R.damascena is the source of the damask and cabbage rose grown commonly for the distillation of its essential rose oil. Also called attar of rose or rose absolute, it is extracted from the petals of various types of rose. While rose ottos are extracted through steam distillation essential oil obtained from rose by solvent extraction or supercritical fluid extraction is called rose absolute. The latter is more commonly used in perfumery. Despite its high price and the availability of synthetic substitutes, natural rose essential oil is still in great demand in perfumery. Bulgaria produces about 70% of all rose oil in the world. Other significant producers are Morocco, Iran and Turkey, as also China.

Cosmetic use

Rose oil has been credited with antiseptic, disinfectant, slightly tonic and soothing properties. It is found to be helpful in cases of skin redness or inflammation, and where moisturization and regeneration is needed. Being an expensive essential oil, it is used only in very high-grade perfumes. For cosmetic and perfumery purpose, rose water, the aqueous portion of the distillate of rose petals, is widely used. Rose oil is considered ideal for most skin types, especially for mature, sensitive or dry skin.

β-damascenone, β-damascone, β-ionone and rose oxide are the principal constituents imparting the characteristic scent to rose oil. Present in less than 1% of the content of rose oil, these constituents make up more than 90% of the oils’ odour content due to their low odour threshold. Proportion of β-damascenone in rose oil is the marker for its quality.

Zea mays (Poaceae)

The source of maize kernels or corn used in cooking as a vegetable or starch, this constitutes a staple food in many regions of the world. Maize is a major source of starch. Cornstarch (maize flour) is a major ingredient in home cooking and in many industrialized food products. Corn is one of the most commonly grown foods in the world. The seed can be eaten raw or cooked and the mature seed can be dried and used whole or ground into flour. Corn oil, obtained from the seed, is an all-purpose oil that is frequently used for cooking and in salad dressings.

Cosmetic use

Corn is the source of several products of use in cosmetics and personal care products. The most common corn-derived ingredients used in cosmetics include corn oil, corn starch, corn cob meal, corn cob powder, corn fruit, corn germ extract, corn germ oil, corn oil unsaponifiables, corn gluten protein, corn kernel extract, corn kernel meal, corn seed flour, corn silk extract, hydrolyzed corn starch, hydrolyzed corn protein, corn acid, corn glycerides and potassium cornate. These ingredients are used in the formulation of skin care, hair care, bath products, eye and facial make-up, lipsticks and hair dyes and colours. While hydrolyzed corn starch is used as a skin-conditioning agent, hydrolyzed corn protein is used as hair-conditioning agent.

Corn contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), folate, vitamin C, phosphorus, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin A (more in the yellow corn), manganese and several antioxidants including ferulic acid and phenolics.