What is it?
An essential oil steam-distilled from the flowers of the cabbage rose, Rosa centifolia, a hybrid rose grown for perfumery in Morocco, France, Bulgaria, Turkey and Italy. Its main scent compounds include geraniol, citronellol and nerol. It is used in small amounts to scent cosmetics, perfumes and personal care products.
Key information
- In 2023 the CIR Expert Panel concluded that cabbage rose oil is safe in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
- It was reported in 30 cosmetic products in 2023, at no more than 0.002 percent in an industry survey.
- Products placed on the EU market after July 31, 2026, must list it as Rose Flower Oil/Extract above 0.001 percent in leave-on or 0.01 percent in rinse-off products.
- Like other rose oils it contains a little methyl eugenol, which IFRA limits in finished products.
More information
Cabbage rose oil is produced by steam distillation of the flowers, according to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). A 2024 analysis of oils distilled from four roses grown at Bulgaria’s Rose Institute found that the cabbage rose oil had 15.35 percent geraniol, 7.60 percent citronellol, 4.36 percent nerol and 0.62 percent methyl eugenol, with waxy hydrocarbons such as nonadecane (18.62 percent) making up much of the rest. Damask rose oil from the same study had far more citronellol (29.77 percent). Rose absolute, made by solvent extraction, is a different ingredient, listed as Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract.
In 2023 the CIR Expert Panel reviewed nine flower-, bud- and stem-derived Rosa centifolia ingredients, including the oil, and concluded that they are safe in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-sensitizing. It named citronellol and geraniol as potential sensitizers and advised formulators combining several botanicals to keep such constituents below levels that could cause problems. Undiluted oil was moderately irritating to rabbit skin, but at 2 percent it did not irritate human skin, and a 24-person maximization test found no sensitization.
Under the EU’s expanded fragrance allergen rules, cabbage rose oil must be named, under the group name “Rose Flower Oil/Extract,” above 0.001 percent in leave-on or 0.01 percent in rinse-off products placed on the market after July 31, 2026. IFRA separately restricts methyl eugenol, a minor rose-oil constituent, because of skin sensitization and systemic toxicity, for example to 0.0015 percent of a body lotion and 0.011 percent of a fine fragrance.
People allergic to fragrance ingredients can look for Rose Flower Oil/Extract, geraniol and citronellol on EU-style ingredient lists.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Rosa centifolia-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics (2023); Pharmaceutics (2024): Antimycobacterial activity of essential oils from Bulgarian Rosa species; EUR-Lex: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 on labelling of fragrance allergens; IFRA: Standard for methyl eugenol (Amendment 51)
