Consultant, formulator of clean perfumes and neuro-scents, aromatherapist and aromachologist for more than 25 years, Françoise Rapp is an unconditional lover and advocate of essential oils. High-quality ones, of course. She even gave her daughter the name Rose, which says a lot about her deep attachment to this symbolic, complex, unique and beneficial flower.
In emotional management, what role does the rose play?
Françoise Rapp: Deeply cherished in Asia, the rose is the universal symbol of the divine and the sacred feminine. When it comes to emotional balance, its essential oil acts on the mother-spirit of femininity. It soothes, comforts, embraces, surrounds, reassures… It restores balance to sensitive or overly emotional souls. Generous by nature, it touches the soul and brings joy to the heart, the joy of simply being alive. By cultivating self-confidence, it helps reconnect to one's inner self. This essence guides personal fulfilment by helping overcome fears, jealousy, and negative emotions. In the doctrine of signature plants*, the rose represents inner transformation.
The rose is also the flower of love and embodies Valentine’s Day...
F.R.: The rose represents unconditional love with a capital L. It is divine, deep love, greater than ourselves. Unlike ylang-ylang, which is a sexual and aphrodisiac plant, the rose is playful, subtle, and tantric, creating total harmony between partners.
In perfumery, it is almost always used as a heart note. How do you work with it?
F.R.: The rose has powerful olfactory, energetic and holistic intensity. It contains more than 200 active molecules. Because of its richness and complexity, the journey from bud to full rose is long. The layers of petals must open one by one before revealing its heart. I love working with it. With rose, you can create millions of perfumes. This precious raw material has countless facets, yet it never loses its identity. Its fragrance can be gourmand, dark when paired with myrrh or cistus, green, soft, soothing, sweet, fruity, balanced… It is fascinating. Rose forms a magnificent duo with sandalwood, sealing the marriage of the feminine and the masculine.
In aromatherapy, rose essential oil is also known for its benefits...
F.R.: Rose tones the skin, has anti-ageing properties because it regenerates skin cells, and brings radiance to the complexion. It is an exceptional active ingredient in both beauty and perfumery.
It also contains many allergens such as linalool, geraniol, citronellol...
F.R.: I have worked with essential oils for 30 years. I have formulated spa treatments and natural perfumes for major brands using essential oils. I have never encountered a client with an allergy. As long as they are high-quality and properly dosed (as they can be potent), essential oils may cause skin reactivity, but true allergies are not common. Nature balances itself. On the other hand, we see more and more allergies related to processed foods. Under the effects of climate change, which brings extreme heat, humidity and atmospheric pollution, allergies are multiplying, especially those involving the skin microbiome. All skin types tend to become more sensitive and reactive. After the wildfires in Quebec last year, Canadian dermatologists observed increased skin dryness, eczema flare-ups and dermatitis in their patients**.
WHO IS FRANÇOISE RAPP?
Françoise Rapp is an aromatherapist, holistic therapist and essential-oil expert for nearly 25 years in France and the United States. She spent 10 years of her life in California, where she learned everything about integrative medicine, notably through Deepak Chopra. “Everything clicked,” she likes to say. The connection between scent, emotion and energy is evident to this passionate aromachologist. Françoise creates clean, vegan, phthalate-free perfumes for the skin or home, certified in neuroscience and EWG-approved (100% natural). Her latest creation is diffused in Alzheimer care homes in Australia.
* This theory on medicinal plants with therapeutic virtues dates back to Paracelsus (Swiss physician, philosopher and alchemist of the 16th century). It also exists in traditional Chinese medicine.
** Source: Harvard Medicine, the magazine of Harvard Medical School