	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) inhaled (diluted in the aromatherapy product) oil 20 minutes before the procedure · vs Distilled water inhaled	Stress, anxiety and several heart measures differed between the groups after the aroma; the abstract also reports significant changes within the control group. Reported as significant (p = 0.001 to 0.02 for heart measures); size of group difference not given in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Stress and anxiety (DASS-21), heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation Limitations: Single blind; the abstract reports significant changes in the control group as well, so the extra effect of rose is not clear; one hospital. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Registration: IRCT201702019759N8 Read: abstract
Cebi 2021 Quantification of the Geranium Essential Oil, Palmarosa Essential Oil and Phenylethyl Alcohol in Rosa damascena Essential Oil Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometrics. Foods · PMID 34441625 · DOI	Lab analysis	Rosa damascena oil spiked with 0-100% geranium oil, palmarosa oil or phenylethyl alcohol	Rose oil spiked with likely adulterants oil Not applicable · vs None	Geranium oil, palmarosa oil and phenylethyl alcohol were named as probable adulterants and could be quantified in spiked samples (R2 of 0.96 or more). Method study; no survey of shop products. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Detection of adulterants by infrared spectroscopy Limitations: Spiked laboratory mixtures, not shop bottles; does not say how common adulteration is. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Di Vito 2021 Is aromatherapy effective in obstetrics? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res · PMID 33300141 · DOI	Systematic review	17 randomised trials of essential oils in obstetrics (anxiety, nausea, labour pain, episiotomy)	Essential oils; meta-analysis possible only for labour pain with Lavandula and Rosa damascena oil Varies · vs Varies	A meta-analysis was possible only for labour pain, and it identified an effect of lavender and Rosa damascena oils. Pooled labour-pain effect for the two oils together; number not in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety, nausea, labour pain, episiotomy Limitations: The abstract says the trials were too different to pool for anything but pain, and that bias was found; lavender and rose are pooled together. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
European Union 2023 EU Regulation 2023/1545 (extended fragrance allergen labelling) - not read eur-lex.europa.eu, blocked 2026-10-25 · Source	Authoritative guidance	Not applicable	Fragrance allergen labelling	The EUR-Lex page returned no content when we tried to open it, so nothing from it is used as fact on this page. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Regulatory status Limitations: Not read; not verified. Read: not-read
GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Rosa x damascena Mill. GBIF API, checked 2026-10-25 · Source	Database record plant	Not applicable	Rosa x damascena	Accepted species, key 7390572, family Rosaceae, order Rosales, genus Rosa, authority Mill., Gard. Dict. (Ed. 8) Rosa No. 15 (1768). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Identity Limitations: Database entry. Read: full-text
GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Rosa x centifolia L. GBIF API, checked 2026-10-25 · Source	Database record plant	Not applicable	Rosa x centifolia	Accepted species, key 3002410, family Rosaceae, authority L., Sp. Pl. 1: 491-492 (1753). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Identity Limitations: Database entry. Read: full-text
Geier 2022 Contact sensitization to essential oils: IVDK data of the years 2010-2019. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 35417610 · DOI	Observational	10930 10,930 dermatitis patients patch tested with essential oils at German-speaking skin clinics 2010-2019	Twelve essential oils, patch test (the abstract does not say whether rose was one of them) various oils Not applicable · vs None	908 patients (8.3%) reacted to at least one oil. Only six oils gave more than 1% positives: ylang ylang 3.9%, lemongrass 2.6%, jasmine absolute 1.8%, sandalwood 1.8%, clove 1.6% and neroli 1.1%. Reactions between oils and fragrances were frequent. Rose is not among the six oils named above 1%; whether it was tested is not stated. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Percentage with a positive patch test Limitations: Patients already seen for dermatitis; the abstract does not name the twelve oils; positive patch test shows allergy, not everyday rates. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Hagag 2014 Cytogenetic, cytotoxic and GC-MS studies on concrete and absolute oils from Taif rose, Saudi Arabia. Cytotechnology · PMID 24101441 · DOI	Lab cells	Human blood lymphocytes and two human cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF7)	Concrete and absolute oils of Taif rose (Rosa damascena trigintipetala) concrete and absolute Not applicable · vs None	Both oils were cytotoxic to HepG2 and MCF7 cancer cells (IC50 about 16 to 25 micrograms/mL) and were not toxic to normal lymphocytes at 10 micrograms/mL; the absolute showed an antimutagenic effect there. Lab only. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, antimutagenic activity Limitations: Cell lines only; no animals or people; a high-dose cell effect does not mean a treatment. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Hamdamian 2018 Effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascena on nulliparous women's pain and anxiety of labor during first stage of labor. J Integr Med · PMID 29526235 · DOI	Controlled trial	110 110 first-time mothers in an Iranian maternity hospital, first stage of labour	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) essence, inhaled oil Repeated through the first stage of labour · vs Normal saline	Pain was lower in the rose group than the control group at each of three assessments (4-5, 6-7 and 8-10 cm), and anxiety was lower at both assessments (p < 0.05). Statistically significant (p < 0.05) at every time point; the abstract gives no mean differences. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Labour pain (numerical scale at three stages of cervical opening); anxiety (Spielberger) Limitations: One country, single hospital; the smell of rose cannot be hidden from women, so expectation may matter; the abstract gives no numbers or adverse events. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Registration: IRCT201306258801N3 Read: abstract
Heydari 2018 Evaluation of aromatherapy with essential oils of Rosa damascena for the management of premenstrual syndrome. Int J Gynaecol Obstet · PMID 29788545 · DOI	Controlled trial	66 66 female students with premenstrual syndrome (64 finished), Shiraz, Iran	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) aromatherapy in an oil blend, inhaled oil 5 minutes twice daily for 5 days in the luteal phase, over 2 months · vs Sweet almond oil aromatherapy	At 2 months the rose group improved on psychological, physical, social and total scores versus its own baseline (P < 0.001 to 0.002); the almond oil group did not. Improvement versus baseline reported in rose group only; no between-group figure in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (psychological, physical, social, total) Limitations: Small, young, student sample, one site; the abstract compares to baseline, not group against group; self-rated. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Registration: IRCT2016031113940N3 Read: abstract
