Essential Oil Profile: Rosewood

By Amelia E. Stone, RN

 

Common Name: Rosewood

Latin Binomial: Aniba rosaeodora

Family: Lauraceae

Other Common Names: Bois de Rose

Production Method: Steam Distilled

Countries of Origin: Brazil

Typical Constituents: Linalool (82.3-90.3%), α-Terpineol (0.5-5.4%), [Z]-Linalool oxide (~1.5%), [E]-Linalool oxide (~1.3%), 1,8-Cineole (0.2-2.3%)

Description of Oil: colorless to pale yellow, sweet, woody, floral and slightly spicy

Description of Plant: An evergreen tree that grows to 125 feet in the tropical rain forests of Brazil; bears yellow flowers.

History, Folklore and Myth: Long established in perfumery.  The rose scented heartwood was often used in France to make cabinets, knife and brush handles.

Properties and Uses: antidepressant, antiseptic, bactericide, cephalic, deodorant, insecticide, stimulant

Precautions and Contraindications: non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing

References: Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Virginia, Queensland, Australia: The Perfect Potion. 1995.

Tisserand, Robert, and Tony Balacs. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 1995.

Sellar, Wanda. The Directory of Essential Oils. London: Random House. 2005

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