- Latin name
- Rosa damascena
- Element
- water
- Planet
- Venus
- Safe to eat?
- Yes, in normal kitchen amounts
How to use it
- Scatter petals in a bath for self-love
- Brew petals or hips as a gentle tea
- Leave fresh blooms as an altar offering
- Add dried petals to love sachets and incense
- Weave dried buds into a wreath
Lore
The rose was sacred to Aphrodite and Venus, and in Apuleius the hero is restored by eating roses carried in a procession for Isis. A rose hung over a Roman meeting meant what was said stayed secret, giving us the phrase sub rosa.
Safety
Petals and hips are edible if unsprayed; florist roses are usually treated with chemicals, so do not eat them. The fine hairs inside rose hips irritate the throat and must be strained out. Rose essential oil should be diluted before use on skin.