Heydari 2019 The effect of aromatherapy on mental, physical symptoms, and social functions of females with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized clinical trial. J Family Med Prim Care · PMID 31681680 · DOI	Controlled trial	95 95 female students with premenstrual syndrome	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) or Citrus aurantium blossom oil, aromatherapy oil Two months · vs Sweet almond oil aromatherapy	Mental symptoms fell with rose (P = 0.007) and with bitter-orange blossom (P = 0.004); physical symptoms and social function improved significantly only with rose (P = 0.042 and P < 0.001). Statistically significant within groups; no clear between-group numbers in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool Limitations: Same research group as the 2018 trial; students only; self-rated; two different oils make the comparison harder. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Hongratanaworakit 2009 Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans. Nat Prod Commun · PMID 19370942	Controlled trial	40 Forty healthy volunteers (country not stated in abstract)	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena), applied to skin with breathing masks so no smell was inhaled oil (skin application) Single session · vs Placebo (control substance)	Compared with placebo, rose oil lowered breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure, and people rated themselves as more calm, more relaxed and less alert. Statistically significant versus placebo for breathing rate, oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure; numbers not in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Blood pressure, breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation, pulse, skin temperature; self-rated calm, relaxation, alertness Limitations: Healthy volunteers, short test, abstract does not state randomisation, blinding or sizes of change. Oxygen saturation falling is not clearly a benefit. Relaxation is self-rated. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Khan 2014 Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats: 443 cases (2002-2012). J Am Vet Med Assoc · PMID 24344857 · DOI	Observational dog and cat	443 337 dogs and 106 cats exposed to 100% tea tree oil, US and Canada (ASPCA data)	Tea tree oil (NOT rose oil), skin and mouth exposure oil Not applicable · vs None	Concentrated tea tree oil caused salivation, drowsiness, weakness, unsteadiness and tremors within 2 to 12 hours, lasting up to 72 hours; younger, smaller cats were worst hit. Case series; shows that concentrated essential oil can poison cats. It says nothing about rose oil. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Signs of poisoning Limitations: A different oil; shows a risk pattern for concentrated oils only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Koohpayeh 2021 Effects of Rosa damascena (Damask rose) on menstruation-related pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, and bloating: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Educ Health Promot · PMID 34485569 · DOI	Meta-analysis	548 Seven randomised trials, 18-35 year old women with painful periods or premenstrual syndrome (276 treated and 272 comparison)	Rosa damascena products: aromatherapy, topical and oral intake oil Varies · vs Placebo, no treatment or usual care	Pain: weighted mean difference -0.47 (95% CI -1.25 to 0.31), not significant. Anxiety -0.40 (-0.91 to 0.11), not significant. Headache -0.42 (-0.74 to -0.11), fatigue -0.48 (-0.87 to -0.09) and bloating -0.72 (-1.21 to -0.22) were significant. Pain not significant; headache, fatigue and bloating small but significant. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Menstrual pain (primary), headache, fatigue, anxiety, bloating Limitations: Only seven trials; the pooled studies mix aromatherapy, skin and oral forms; the authors call for better quality trials. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Li 2025 Effects of Rosa damascena on Labor Pain and Anxiety in Primiparous Women. Holist Nurs Pract · PMID 39212535 · DOI	Controlled trial	76 76 first-time mothers analysed, early (latent) labour; randomised to rose aroma, placebo (saline in the same device) or usual care	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) aromatherapy oil At least 30 minutes, measured to 120 minutes · vs Saline inhaled through the same device, or usual care	The rose group had lower anxiety and pain scores than the placebo and control groups at 60 and 120 minutes. Statistically significant at 60 and 120 minutes; numbers not in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pain, anxiety and uterine contractions at enrolment, 30, 60 and 120 minutes Limitations: Only 76 analysed; early labour only; self-rated outcomes; the abstract gives no figures, funding or adverse events. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Mahboubifar 2021 Evaluation of adulteration in distillate samples of Rosa damascena Mill using colorimetric sensor arrays, chemometric tools and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction-GC-MS. Phytochem Anal · PMID 33759244 · DOI	Lab analysis	Rose (R. damascena) distillates, diluted and synthetic mixtures	Rose distillate versus synthetic adulterates oil Not applicable · vs None	A colour-sensor method told genuine distillate from diluted or synthetic samples with accuracy up to 0.98. The main compounds in both genuine and synthetic samples were geraniol, citronellol and phenylethyl alcohol. Method study. Genuine and synthetic mixes look alike on main compounds. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Discrimination of natural from synthetic or diluted samples Limitations: Distillate (rose water type) samples; funded by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Funding and conflicts: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Read: abstract
Mahdood 2022 Effects of Inhalation Aromatherapy With Rosa damascena (Damask Rose) on the State Anxiety and Sleep Quality of Operating Room Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Perianesth Nurs · PMID 35256247 · DOI	Controlled trial	80 80 operating-room staff in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) (damask rose) oil, inhaled and on a pillow cloth oil 30 nights · vs Paraffin oil	Anxiety scores fell more with rose oil than with paraffin oil, 90 minutes after the first session and on day 31, and sleep scores improved more at day 31 (all p < .001). Statistically significant for anxiety and sleep; the abstract does not give the size of the change. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: State anxiety (Spielberger) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) Limitations: Not blinded (stated in the abstract); self-rated outcomes; staff were under pandemic stress; one country. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Mohamadi 2022 Evidence for Rosa damascena efficacy in mental disorders in preclinical animal studies and clinical trials: A systematic review. Phytother Res · PMID 35653142 · DOI	Systematic review human and animal	10 animal studies and 38 studies in total included; people with anxiety, sleep disturbance and depression	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) essential oil, essence, extract and dried plant (aromatherapy and oral) oil Varies · vs Varies	The authors judged R. damascena effective for mental disorders but said better research on timing and duration is needed. The review mixes oil, extract, dried plant, inhaled and oral forms. No pooled effect in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Effects on mental disorders Limitations: The abstract does not give study quality; it mixes forms and animals with people; its conclusion is broader than the oil alone. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
