Floral Oils

Floral oils are the smallest family in the range – and the most precious. They come from where the effort is greatest: for one litre of rose oil, several tonnes of hand-picked blossoms are distilled, and the harvest lasts only a few weeks a year. That explains the prices, which vary most widely within this family.

Why less is more here

Floral oils are intense and assert themselves in any blend. Where you'd take five drops of lavender, two are enough of Roman chamomile and a single one of rose oil. The small bottles are therefore not a budget option but the sensible size – a small bottle lasts surprisingly long when dosed sparingly.

Which floral oil for what?

• Lavender – the most tolerable and versatile, a universal oil for evening and bath.
• Ylang-Ylang – heavy and sweet-floral, very assertive.
• Roman chamomile – soft and apple-like, expensive but extremely economical.
• Rose oil – the queen, one drop shapes an entire blend.

Dosage and blending

Because floral oils are so dominant, they belong at the end of a blend – drop by drop, with patience. In skin blends they usually stay below one percent. Lavender is the exception: well tolerated, uncomplicated and combinable with almost anything.

Frequently asked questions

Why is rose oil so expensive?
Because of the yield: several tonnes of hand-picked blossoms are needed for one litre of oil, harvested in a narrow window. Per application the price relativises, because one drop is enough.

Which floral oil for beginners?
Lavender. It is mild, versatile and the basis of many recipes.

How do I dose floral oils in a blend?
Very sparingly and at the end. One to two drops are often enough for the whole composition.

How long do floral oils keep?
Stored cool and dark, one to several years. Keep cool, dark and tightly closed.