Make Your Own Rose Water

Delicately fragranced rose water has been used for thousands of years throughout the world in culinary circles and cosmetics.

I’ve always wanted to try to make my own rose water, even though I never used it before. This fall, when I noticed the blooming cycle of my rose bushes was coming to an end, I gathered handfuls of the bright pink petals to attempt homemade rose water.

The process is a simple one. (And it’s so much like my homemade basil leaf mosquito repellent!)

Simply gather one cup of rose petals from a rose bush – make sure they haven’t been treated by pesticides.
Heat two cups of distilled water almost until boiling.
Pour the hot water over the rose petals.
Steep the petals in the water until the petals turn white.
Squeeze the water out of the petals and bottle the rose water – it should have a lovely fragrance and color.
Refrigerate the rose water until you use it.

My personal experience

Making rose water was a cinch.

And I love the beautiful pink hue and light, rosy scent. It’s not overpowering like some rose perfumes, but rather it smells much like a vase of roses.

Now that I have two small jars filled with rose water, I’ve started experimenting with it, mostly as a facial toner. Here are some other ways I may use it:

Using rose water in food

Many cultures – particularly Middle Eastern cuisine and European pastries – use rose water while cooking.

According to the blog Spice Hunting, a simple and delicious rose water recipe is to stir half a teaspoon of rose water into loosely whipped cream and serve with sweet fruit.

You also can add a splash of rose water to your drinking water or tea for a slight flavor.

Caring for your skin with rose water

Rose water acts as an anti-inflammatory, so it’s great to use when caring for your skin. You can gently apply chilled rose water to soothe skin that’s sunburned or irritated by acne. Try to tone and revitalize aging skin by applying rose water.

If you’re fatigued and notice puffy eyes or dark circles under your eyes, apply chilled rose water – you can either gently massage it around your eyes, or soak cotton balls in rose water, close your eyes and apply the cotton balls.

Using rose water with your hair

Rose water can be used to care for your hair. Regular application of rose water may help treat dandruff, scalp inflammations, and even hair loss. Try using it in your final hair rinse for shiny, soft hair.

Talk back

Have you used rose water before? If so, what are your favorite uses?

This post has been shared at Nourishing Joy, Time Warp Wife and Women Living Well.

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Hilary Kimes Bernstein

Hilary Kimes Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mama, and journalist. She writes about making healthy decisions that honor God and happen to help the environment at Accidentally Green. Short and sweet - like her writing - Hilary is the author of several healthy living eBooks.

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