Not only is homemade rose water pretty, it also smells amazing! You won't believe easy it is to learn how to make rosewater at home. During May and June in the northeast, there are beautiful roses everywhere. If you are like me, you may wonder how you can preserve that wonderful color and smell for a longer period of time. Rosewater is the perfect way to do that. (If you love the fragrance of rose, you might also like this recipe for Rose Body Butter.)
What is Rosewater
The process for making homemade rosewater is similar to making a cup of tea. It is a simple infusion of rose petals in water. You can make rose water by steeping rose petals in water. A similar product you may have seen is called rose hydrosol which is a by-product of the production of rose essential oil. Distillation can be done at home but it is a little more complicated. There are many different types of herbal preparations, if you are interested in learning how to make more herbal recipes start here with this blog post, how to get started making herbal remedies.
Historians believe the origins of rosewater trace back to Persia (modern day Iran). Since ancient times, people used roses medicinally, nutritionally, and as a perfume. In medieval Europe, rose water was used to wash hands at a meal table during feasts. Today, many use rose water as a spray applied directly to the face as a perfume and moisturizer.
What is Rosewater Used for?
Rosewater is a skin soother making it a great addition to your skin care routine. The inflammatory and antibacterial properties are helpful for reducing redness and acne. Rosewater has been used as a beauty product for thousands of years for a good reason. It even contains antioxidants which protect from cell damage. If your skin is in need of a soothing effect, make yourself this sweet smelling herbal water with this easy at home recipe. This recipe is similar to how you would make other herbal infusions.
How to Make Rosewater
Follow this instructions to make an infusion of rose petals.
- First, gather rose petals from any type of rose, I use beach rose (rosa rugosa)
- Loosely pack the rose petals in a mason jar
- Now, fill the jar with boiling water and cover the jar
- After that, set the jar on the counter for 24 hours
- Lastly, strain the rose petals out of the liquid, and you have rosewater!
- To make it last as long as possible, add 0.5% vitamin e or 2 tbsp. per cup of witch hazel extract. Use a funnel to pour the finished herbal water into a glass spray bottle.
How is Homemade Rosewater Different?
Commercially available rosewater is steam distilled which is a longer process (but is possible to do at home). The steam distilled version is not as pretty (it's clear) and doesn't have as strong of a rose smell but it will last longer and has the same benefits.
Rosewater Recipe
Materials
- Rose petals
- Water
Instructions
- Gather rose petals from any type of rose, I use beach rose (rosa rugosa)
- Loosely pack the rose petals in a mason jar
- Fill the jar with boiling water and cover the jar
- After that, set the jar on the counter for 24 hours
- Lastly, strain the rose petals out of the liquid, and you have rosewater!
- To make it last as long as possible, add 0.5% vitamin e or 2 tbsp. per cup of witch hazel extract. Use a funnel to pour the finished herbal water into a glass spray bottle.
How to use Homemade Rosewater for Skin Care
- Use as a toner after washing your face
- Spray on minor skin irritations for a soothing effect
- Use rosewater in other herbal preparations like homemade magnesium oil
- Use as a perfume
- Spritz your pillow to enjoy the scent and for a calm mood
- Use in other skin care recipes such as lotion
More Uses for Rose Petals
- Rose Oil – You can make a rose infused oil that will take on the fragrance of the roses. Follow these instructions for making an infused oil.
- Rose Tincture – Use rose petals to make a rose tincture, wild roses are perfect for this purpose.
- Rose Petal Tea – dry your rose petals by laying them out in a basket or in a dehydrator and save them in a glass jar for making tea. Read this post for detailed instructions on how to dry herbs and spices. Steep them in water like any other herbal infusion.
FAQ
You can use any rose to make rose water. Not all roses have a strong fragrance, so choose a fragrant variety. Also, make sure the roses you use have not been treated with pesticides.
Always refrigerate homemade rosewater to maintain its freshness and prevent bacterial growth. This helps preserve its aroma and ensures it stays safe for use in skincare or culinary applications.
Thank you for reading,
Roxanne
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