BOTANICAL EXTRACT
French Rose Flower Extract
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
An extract of the flowers of the French rose, Rosa gallica, rich in phenolic compounds, used in skincare to condition skin and give it a fresh, toned feel.
Source
Flowers of the French rose (Rosa gallica)
Used for
Skin conditioning, a fresh, toned feel
How it works
The apothecary's rose.
Rosa gallica, the French rose or apothecary's rose, is a species of wild rose. The extract is made from its flowers.
Its petals are a rich source of phenolic compounds, especially gallotannins and flavonols, along with cyanidin-3-glucoside, the anthocyanin pigment behind their colour. The flowers also carry a complex aroma, with green, floral, citrus and fruity notes.
In cosmetics its listed functions are skin conditioning, keeping skin in good condition, and tonic, giving a pleasant, refreshing feel, alongside a light astringent, toning effect. It suits toners, gels, masks and creams, morning or night.
Its petals are a rich source of phenolic compounds, especially gallotannins and flavonols, along with cyanidin-3-glucoside, the anthocyanin pigment behind their colour. The flowers also carry a complex aroma, with green, floral, citrus and fruity notes.
In cosmetics its listed functions are skin conditioning, keeping skin in good condition, and tonic, giving a pleasant, refreshing feel, alongside a light astringent, toning effect. It suits toners, gels, masks and creams, morning or night.
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Extracted from the flowers of the French rose, Rosa gallica
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Petals rich in gallotannins, flavonols and anthocyanins
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Conditions skin and leaves a fresh, toned feel
Questions
What is Rosa gallica?
Rosa gallica is a species of rose known as the French rose or apothecary's rose, and Rosa Gallica Flower Extract is the name used on ingredient lists for an extract of those flowers. (COSMILE Europe; Kunc et al., 2023)
What does French rose flower extract contain?
Its petals are rich in phenolic compounds. A study of Rosa gallica grown in the wild found gallotannins to be the most abundant, followed by flavonols, and also identified cyanidin-3-glucoside, an anthocyanin pigment. The researchers concluded that the petals are a rich source of phenolic compounds with potential uses in cosmetics. (Kunc et al., 2023)
What does it do in skincare?
In the European cosmetic ingredient database, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract is listed as skin conditioning, which keeps skin in good condition, as a tonic, which creates a pleasant feeling on the skin, and as an astringent, which gives a toned, tightened feel. (COSMILE Europe)
Does French rose extract smell of roses?
Rose flowers carry a complex natural aroma, with green, floral, citrus and fruity notes. How much scent an extract brings to a product depends on how it is made and how much is used. (Guo, 2026)
About the plant
The French rose, Rosa gallica, belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and still grows in open nature in parts of Europe, including Slovenia, where its petals have been found to have a distinctive phenolic profile. (Kunc et al., 2023)
Its common names include apothecary rose and French rose. In cosmetics, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract is an extract of the flowers. (COSMILE Europe)
Its common names include apothecary rose and French rose. In cosmetics, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract is an extract of the flowers. (COSMILE Europe)
Good to know
French rose extract carries some of the flower's natural scent compounds. If your skin is sensitive to fragrance, patch test a new product first.
The research
- Kunc N, Hudina M, Mikulič-Petkovšek M, Bavcon J, Ravnjak B, Osterc G. Detailed Metabolic Characterization of Flowers and Hips of Rosa gallica L. Grown in Open Nature. Plants (Basel). 2023;12(16):2979. PMID: 37631190. (opens in a new tab)
- COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe) cosmetic ingredient database: Rosa Gallica Flower Extract (apothecary rose, French rose; functions: skin conditioning, tonic, astringent) (opens in a new tab)
- Guo X. Comparative Analysis of Volatile Profiles from Rosa gallica L. Flowers Using HS and SPME Extraction Coupled with GC-MS. Foods. 2026;15(14):2425. PMID: 42511172. (opens in a new tab)
