Updated 16 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Laurales
- Family: Lauraceae
- Genus: Aniba
- Part used: Wood
- Country of origin: Brazil, Madagascar
Precautions for use
We prefer to use Pau-rosa essential oil dermally or by diffusion.
The oral route is reserved for adults and children over 6 years of age.
Sensitive people such as children, people with asthma or epilepsy should carry out a skin test before using this essential oil.
In fact, it is mainly composed of linalool, an allergenic molecule.
Other precautions
Cutaneous use:
- Pau-rosa essential oil must be diluted for use on the skin: 20% in vegetable oil (20% essential oil in 80% vegetable oil).
Ingestion:
- The oral route can only be used in adults and children over 6 years of age.
Diffusion:
- Pregnant women over 3 months, children and infants can use this essential oil in air diffusion for short periods.
Contraindications:
- Pau-rosa essential oil should be tested before use by sensitive individuals.
Allergenic components:
- linalool: 70 to 95%
- geraniol < 3%
- benzyl benzoate < 2%
- limonene < 1%
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Strong antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic agent
- Immune stimulant
- Tonic, aphrodisiac
- Antiseptic
- Mild analgesic
- Astringent
- Healing, tissue regeneration
Indications
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Nervous fatigue
- Overwork
- Cystitis
- Vaginitis
- Leucorrhoea
- Vulvitis
- Angina
- Bronchitis
- Rhinopharyngitis
- Flu
- Dry skin
- Skin, nail and vaginal fungal infections
- Skin problems
Directions for use/usual dosage
- Bronchial infections: apply to back and chest (dilute 20-30% in a vegetable oil).
- Fatigue, depression: Apply to the spine and solar plexus (dilute 20-30% in a vegetable oil).
Cosmetic
- Skin tonic, astringent, healing, harmonises the complexion. Rosewood is a royal essential oil for skin care (acne, eczema, psoriasis, impetigo, scabs, wrinkles, burns...). What's more, its fragrance is appreciated by all.
Interior use
- An air freshener with a particularly pleasant fragrance. Ideal in synergy with Rose Geranium EO to create a home fragrance with rose notes.
Find out more
- This EO is 90% linalool. It is so mild that it could (almost) be used on its own as an unction for specific intensive care. In any case, the unction mixture can be further concentrated. In perfumery, it is used in many fragrances such as XS pour homme by Paco Rabanne and Ysatis by Gyvenchy.
- It is not often used orally, but there are no drawbacks (1 to 2 drops diluted or on a neutral base).
- Its rarity saddens its fans, and poor quality, even adulterated, Rosewood EO is often found on the market today. It can be advantageously replaced by Hô Wood EO or Rosalina EO, which have similar biochemical components.