NCBI Taxonomy 2026 NCBI Taxonomy: Rosa x damascena and Rosa x centifolia NCBI E-utilities, checked 2026-10-25 · Source	Database record plant	Not applicable	Rosa x damascena (taxid 3765, "damask rose") and Rosa x centifolia (taxid 396733, "Burgundy rose")	Both are listed as species and active records. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Identity Limitations: Database entry. Read: full-text
NCCIH 2026 Aromatherapy nccih.nih.gov/health/aromatherapy, partly read 2026-10-25 · Source	Authoritative guidance	General public	Aromatherapy (essential oils) in general	NCCIH describes aromatherapy as using essential oils most often by inhaling them or applying them diluted to the skin. Only the opening paragraphs loaded when we read the page; rose is not named in them. Evidence and safety sections were not read. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Definition Limitations: Partial page read. Read: partial
Niazi 2017 Efficacy of topical Rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) oil for migraine headache: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over trial. Complement Ther Med · PMID 28917373 · DOI	Controlled trial	40 40 people with migraine headache	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena), applied to the skin oil Two migraine attacks per person (cross-over) · vs Placebo	Overall there was no significant difference in pain, nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Only in a subgroup split by a traditional "hot" type of migraine was pain lower after rose oil. No significant overall difference; subgroup finding is a hypothesis. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pain intensity over 24 hours; photophobia, phonophobia, nausea and vomiting Limitations: Small; the useful finding comes from a subgroup split made after the fact in a traditional-medicine framework; follow-up short. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Pet Poison Helpline 2026 Essential oils (Pet Poison Helpline) petpoisonhelpline.com, read 2026-10-25 · Source	Authoritative guidance pets	Pets	Essential oils in general (rose is not named)	Essential oil poisoning can affect all species, but cats and birds are at the greatest risk. Common signs: drooling, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and irritation of skin and mouth; signs usually show within 6 to 8 hours. Oral exposure carries the highest risk, then skin, then breathing. Its list of oils known to cause poisoning does not include rose, which is not proof that rose is safe. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pet toxicity statements Limitations: General; rose not named; no rose-specific pet data found. Read: full-text
Poison Control (America's Poison Centers) 2026 Essential oils: Poisonous when misused poison.org/articles/essential-oils, read 2026-10-25 · Source	Authoritative guidance	General public	Essential oils in general (rose is not named in the text read)	Poison Control says essential oils are poisonous if swallowed in some cases, that oil breathed into the lungs can cause pneumonia, and that children have thin skin and immature livers. Many essential oils can cause rashes; pure oils are potent and diluting in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a skin reaction; do not use on damaged skin. A rash is the commonest allergic reaction; any reaction with breathing difficulty is an emergency. Essential oils may interact with medicines, and it is hard to know what species, concentration or contaminants are in a bottle. Keep oils locked up out of reach of children and pets. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Poisoning, skin, allergy, child safety Limitations: General statements; rose is not named; US source. Read: full-text
Prosche 2024 Flower Power: An Overview on Chemistry and Biological Impact of Selected Essential Oils from Blossoms. Planta Med · PMID 38843799 · DOI	Review human and lab	Review of blossom essential oils: lavender, chamomile, rose, jasmine, bitter orange, ylang ylang and Michelia alba	Essential oils from flowers including Rosa x damascena oil Not applicable · vs None	The authors say use of these oils is consistently described as safe in studies and meta-analyses, with notes that side effects can occur, especially on the skin, and that evidence-based clinical studies are still under-represented. Narrative review; no pooled figures. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemistry and biological effects Limitations: Narrative review; its word "safe" rests on small trials; funding and author affiliations were not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Raeber 2023 Determination of Major, Minor and Chiral Components as Quality and Authenticity Markers of Rosa damascena Oil by GC-FID. Plants (Basel) · PMID 36771592 · DOI	Lab analysis	10 10 authentic rose oil samples	Rosa damascena oil (water distilled) oil Not applicable · vs None	The authors say rose oil is of high economic value because of its low yield, is a common target for adulteration "which can cause harm to consumers", and that standards do not look at minor components or the mirror-image forms of terpenes. Method development. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Method to check major, minor and chiral components for authenticity Limitations: Method paper on 10 samples; no market survey. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Schnuch 2007 Sensitization to 26 fragrances to be labelled according to current European regulation. Results of the IVDK and review of the literature. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 17577350 · DOI	Observational	21325 21,325 patients patch tested in German skin clinics in 2003-2004 with 26 fragrances then required on EU labels	26 fragrance substances including citronellol, geraniol, citral and linalool single chemicals Not applicable · vs None	Citronellol 0.5%, geraniol 0.4%, citral 0.6%, linalool 0.2% positive (tree moss 2.4% and oak moss 2.0% were highest). Citronellol and geraniol each gave a few positives per thousand patients tested. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Sensitisation rates (standardised) Limitations: Patients already at skin clinics; 2003-2004 data; names of substances, not of oils; the rose oil itself was not tested. