24/03/2026
This comes up more often than you’d think, especially at markets.
I was chatting to a customer recently who asked if I stocked Rose essential oil. When I said I don’t, simply because it’s incredibly expensive, she told me she’d found it online for a very reasonable price.
❗️ This is where it’s worth being careful.
True Rose essential oil, known as Rose Otto (Rosa damascena), requires around 30,000 - 50,000 fresh rose petals to produce just 10ml, which is why genuine Rose Otto costs well over £100 for a 10 ml bottle.
Another common oil is Rose Absolute, which isn’t a true essential oil in aromatherapy terms but is widely used in perfumery and is still a very expensive material.
If you’re seeing “Rose essential oil” sold cheaply, it’s usually one of three things:
👉🏻 5% Rose oil, diluted in a carrier oil
👉🏻 A synthetic fragrance oil
👉🏻 A reconstructed aroma made from other essential oils to mimic the scent
⚠️ Rose essential oils are often missold or mislabelled, and they are not the same as pure Rose Otto.
The same applies to other precious oils like Sandalwood, Jasmine, and Egyptian Neroli. They’re rare, labour-intensive to produce, and their price reflects that.
Transparency matters. Knowing what you’re buying matters.
