Use of Cistus Rock Rose.

Cistus Incanus Rock Rose.

Ancient Use of Rock Rose
Rock rose produces the aromatic gum, commonly known as labdanum, which was used extensively by ancient civilizations; labdanum gum was used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, catarrh and menstruation difficulties. Perhaps one of the most popular uses of labdanum was in the making of ancient perfumes, said to resemble the fragrance of ambergris, and sometimes used as a substitute for ambergris. Elizabethan pomanders contained the ingredient labdanum.

The Fragrance of Rock Rose

Rock rose was used by ancient Egyptians and Romans in many perfumes and for its medicinal properties and is still used today in many perfumes; it produces a fragrance which resembles ambergris and mixes well with patchouli, cypress, opopanax and oils which have an oriental base.
Aromatic Uses of Rock Rose

Rock rose produces both a resinoid, which is obtained by solvent extraction of the crude gum, and a steam distilled essential oil of the gum or the leaves and twigs of the rock rose plant. It is used in aromatherapy to treat bronchitis, colds, wrinkles, depression and grief. It is highly prized as a perfume component and rock rose is used in many perfumes, lotions, cosmetics, soaps and detergents.

Read more at Suite101: The Ancient Uses of Rock Rose: A Historical Plant Profile of Labdanum

Labdanum as Incanse.

Labdanum has fascinated people for many centuries. It is said to reach deep into our subconscious and bring back memories, pictures, feelings and moods.

Labdanum originates from the rockrose bush, which emits a resinous dark brown mass from its leaves and twigs. To this day it is still gathered by driving goats into the thick forests overgrown with labdanum bushes.

The goats eat their fill from the branches and the sticky resin gets stuck on their beards. When they return, their owners carefully comb the resin our of their beards.

Also used is a rakelike instrument with long strips of leather attached to it, which they drag across the bushes to collect the resin. Labdanum strengthens the body and provides warmth and sensuality. It is very grounding.

The fragrance of Labdanum is very complex. This waxy resin produces a balsamlike, woody, earthy, marshy, smoky, ambergrislike, leathery, flowery, honeylike, mintlike fragrance with hints of plum or oakmoss after a rain.

The Japanese use Labdanum in their Neriko mixtures, which are used during tea ceremony.

Egyptians used it in their Kyphi mixtures and the Hebrews burned it in their temples.

Today the perfume industry uses labdanum to add a note of moss and leather to its products.

Labdanum is an excellent medium for making fragrant incense pellets.

Labdanum from Cistus Creticus as Incense youtobe video.