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Shirazi 2017 The Effect of Topical Rosa damascena (Rose) Oil on Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med · PMID 27335145 · DOI	Controlled trial	120 120 pregnant women with low back pain	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) in almond oil, applied to the skin oil 4 weeks · vs Almond oil carrier alone; no treatment	Pain was lower than with carrier oil or no treatment. Function improved versus no intervention but not versus carrier oil. The authors report no significant adverse effect. Significant pain decrease versus carrier and no treatment; function not different from carrier. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pain (VAS) and function (Roland-Morris) Limitations: One site; rubbing in an oil can itself ease pain; the abstract gives no numbers or safety detail. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Silvestre 2019 Sensitization to fragrances in Spain: A 5-year multicentre study (2011-2015). Contact Dermatitis · PMID 30430587 · DOI	Observational	19588 19,588 patients patch tested at 23 Spanish centres, 2011-2015	Fragrance markers and specific fragrance series single chemicals Not applicable · vs None	1,590 (8.1%) reacted to a fragrance marker; among those who then had individual fragrances tested, geraniol was the most frequent allergen. Geraniol was the most common single fragrance allergen after the markers. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Reactions to individual fragrances Limitations: Patients already at skin clinics; rose oil itself not tested. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Tascone 2015 Behavior of Multiclass Pesticide Residue Concentrations during the Transformation from Rose Petals to Rose Absolute. J Agric Food Chem · PMID 25942486 · DOI	Lab plant material	Rose flowers spiked with 54 pesticides and flowers from four treated fields in Turkey	Rose petals, concrete and absolute absolute Not applicable · vs None	All pesticides except three were extracted and concentrated in the absolute, by a factor of about 100 to 300. In real samples chlorpyrifos was 0.01-0.05 mg/kg in flowers and 0.65-27.25 mg/kg in the absolutes; methidathion was 4.7 mg/kg in one absolute. Lab study of the absolute; shows pesticides can concentrate. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pesticide levels in petals, concrete and absolute Limitations: Fields in one country; the abstract does not say what is safe in a finished product; otto was not studied. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Tisserand Institute 2026 Tisserand Institute essential oil safety guidance (rose entries) - not read not opened · Source	Professional guidance	Not applicable	Rose oil safety data	We did not read a Tisserand Institute or IFRA page on rose oil, so no safe dilution figure and no pregnancy guidance from them is given here. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Dilution limits, pregnancy guidance Limitations: Not read; not verified. Read: not-read
Uter 2013 Categorization of fragrance contact allergens for prioritization of preventive measures: clinical and experimental data and consideration of structure-activity relationships. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 23889298 · DOI	Review	Review of published human and animal evidence on fragrance allergens	Fragrance chemicals and 28 natural extracts (essential oils) various Not applicable · vs None	54 chemicals and 28 natural extracts (essential oils) are established contact allergens in humans; the authors say 127 fragrance substances and natural mixtures should be disclosed on labels because they sensitise skin. Review; no rates. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Which fragrances are established contact allergens Limitations: The abstract does not name the 28 natural extracts, so rose oil cannot be assumed to be on the list. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Uysal 2016 Investigating the effect of rose essential oil in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Complement Ther Clin Pract · PMID 27502800 · DOI	Controlled trial	100 100 people with primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods)	Rose oil (Rosa x damascena) essential oil, aromatherapy, as an add-on to a diclofenac injection oil Pain measured at baseline, 10 and 30 minutes · vs Diclofenac injection alone	Pain fell in both groups; at 30 minutes pain was lower in the rose add-on group than with the diclofenac alone (p = 0.019). Add-on group had a lower pain score at 30 minutes (p = 0.019); size not in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pain (VAS) Limitations: Only 30 minutes of follow-up; an add-on to a drug, not rose alone; no scent-matched comparison. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Valcheva 2024 Antimycobacterial Activity of Essential Oils from Bulgarian Rosa Species Against Phylogenomically Different Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains. Pharmaceutics · PMID 39598517 · DOI	Lab bacteria	Mycobacterium tuberculosis in culture (reference and clinical strains)	Essential oils of four Bulgarian roses: R. damascena, R. alba, R. centifolia, R. gallica essential oil Not applicable · vs None	R. alba oil was the most active in all strains and R. gallica the least active; the abstract gives no figures for R. damascena or R. centifolia. The authors suggest combined geraniol and nerol is the key. Lab only. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Minimal inhibitory concentration Limitations: Bacteria in a dish, no animals or people; concentrations are far from anything a person could safely reach. Funding and conflicts: Bulgarian Science Fund (public) Read: abstract
Verma 2011 Volatile constituents of essential oil and rose water of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) cultivars from North Indian hills. Nat Prod Res · PMID 21711177 · DOI	Lab plant material	Rose oil and rose water from North Indian hill-grown Rosa damascena cultivars	Rose oil (distilled) and rose water oil and rose water Not applicable · vs None	Oil of one cultivar had citronellol 15.9-35.3%, geraniol 8.3-30.2%, nerol 4.0-9.6%, nonadecane 4.5-16.0%, heneicosane 2.6-7.9% and linalool 0.7-2.8%. Rose water had phenylethyl alcohol 66-81%. Growing site and flower stage changed the mix. R. damascena is described as grown for oil, water, concrete and absolute. Composition study. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Volatile composition by GC Limitations: Indian cultivars only; composition varies by origin. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Wu 2024 Rosa × damascena Herrm. essential oil: anti-tyrosinase activity and phytochemical composition. Front Pharmacol · PMID 39323629 · DOI	Lab cells	Isolated enzyme and mouse melanoma cells (B16F10)	Rosa x damascena essential oil (analysed by GC-MS) essential oil Not applicable · vs None	The oil blocked tyrosinase in a test tube and lowered melanin in mouse cells. GC-MS found citronellol 21.22%, geraniol 14.1%, eicosane 11.03%, heneicosane 6.65% and 1-nonadecene 5.16%. Lab only. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Tyrosinase (skin pigment enzyme) activity, melanin content Limitations: Cells and enzymes only, no people; the oil sample used may differ from retail products. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract

