Rosa Damascena Flower Water

What it is

Rose water is the aqueous phase recovered when damask rose petals are steam-distilled to produce rose oil. It is more than 99% water, carrying only traces of the volatile compounds that give roses their scent, such as citronellol, geraniol and phenylethyl alcohol. Formulators use it in place of plain water for its fragrance and its appeal on an ingredient list; active benefits at these trace levels are hard to demonstrate.

What it does well

• Provides a natural rose scent without added synthetic fragrance

  The residual volatiles give a light floral smell, which is the main honest reason it is used. Claims of meaningful anti-inflammatory or antioxidant action from a hydrosol are not well supported at the concentrations present.

  Moderate evidence

Worth knowing

• Carries natural fragrance compounds that some people react to

  Citronellol and geraniol are recognised fragrance allergens in the EU and occur naturally in rose distillate, though usually far below the 0.001% leave-on level that would require them to be declared separately. Reactions to rose water are uncommon but not impossible in people already sensitised to fragrance.

  Matters most toPeople with a known fragrance allergy or a positive patch test to fragrance mix.

Where the EU stands