GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Japanese Rose Rugosa Otto
Rosa rugosa
Chemotype: citronellol / geraniol / rose-ester type
- PLANT PART
- flowers
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- mid
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 84 / 100
- Note layer
- mid
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- 0.4%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No public source reviewed in this pass identified steam-distilled Rosa rugosa flower oil as a furocoumarin-driven phototoxic oil.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateRosa rugosa otto is rich in the allergenic monoterpene alcohols geraniol, citronellol, and linalool (documented in this file's own constituent data), and published dilution-limit guidance derived from Tisserand-style safety analysis caps leave-on dermal use of Rosa rugosa oil at 0.4% to avoid skin sensitization, a lower ceiling than Rosa damascena/gallica rose otto (0.6%).
- moderateManufacturer safety data for rose otto (sharing the same major allergens as this Rosa rugosa oil) advises consulting a healthcare professional before use during pregnancy and nursing, avoiding undiluted skin application and eye contact, and not using on children under 3 years old.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This record is anchored to the live Hermitage product page for the Japanese Rosa rugosa identity and odor profile, and to directly readable Rosa rugosa flower-oil literature for composition. Public flower-oil studies consistently show a citronellol-led rugosa profile with geraniol, nerol, citronellyl acetate, and smaller ester or sesquiterpene support, although open Japanese data remain limited compared with Damask rose standards.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citronellol | 60% | 60–60% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.1 lines 7-11 and p.2 lines 105-107: citronellol 60.0%) |
| Geraniol | 8.673% | 8.6–8.673% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.1 lines 9-10: geraniol 8.673%; p.2 lines 106-107: geraniol 8.6%) |
| Nerol | 2.8% | 2.8–2.8% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.1 lines 9-10 and p.2 lines 106-107: nerol 2.8%) |
| Citronellyl acetate | 2.7% | 2.7–2.7% | monoterpene ester | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.1 lines 9-10 and p.2 lines 106-108: citronellyl acetate 2.7%) |
| (E,E)-Farnesol | 2.4% | 2.4–2.4% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.1 line 10: E,E-farnesol 2.4%) |
| Tridecan-2-one | 2.3% | 2.3–2.3% | aliphatic ketone | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.1 line 10: tridecan-2-one 2.3%) |
| Linalool | 2% | 2–2% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceThe Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf (p.2 lines 107-108: linalol 2.0%) |
| Methyleugenol | 2.7% | — | phenylpropanoid | View sourceUeyama et al. 1990, Flavour Fragr J 5(4): R. rugosa flower oil, 108 cpds, 6 majors=78.8%; >1% minors (rugosa lit): methyleugenol 2.3-3.0, eugenol 0.7-2.1, tricosane 1.2-2.3, heneicosane 1.2, tridecanal 1.1% |
| n-Tricosane | 1.75% | — | alkane hydrocarbon | View sourceUeyama et al. 1990, Flavour Fragr J 5(4): R. rugosa flower oil, 108 cpds, 6 majors=78.8%; >1% minors (rugosa lit): methyleugenol 2.3-3.0, eugenol 0.7-2.1, tricosane 1.2-2.3, heneicosane 1.2, tridecanal 1.1% |
| Eugenol | 1.4% | — | phenylpropanoid phenol | View sourceUeyama et al. 1990, Flavour Fragr J 5(4): R. rugosa flower oil, 108 cpds, 6 majors=78.8%; >1% minors (rugosa lit): methyleugenol 2.3-3.0, eugenol 0.7-2.1, tricosane 1.2-2.3, heneicosane 1.2, tridecanal 1.1% |
| n-Heneicosane | 1.2% | — | alkane hydrocarbon | View sourceUeyama et al. 1990, Flavour Fragr J 5(4): R. rugosa flower oil, 108 cpds, 6 majors=78.8%; >1% minors (rugosa lit): methyleugenol 2.3-3.0, eugenol 0.7-2.1, tricosane 1.2-2.3, heneicosane 1.2, tridecanal 1.1% |
| Tridecanal | 1.1% | — | aliphatic aldehyde | View sourceUeyama et al. 1990, Flavour Fragr J 5(4): R. rugosa flower oil, 108 cpds, 6 majors=78.8%; >1% minors (rugosa lit): methyleugenol 2.3-3.0, eugenol 0.7-2.1, tricosane 1.2-2.3, heneicosane 1.2, tridecanal 1.1% |
Profile source: Japanese Rose Rugosa Otto; The Essential Oil from the Flowers of Rosa rugosa Thunb. var. plena Regel; Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and water extract from Japanese wild Rosa rugosa; The Maximum Dilution for 400 Essential Oils · https://hermitageoils.com/product/japanese-rose-rugosa-otto/ ; https://eurekamag.com/research/002/250/002250020.pdf ; https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tmrsj/36/3/36_517/_article ; https://www.theresaneoforthat.com/maximum-dilution-for-400-essential-oils/
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- shares the traditional calming, mood-supportive reputation of rose otto profiles used in aromatherapy
- reported to support easing of occasional grief, stress, or low mood when diffused
- used in perfumery as a rich, honeyed, spicy-rose top-to-heart note
- traditionally associated with self-care and emotional comfort rituals
- used in skin-care blends for its reputed soothing, luxurious floral profile
- used in massage blends for a comforting, romantic sensory experience
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The quantitative composition available in public full text is from Rosa rugosa flower-oil literature rather than a batch-specific GC/MS report for Hermitage's current Japanese lot.
- Odor intensity 84 is an archive normalization from Hermitage's live 'outstanding rose heart note with impressive substantivity' description rather than a native published 0-100 measurement.
- No public source reviewed in this pass provided directly measured volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values for the Japanese rugosa otto.