What we do not know yet

What the evidence supports: low for labour pain and anxiety, PMS and pregnancy back pain; mixed for period pain; very low for anxiety around procedures, stress and sleep; insufficient for migraine and lab findings.
No trial states whether it used otto or absolute.
No safe skin dilution figure was read from a reliable source, so none is given.
No rose-specific source on poisoning, pets, pregnancy, babies or asthma.
No study of solvent leftovers in absolutes.
No independent repeat of the Iranian trials elsewhere was found.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it is added.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Other 8

▼

Anxiety score (self-rated)

Lowered in trials

A questionnaire (Spielberger, DASS-21 or STAI) that scores how anxious a person feels. Lower is calmer.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It is the main outcome in the aroma trials.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Statistically significant in several small trials; the size of the change in everyday terms is not given in the abstracts.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁸	Anxiety fell more with rose oil than paraffin oil at 90 minutes and day 31 (p < .001); no numbers in the abstract	80 hospital staff	Rose oil aroma and pillow cloth
¹	Anxiety lower with rose or lavender than saline (p < 0.001); no numbers in the abstract	90 women after Caesarean section	Rose or lavender aroma, once
¹⁶	Lower anxiety with rose aroma than placebo and usual care at 60 and 120 minutes; no numbers in the abstract	76 first-time mothers in early labour	Rose aroma

^{18 1 16}

▼

Labour or surgical pain score (self-rated)

Lowered in trials

A 0-10 scale or visual line where a person marks how bad pain feels. Lower is better.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

It is the main outcome in the labour and Caesarean trials.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Statistically significant in small trials; point sizes missing.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁰	Pain lower with rose than saline at all three stages of cervical opening (p < 0.05); no numbers in the abstract	110 first-time mothers	Rose essence inhaled
¹	Pain lower with rose or lavender than saline (p < 0.001); no numbers in the abstract	90 women after Caesarean section	Rose or lavender inhaled

^{10 1}

▼

Blood pressure, breathing rate, heart rate

Lowered in trials

Body measures of the "alert" state of the nervous system.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to see whether scent or skin absorption calms the body.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Significant in small trials, but the control also changed in one and no sizes are reported.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹³	Lower breathing rate, oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure than placebo; no numbers in the abstract	40 healthy volunteers	Rose oil on the skin, breathing masks
²	Heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation changed (p = 0.001 to 0.02), but the control group also changed	98 people before angiography	Rose aroma, 20 minutes

^{13 2}

●

Sleep quality score (PSQI)

Improved in trials

A questionnaire that scores sleep over the last month. Lower is better.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The main sleep outcome in the staff trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One unblinded trial; size not given.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁸	Sleep scores improved more with rose oil than paraffin oil at day 31 (p < .001); no numbers in the abstract	80 hospital staff	Rose oil pillow cloth, 30 nights

¹⁸

▼

Period pain score (VAS)

Lowered in trials

A 0-10 line where a person rates pain. Lower is better.

