Neglected Oils - Palma Rosa

There are some essential oils that are just "there"... we make them available. They are relatively inexpensive and affordable.  They just are not - exciting.  At least, not to me.  I tend to forget that they are here, tend not to blend with them, tend not to use them at all. We stock them because clients buy them, but my attitude has always been "so what." (I shouldn't admit this.  I just lead you to believe that I love ALL of our oils...but I never could love Palma Rosa.)

What do we say about it on the website:
"A product of a sweet smelling tropical grass, Palma Rosa Oil smells like a blend of Rose and Geranium Oil. I have seen it offered as “Rose Geranium” so check the Latin name on any Rose Geranium you buy, it may well be Palma Rosa.
Palma Rosa Essential Oil is very effective in blends for treating various skin conditions as it helps balance production of sebum, thus being useful for both extremely dry and oily skin. A strongly anti-infectious oil, as well as being antifungal, Palma Rosa may be useful in treating a range of skin infections. I like to add it to any anti-fungal blend.
It blends beautifully with geranium, emphasizes the scent of rose in any blend, works well with lavender. Emotionally, it is said to aid in the release of anger and grief.
I have occasionally found it useful in a PMS blend."

Okay. that was written so long ago I don't remember my sources for the above information.  Whoopie-do.  I never used it.

Then came the Module 3 course of our Clinical Aromatherapy certification course. And one of the long list of oils studied in Mod three was Palma Rosa.  The same Palma Rosa oil that we offer.

What makes Palma Rosa worth studying by a Clinical Aromatherapist?  Lots of things that I did not know or had forgotten about it!

1. Palma Rosa is strongly anti-infectious and based on classical use, anti-viral. This would make it a great addition to a diffuser blend to keep you home germ-free.
2. For skincare, it is an effective ingredient in anti-acne blends.
3. It is believed to help lower the appearance of thread veins and spider veins.
4. Added to a bowl of cool water it makes an effective compress or sponge to reduce a fever.
5. Highly recommended in a room spray to freshen the air in a sick room.
6. Wonderful for woundcare, especially when diluted in Calophyllum inophyllum.

Palma Rosa's most common commercial use is to fragrance soap, because of it's 'rosy' aroma.  It's anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities make it the perfect additive to a germkilling soap or wash. (But don't expect it to truly smell like true rose!) 

What has recaptured my enthusiasm is its antibacterial and possibly antiviral qualities.  We are so used to reading about the use of the hazardous spice oils for germ killing.  Palma Rosa is one of the "benign" oils. It is considered non-hazardous, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.  Tisserand recommends a maximum dermal dilution of 6.5%, a relatively strong dilution.  It seems to me that it would be a wonderful blend to clean and sanitize a child's room.

Aromatically, it is said to blend well with Bergamot, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Lime, Myrrh,  Rosemary, Sandalwood, and Ylangylang.

Geranium and Palma Rosa seem to echo each other in a blend. They dance together beautifully.  Atlas Cedarwood could anchor the blend, Ylangylang could sweeten it.  I would like to see it blended with Lavender and Geranium for a blend for acne or for combination skin. 

I'm glad to be reminded about this forgotten gem!