Rose water is lovely to have around for both drinking and using externally in beauty products. Rose is specific to the heart chakra is known to ease depression, anxiety, and grief. It can also relieve headaches, especially those caused by stress. Externally, rose is a skin healer and rejuvenate-r. It is great for mature skin, as well as skin that has blemishes, scars, eczema, rosacea, sunburn, and on and on. Basically, if you have skin, rose water is good for it. In the summer I like to have a little spray bottle of rose water in the fridge for fresh spritzes during the day. I also use it in homemade toners, in a proportion of 50% witch hazel and 50% rose water. It’s easy to make and there is plenty of room for variation. For drinking, rose petals combine well with strawberries for some infused water goodness, or try sprigs of lavender with rose petals in water for a true stress reducing combination.
The fastest way to make rose water is to make an infusion on the stove top. This is fine for external uses and in a pinch if you need to drink rose water in a hurry, but I recommend the cold method for rose water if you have a night of sleep to spare. The hot method makes a browner version, while the cold method makes a pure, translucent, rose water.
For the hot method, use half the amount of rose petals as distilled water, (example: 1/2 cup rose petals with 1 cup distilled water,) bring to a near boil but not quite, then simmer until the color drains from the petals into the water which doesn’t take long. You can do the whole process in half an hour. Strain using cheese cloth over a metal strainer so you can easily squeeze out the rose petals. A coffee filter works well if you don’t have a cheese cloth.
The cold method involves the same proportions, but honestly if you want a less potent rose water just use less petals. This is an herbal craft so variation is both expected and encouraged. Place the rose petals and distilled water (half the rose petals as water, so 1/2 cup rose petals to 1 cup distilled water for example) in a glass jar and let it sit overnight. In the morning the color and healing benefits will have moved from the petals into the water. Strain as described above, pictured below.
There are so many ways to enjoy herbs that it’s hard to imagine them not a part of everyone’s life in some way. They offer so much health, beauty, and joy, and it is my greatest hope that you have a variety of ways to have them as part of your life too.
Thank you for reading! Let me know if you make some rose water and if so, what you do with it~ I’d love to hear! 🌹🌹🌹
What a great idea!
Glad you like it!!
Is there a brand of rose petals that you recommend?
I use Frontier co-op’s rose petals. You can buy from them online and they are also often the supplier for bulk bins at natural foods stores. As long as the petals are organic and have a nice color, they will make a fine product.
Thanks, I’ll look for them.
Rose fragrance is my absolute favourite. When my father died, I treated myself to some rose essential oil (v expensive) as I had heard it was meant to be comforting for grief. I absolutely love it and it really ‘lifts’ my skin if I combine it in jojoba oil and use on my face. Thank you – I might attempt rose water now…
So smart of you to use rose e.o. during that difficult time 🌹. I think you will like the rose water too because it sounds like rose deeply resonates for you.
Oh, The beauty of the rose 🌹 in every way! I have some rose water and witch hazel combo which I did not make but love to use on my face as a toner. Occasionally, I like to cook with rose water. I have a number of essential oil blends with roses in them for various rituals. I also enjoy drinking tulsi rose tea frequently. Lovely post! 🌹
Tulsi rose tea sounds so good! Great combo.