Mixed findings

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The main outcome in the period-pain trials.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One short add-on trial is significant; the pooled analysis is not.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
³³	Lower VAS at 30 minutes with rose add-on versus drug alone (p = 0.019)	100 people with primary dysmenorrhea	Rose aroma plus diclofenac injection
¹⁵	Pooled difference -0.47 (95% CI -1.25 to 0.31), not significant	Seven trials, 548 women	Rosa damascena aroma, skin or oral

^{33 15}

▼

Premenstrual symptoms score (PSST)

Lowered in trials

A questionnaire that scores PMS symptoms. Lower is better.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Main outcome in the two PMS trials.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Within-group changes; between-group figures not given.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹¹	Psychological, physical, social and total scores improved versus baseline with rose aroma, not with almond oil	66 students	Rose aroma, 2 months
¹²	Physical and social scores improved significantly with rose only; mental scores with rose and bitter-orange blossom	95 students	Rose or bitter-orange blossom aroma

^{11 12}

▼

Back pain and disability score

Lowered in trials

VAS for pain and the Roland-Morris questionnaire for daily activity limits. Lower is better.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Outcomes of the pregnancy back pain trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One trial; no numbers in the abstract.

Safety implication

The abstract reports no significant adverse effect.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁸	Pain lower than carrier or no treatment; function better than no treatment only	120 pregnant women	Rose oil in almond oil, 4 weeks

²⁸

●

Migraine pain intensity over 24 hours

No change in trials

Pain scores over time after treating an attack.

Not enough evidence

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Primary outcome of the migraine trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Null overall.

Safety implication

None identified from this measure.

Study	Result	People	Product
²²	No significant overall difference from placebo; lower pain in a "hot" subgroup	40 people with migraine	Rose oil on the skin

²²

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 5

Rose oil and rose absolute can cause skin allergy. Never put either on the skin undiluted.. The main scent chemicals in rose oil, citronellol and geraniol (about a fifth and a seventh of one analysed oil), are on the list of fragrance allergens that skin clinics test for. In German patch tests of 21,325 patients, citronellol gave 0.5% positive tests and geraniol 0.4%; in Spain geraniol was the most frequent single fragrance allergen. A German series of 10,930 patients tested twelve essential oils, and jasmine absolute (a similar flower absolute) gave 1.8% positives; the abstract does not say whether rose was among the twelve. These people were already at skin clinics, so none of the figures is a rate for ordinary users. Poison Control says pure oils are potent, that diluting in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a skin reaction, and that essential oils should not be used on damaged skin. We found no rose-specific patch-test figure and no source that calls rose oil non-allergenic. Observational ^{27 29 8 36 35 24}
Do not swallow rose oil or absolute, and keep it away from children.. Poison Control says some essential oils are poisonous if swallowed, that oil breathed into the lungs while swallowing can cause pneumonia, and that children have thin skin and immature livers and may be more vulnerable. It does not name rose, and we found no rose oil poisoning report, but that is not proof of safety. Rose absolute is a different product from otto and a lab study found it can concentrate pesticide traces from the petals (see Quality). If anyone, especially a child, has swallowed any essential oil, call a poison centre. Authoritative guidance ^{24 30}
Cats and birds are at special risk from essential oils, and no source says rose oil is safe for pets.. Pet Poison Helpline says cats and birds are at the greatest risk from essential oils, with drooling, vomiting, sleepiness and skin or mouth irritation; signs usually appear within 6 to 8 hours. Rose is not on its list of oils known to cause poisoning, which is not proof that rose is safe. A US case series of 443 dogs and cats exposed to concentrated tea tree oil (a different oil) found serious nervous signs lasting up to 3 days, worst in small, young cats. No rose-specific pet data were found. Authoritative guidance ^{23 14}
Costly rose oil is a common target for fakes, so the bottle may not contain what the label says.. A 2023 paper says rose oil is of high economic value because of its low yield, is a common target for adulteration, and that this "can cause harm to consumers". Geranium oil, palmarosa oil and phenylethyl alcohol were named as likely adulterants, and synthetic or diluted samples can be told from genuine ones only with laboratory methods. Poison Control also says it can be hard to know what species, concentration or contaminants are in an essential oil bottle. Allergy and other reactions can come from the added material, not only from rose. Lab ^{26 3 17 24}
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and babies: no safety source for rose oil was read.. Rose aromatherapy has been tested in hospital labour wards and after Caesarean section, and rose oil on the skin has been tested in 120 pregnant women with back pain, with the authors reporting no significant adverse effect. None of the abstracts we read reports on the baby, and we did not read any regulator or aromatherapy-safety guidance on rose oil in pregnancy or for babies. Ask a doctor or midwife before using any essential oil in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or on a baby. Other ^{10 16 28 31}

Side effects 4

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Allergic contact dermatitis (skin allergy) to the oil or to its fragrance chemicals The percentages come from people already attending a dermatitis clinic; they are not rates in ordinary users. Concomitant reactions between oils and fragrances were frequent.	Citronellol 0.5% and geraniol 0.4% positive in 21,325 patch-tested patients (2003-2004); jasmine absolute 1.8% in 10,930 patients (2010-2019). No figure for rose oil itself was found.	moderate Not stated in the abstracts; sensitisation can last (general dermatology knowledge, not from a source read).	Observational ^{27 29 8 32}
Skin irritation and rash General essential-oil guidance; rose is not named.	Not given for rose.	mild Poison Control says to wash off and stop.	Authoritative guidance ²⁴
Adverse effects reported in rose oil trials Absence of reporting in short trials is not proof of safety.	The pregnancy back-pain trial reports no significant adverse effect; the other abstracts do not report adverse events.	unknown Not applicable	Controlled trial ²⁸
Poisoning if swallowed (nervous system signs, breathing problems from inhaled oil) General warning from Poison Control for essential oils; not rose-specific.	No rose oil case found.	serious Depends on the oil; not described for rose.	Authoritative guidance ²⁴

Liver

We found no report of liver injury from rose oil in the sources we could read. Poison Control says a few essential oils are poisonous to the liver if swallowed and does not name rose. LiverTox was not opened. ²⁴

How often. No figure found.

