The Language of Flowers

Have you ever wondered why flowers are considered the most enduring symbol of caring, love, and appreciation?

Ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese all refer to the use of flowers in their stories and myths. The Greeks considered flowers to be of exceptionally high importance and associated them with the gods.

Evidence exists that giving flowers has been a significant part of culture since the Middle Ages. In the mid-1700s, the significance increased when the French and English, while visiting Turkey, discovered an entire language of flowers that gave meaning to different flower types. From this, the Victorian culture created a meaning for every flower's characteristics. In an era when people did not believe in expressing emotion, Victorians found the language of flowers to be an acceptable form of expression.

The language of flowers, known as floriography, has been around for hundreds of years. It is visual and kinesthetic communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. This meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years, and some form of floriography has been practiced in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. (1)

Giving Valentine's Day flowers became a tradition in the 17th century since roses that symbolize love are the most popular choice. The rose is known as the favorite flower of Venus, the Goddess of Love, because it represents strong feelings of intimacy and passion.

Even Shakespeare used this romantic flower to complete his classic Romeo and Juliet. Many notable and famous poets and writers also used the ideological significance of Red Roses in their writings. (2) After all these years, Red Roses are still associated with love.

Types of Rose Species Used for Rose Essential Oil or Absolutes:

Rosa damascena or Pink Damask Rose- has a vibrant, sharp, mildly spicy, and sweet-floral. Rose essential oil is a light-yellow mobile liquid that congeals upon cooling, while rose absolute is dark reddish or orangish. This particular species is very common in aromatherapy blending.

Rosa centifolia or a.k.a Rose de Mai- Rosa× centifolia, is particular to Grasse city in France, also known as the world's perfume capital. The flowers are commercially harvested to produce rose absolute and essential oil, commonly used in perfumery.

Compared to Rosa damascena absolute, Rosa de Mai absolute is a greener, spicier fragrance. Rose de Mai is hybrid of Rosa centifolia.

Rosa rugosa- Rosa rugosa, also known as rugosa rose, beach rose, Ramanas rose, or Letchberry, is a species of rose native to eastern Asia, in northeastern China, Japan, Korea, and southeastern Siberia, where it grows on beach coasts, often on sand dunes. The aroma of Rosa rugosa otto is deep, soft, and honey-spice.

Rosa alba, or white rose, is predominantly cultivated in small amounts in Bulgaria, often on plantations alongside Rosa damascena. Rosa alba is said to have a more intense aroma than Rosa damascena. The aroma is fresh, sweet, and floral.

Rosa bourboniana- The Bourbon Rose is believed to have originated in the Isle of Bourbon (now Reunion Islands) towards the end of the 18th century as a natural hybrid of Rosa chinensis and Rosa damascena. This flower is now primarily cultivated in India, Tamil Nadu, in southern India, where the rose petals are harvested to produce rose absolute. The aroma is a rose floral with a green honey note and back notes that are soft hay and powder. (3)

Rose essential oil or absolute blend very well with other flower oils, spice oils, citrus, and even conifer oils. Rose is a beautiful oil that can be the “heart” of a blend.

Rose oil is one of the most complex oils and contains more than 300 known chemical components.

There are many physical systems that benefit from both the rose essential oil and absolutes including the circulation, digestive, reproductive, respiratory, and skin, as well as offering a harmonizing effect on the mind and emotions.

Aromatic Floral Arrangement Blend- 10ml roller bottle:

In a small glass condiment bowl, pour in 8mls of organic jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis)

Then, add 3 drops of each: