Beyond the Bloom: The Hidden Power of Roses
The Queen of Flowers brings an energy of her own. A study on the effects of rose fragrances on humans concluded it can improve concentration and bring a calm state of mind.
Roses are one of the oldest flowering plants. Often called the “Queen of Flowers” – roses are more than just a symbol of love and romance.
Did you know that roses have the highest vibrational frequency of any living thing? We’re not just talking plants and flowers here – we’re talking all living organisms.
All things (including us) are made of energy. Humans have a vibrational frequency of 62-78 megahertz (MHz), but roses have a vibrational frequency of 320 MHz!
Remember in middle school when we learned that matter (anything that takes up space in the world) is made of up solids, liquids or gases? It’s all energy. All matter is energy and it’s interchangeable. Everything we can see or imagine is made of energy – even a solid is made of energy – tiny atoms, vibrating energy. Those atoms, or waves of energy, can be measured.
So when you have roses in your presence, it actually raises your vibrational frequency. How wild? When Anna Gannon first shared this insight and I was so intrigued, I began to dig deeper. After I learned all the benefits of roses from my own research, I’ve gotten in the habit of buying roses every few weeks. Working from home, I just love keeping fresh flowers out as much as possible. Having roses in our main living spaces that I see every time I walk by brings me a lot of joy.
A study on the “Physiological effects of viewing fresh red roses” at Chiba University in Japan found scientific evidence of the health benefits of viewing roses. It changed participants’ parasympathetic nervous activity and decreased pulse rates. Just looking at roses induced feelings of relaxation and a significant improvement in mood.
According to the 2017 study, “Modern roses revealed not only reduced levels of anxiety and irritability due to fatigue, but also lowered blood pressure and heart rate compared to viewing a blank white image. Psychological benefits induced by flowers, such as increasing positive emotion and social behavior, have also been reported.”
While roses are historically symbolic of love, that’s not why I love them so much. In another study I read, participants viewed white, red and yellow roses and the changes in mood after viewing the yellow roses were significantly better and responsible for “much higher and improved states of relaxation.” The study showed that looking at yellow flowers (not just roses) can elicit more positive, happier and calmer emotions as they viewed brain waves.
However, because roses have the highest frequency of all tangible things on earth, just thinking of a rose can raise your own vibration. Because guess what? Even our thoughts emit energy. And as you know, your thoughts can quickly change your mood.
The rose has been in religious ceremonies and cultures for centuries. It represents love, respect, purity and protection. Interesting that it raises vibrational frequencies, and perhaps why we use roses on top of caskets at funerals.
Some more fun facts about roses you may not know:
Roses are believed to be the oldest flower cultivated and used specifically for decoration. According to the Guinness World Records, “Documents dated to AD 50 suggest that ancient Romans grew the flowers in vast plantations and local hothouses to ensure a year-round supply of medicinal extracts, cooking ingredients and ornamentation.”
The rose is the national flower of the United States. It’s true! In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation stating that the rose symbolizes “life and love and devotion, of beauty and eternity.” The Tudor Rose is used as the floral emblem of England and the Japanese rose is the national flower in Slovakia, just to name a few.
Okay this isn’t exactly a rose … but my mind jumped to this useless bit of information because I’m from Oklahoma where the state rock is … the Rose Rock. Anyway, back to flowers.
Rose oil is good for dry skin. Its medicinal properties are anti-inflammatory and have also been written about in Greek mythology. I’ve read ancient Egyptians not only used roses on their skin, but that rose water (or tea) is good for digestion. Cleopatra made perfumes and balms from roses. Rose oil is still a widely used ingredient in perfumes. Today, the number of beauty products that contain rose is innumerable.
The smell of Rose can improve serenity. A study on the effects of rose fragrances on humans at Korea University concluded that it can improve concentration and bring a calm state of mind. Likewise, orchid fragrance can make people feel pampered and relaxed in their environment. (Hello, there’s clearly scientific evidence at every spa.)
Obviously, roses are beautiful flowers and smell divine, so it’s worth noting that the fragrance of roses has been known to reduce stress and tension. Perhaps the phrase “stop and smell the roses” is because it not only encourages us to slow down and take a deep breath, but the scent is relaxing. We know that having indoor plants improve air quality, but some can also bring about a feeling of serenity. Of course, lavender is well known to bring feelings of calm, but the rose’s energy is three times stronger than lavender.
Like I mentioned, roses are historically symbolic, but not just for Valentine’s Day. You could dive into the deeper meaning and see the rose as a union between the divine feminine and masculine energies. The velvety petals are delicate, and the thorns are its protector. Love, like a rose, is full of pleasure and some pain too.
Aside from roses raising our vibration, the colors have meanings too. The red rose is associated with passion thanks to the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty. According to mythology, Aphrodite was so beautiful that when she cried, her tears turned into wildflowers. Legend also says that when Aphrodite went to rescue her lover, Adonis, who was wounded by a wild boar, she held him “among white rose blossoms” and as a mixture of her tears and his blood fell on the white roses, they turned red.
Depending on who you ask (or what you Google) certain colors of roses can amplify specific energies. Buy red roses to show love and passion. Pink roses can emanate elegance and unconditional love. White roses have several meanings – spirituality, innocence or great sympathy. Bright yellow roses (my grandmother’s favorite) represent friendship and good cheer. Purple roses can be mystical, expressing adoration or mean love at first sight. Orange brings creativity and enthusiasm (the color I have been buying lately).
You can read more in detail about the meaning of rose colors here.
All flowers remind us that it’s beautiful to not only bloom, but there’s also a season to restore ourselves. I love how roses raise the energy, and to me they represent not only a fresh start but a great way to be in the present moment. Next time you “Stop and Smell the Roses” I hope you take a minute and allow yourself to really soak it all in. You’ll find the Queen of Flowers in around my home all year long, no matter the color. And soon, I plan to buy the most beautiful, and definitely most fragrant, rose bush from Grace Rose Farm to plant along our fence. Let me know which rose is your favorite!
References: allflowereduptoo.com, citrinenaturalskin.com, aromahealthtexas.com, thiskatemurphy.com, hgtv.com, houseandgarden.co.uk, vegangreenplanet.com, alchmessence,com, sciencedirect.com.
A few rose scented things I love:
Otherland scented Daybed candle, $40
Daybed candle by Otherland. A nontoxic coconut & soy wax blend with scents of rosebud, peony and pear water.
A Rose By Any Other Name body cleanser from Aesop, $50 for 16.9oz
Starting at $19, this is gel body cleanser enhanced with rose petal oil, cardamom, black pepper and other botanical extracts.
Honey Mama’s Lavender Rose chocolate truffle bar, $5
I love this chocolate because it doesn’t have preservatives or stabilizers, so it must be refrigerated until you eat it. Made with coconut oil, raw honey, lavender oil, rose petals and of course cocoa powder, it’s beautiful and tastes amazing.
… I wrote about all my favorite rose products – from skincare to tea and (see above) chocolate – check out the full list HERE.