Monitoring. Not applicable: no liver signal was found, and swallowing the oil is not advised.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Rose Oil supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 3

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Prescription and other medicines (general warning) medicines	Poison Control says essential oils may interact with medicines; it names no rose-specific mechanism.	Unknown.	Other Not enough evidence ²⁴	If you take regular medicines, especially for blood pressure, seizures or anxiety, ask a doctor or pharmacist before using rose oil beyond a passing scent.
Other fragrances and essential oils fragrance allergens	Patch-test series found reactions to several oils and fragrances at once, which fits shared allergen chemicals such as geraniol and citronellol.	Someone allergic to one scented product may react to rose oil.	Observational Low certainty ^{8 29}	If you have reacted to perfume or another essential oil, ask a doctor or pharmacist before using rose oil.
Diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory drug) pain medicines	None; the trial gave rose aroma and diclofenac together.	No harm was reported in the abstract; it was a 30-minute trial.	Controlled trial Very low certainty ³³	Do not replace prescribed pain treatment with a scent.

Who should check first 6

Situation	Advice	Evidence
A past rash or allergy to rose products, perfumes, geraniol, citronellol or other essential oils	Do not use the oil. Seek medical advice.	Observational ^{27 29 8}
Broken, burnt or inflamed skin	Do not apply essential oils (Poison Control).	Authoritative guidance ²⁴
Babies and young children	Keep the oil out of reach. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before any use around a baby.	Authoritative guidance ²⁴
Pregnancy and breastfeeding	Ask a doctor or midwife first; no rose-specific guidance was read.	Other ³¹
Households with cats or birds	Do not use or diffuse essential oils near them without a vet's advice; keep bottles locked away.	Authoritative guidance ²³
Anyone who has swallowed rose oil	Call a poison centre or emergency number; do not make them vomit.	Authoritative guidance ²⁴

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. The concern is the concentrated oil or absolute: a skin allergen, not for swallowing, risky for pets. No rose oil poisoning case was found in the sources we read.

Amounts. No safe amount is established here, and none is given.

Onset and course. Not described for rose. For pets, signs usually show within 6 to 8 hours with most essential oils.

Repeated use. Repeated skin contact is the setting for allergy in patch-test series; masseurs and cosmeticians were over-represented in one series.

Animal data. No animal toxicity data for rose oil were found. In human blood cells in a dish, concrete and absolute from Taif rose were not toxic at 10 micrograms/mL; this is cell work only and not a safety limit.

Toxic parts. The oil or absolute. Rose petals as food are a different product.

Not read. LiverTox, EFSA, SCCS, IFRA and Tisserand entries on rose were not read.

Rose oil is costly and often adulterated, and absolutes can concentrate pesticide residues from the petals.

Pesticides in rose absolute. In a lab study that followed spiked and field-grown roses through concrete to absolute, all but three of 54 pesticides were extracted and concentrated in the absolute by a factor of about 100 to 300. In real Turkish samples chlorpyrifos was 0.01-0.05 mg/kg in flowers and 0.65-27.25 mg/kg in absolutes. Otto (distilled oil) was not tested. ³⁰

Adulteration with cheaper oils and synthetics. Geranium oil, palmarosa oil and phenylethyl alcohol were named as probable adulterants; synthetic mixtures share the main compounds (geraniol, citronellol, phenylethyl alcohol) with genuine distillate, so smell alone is not a test. ^{26 3 17}

Solvent leftovers in absolutes. NOT verified from a source read: general perfumery knowledge says absolutes are made with solvents, and we did not find a study measuring solvent residue in rose absolute. ³⁰

Mixed-up products: otto, absolute, rose water, rosehip oil. Rose oil, rose water, concrete and absolute are separate products from the same flowers; rosehip oil comes from the fruit seeds of a different rose and is not rose oil. ³⁵

Body	Action	Date
Poison Control (America's Poison Centers) (United States)	General essential oil guidance: some are poisonous if swallowed, many cause rashes, dilute in a carrier oil, do not use on damaged skin, keep locked away from children and pets. Rose is not named. source	2026
Pet Poison Helpline (United States and Canada)	Cats and birds are at greatest risk from essential oils; rose is not on its list of oils known to cause poisoning. source	2026
NCCIH, National Institutes of Health (United States)	Describes aromatherapy as inhaling essential oils or applying them diluted to the skin. Only the opening paragraphs loaded; rose is not named there. source	2020

When to get medical help

If anyone, especially a child, has swallowed rose oil or any essential oil, or has choked on it: call a poison centre (US 1-800-222-1222) or your emergency number right away, even if they seem well.
Drowsiness, confusion, vomiting, breathing trouble or a seizure after swallowing an essential oil: emergency help now.
Swelling of the face or lips, wheezing or trouble breathing after using or smelling rose oil: stop and get urgent medical help.
A red, itchy, blistering or weeping rash where the oil touched the skin: wash it off with soap and water, stop using it and see a doctor or pharmacist.
Oil in the eye: rinse with plenty of water and get medical help. A pet that drools, vomits, is very sleepy or has trouble breathing after exposure: call a vet or an animal poison line.

Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is rose oil safe to swallow?

