Rosa gallica flower water is an aqueous extract derived from the petals of the French rose or Rosa gallica. It's often used in cosmetics for its toning, refreshing, and soothing properties on the skin.

The name describes the structure of the ingredient

• "Rosa gallica" refers to the specific type of rose, also known as the French rose. 
• "Flower water" indicates that it's the water obtained from the distillation of the flowers of this rose.

Description of raw materials used in production

• The primary raw material is the flower of Rosa gallica. Petals are harvested, preferably in the early morning when the rose is still fresh, and the essential oil is at its peak concentration.

Extraction process

• Petal collection - Petals of Rosa gallica are collected.
• Distillation - The petals are placed in a distillation apparatus and subjected to steam distillation to yield the flower water and, in some cases, the essential oil.
• Separation - The flower water is separated from the essential oil, if present.
• Packaging - The Rosa gallica flower water is packaged into suitable containers for sale or for use in various products.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

Fragrance. It plays a decisive and important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.

CAS    84604-13-7

EC number   283-290-3

Commercial applications 

Cosmetics and Skin Care

• Soothing: Helps in calming irritated skin and reducing redness.
• Moisturizing: Offers hydration to the skin without making it oily.
• Toning: Acts as a natural toner by balancing the pH of the skin.
• Anti-aging: Contains antioxidants that combat free radicals, helping prevent premature skin aging.

Fragrance

• Often used in perfumes, body sprays, and other fragrance products for its delicate and fresh rose scent.

Therapeutic Uses

• Mood Enhancer: The aroma can have a calming effect, reducing anxiety and promoting emotional well-being.
• Anti-inflammatory: Can be used to soothe minor skin inflammations.