No. We do not advise swallowing essential oil or absolute. Poison Control warns that some essential oils are poisonous if swallowed and that oil breathed into the lungs can cause pneumonia. It does not name rose, and we found no rose poisoning report, but that is not proof of safety. If a child or pet may have swallowed any essential oil, call poison control (US: 1-800-222-1222) or your emergency number.

²⁴

Can rose oil cause a skin rash or allergy?

Yes, it can. Rose oil is rich in citronellol and geraniol, which are fragrance allergens. In German skin clinics 0.5% of patients tested reacted to citronellol and 0.4% to geraniol; in Spain geraniol was the most frequent single fragrance allergen. Those were people with skin problems, so these are not rates for everyone, and we found no figure for rose oil itself. Poison Control says to dilute in a carrier oil and not to use essential oils on damaged skin. Stop use and see a doctor or pharmacist if a rash appears.

^{27 29 36 24}

What is the difference between rose otto and rose absolute?

Rose otto is the oil traditionally made by water distillation of rose petals. Rose absolute is a different product made from a petal concrete. Many perfumery sources say solvents are used for absolutes, but we did not find a study that says so or measures what is left behind. Their smell and make-up differ, and no trial says which one it used.

^{26 30 35}

Why is rose oil so expensive, and is it often fake?

The yield from petals is low, so real oil is costly, and a 2023 paper calls it a common target for adulteration that can harm consumers. Geranium oil, palmarosa oil and synthetic phenylethyl alcohol are named as likely add-ins. A very cheap bottle labelled rose oil is unlikely to be pure; look for the botanical name, otto or absolute, country of origin and a batch test report.

^{26 3 17}

Does rose oil help with anxiety?

Possibly a little, and the evidence is weak. Small trials, mostly from Iran, found lower self-rated anxiety when people breathed rose aroma before a heart test, after a Caesarean section or during work stress. Many were not blinded, and in one the control group changed too. It is not a treatment for an anxiety disorder.

^{2 1 18}

Does rose aromatherapy help in labour?

Two small trials of first-time mothers found lower pain and anxiety with rose aroma than with saline or usual care, and a review that pooled lavender and rose found a pain effect. The trials were small, mostly self-rated and smell is hard to hide. Talk to your midwife or doctor before using any oil in labour.

^{10 16 4}

Does rose oil help period pain or PMS?

The results are mixed. A pooled review of seven trials found no significant effect on period pain, though small gains for headache, tiredness and bloating. Two small student trials from one team found PMS scores improved with rose aroma. These are low-certainty results.

^{15 33 11 12}

Is rose oil safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding?

We could not find a regulator or safety guide on this. Rose aroma was tested in labour and after Caesarean section, and rose oil on the skin in 120 pregnant women with back pain with no significant adverse effect reported. The abstracts say nothing about babies. Ask a doctor or midwife before using any essential oil in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

^{28 10 16}

Is rose oil safe for cats, dogs and birds?

No source says so. Pet Poison Helpline says cats and birds are at the greatest risk from essential oils, with drooling, vomiting and sleepiness within 6 to 8 hours. Rose is not on its list of known poisoning oils, which is not proof of safety. If a pet shows signs after exposure, call a vet or an animal poison line.

^{23 14}

Is rose oil the same as rosehip oil, rose water or rose tea?

No. Rose oil is the aromatic oil from the flowers. Rose water is a different, watery product. Rosehip seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the fruit of another rose. Rose tea is petals in hot water. Each has its own page and results from one do not apply to another.

³⁵

Can children or babies use rose oil?

We do not advise it. Poison Control says children have thin skin and immature livers and may be more vulnerable to essential oils, and that bottles should be locked away from children and pets. We found no study of rose oil in children. Ask a doctor or pharmacist.

²⁴

Is rose oil approved as a medicine?

We did not find an approval. Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline give general warnings, and NCCIH only describes aromatherapy in the part we could read. We could not read the EU allergen labelling regulation or safety-guide entries on rose, so nothing from them is stated here.

^{24 23 21 5}

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We read the abstracts of the PubMed papers listed, plus the Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline pages and part of the NCCIH aromatherapy page, checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI and compounds in PubChem. We could not read EU law, Tisserand, IFRA, SCCS or LiverTox.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.

Sources 36

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Abbasijahromi A, Hojati H, Nikooei S et al.. Compare the effect of aromatherapy using lavender and Damask rose essential oils on the level of anxiety and severity of pain following C-section: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial.. J Complement Integr Med. 2020. PMID 31730539. DOI 10.1515/jcim-2019-0141. (abstract)
Bikmoradi A, Roshanaei G, Moradkhani S et al.. Impact of inhalation aromatherapy with Damask Rose (Rosa damascena) on stress, anxiety and hemodynamic parameters of patients undergoing coronary angiography: a single blind randomized clinical trial.. J Complement Integr Med. 2022. PMID 34018381. DOI 10.1515/jcim-2020-0415. (abstract)
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Mohamadi N, Pourkorrani MHS, Langarizadeh MA et al.. Evidence for Rosa damascena efficacy in mental disorders in preclinical animal studies and clinical trials: A systematic review.. Phytother Res. 2022. PMID 35653142. DOI 10.1002/ptr.7496. (abstract)
NCBI Taxonomy. NCBI Taxonomy: Rosa x damascena and Rosa x centifolia. NCBI E-utilities, checked 2026-10-25. 2026. (full-text)
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Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.