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Rose water is everywhere right now, particularly in the beauty market.
The vast benefits of this fabulous elixer are taking the world by storm; however, it has been around for centuries!
Experts believe that Rose water first originated in the Middle East as far back as the 10th century, with the distilled oil coming later in around 1500AD.
It is clear that the healing and rejuvenating properties of rose water are tried, tested and time honored. Rose water has a rich history as a skin-rejuvenating and beautifying ingredient.
Of course, as it is all the rage right now, the price of rose water is at a premium, meaning many people cannot afford to add it to their own beauty regime.
It’s so simple to make your own rose water at home.
With just a few ingredients, you can make your own batch of beautifying rose water (minus the hefty price tag) and enjoy all the amazing benefits that it can bring.
What exactly is Rose Water?
Rose water is H2O that has been infused with the natural botanical extracts and fragrance from organic rose petals.
It can be colorless or pink depending on how it has been made, and it contains the bioactive compounds of the rose. This magical liquid has many uses:
- Rose water can be used to flavor food, drinks and cocktails. It is a very popular ingredient in health smoothies, as well as a great addition to fancy cocktails. There are no serious side effects to ingesting rose water and there are many wonderful health benefits.
- Rose water can be added to moisturizers, cleansers, and other beauty products or used as an extra element in your beauty routine. It can also be applied to the face topically as a toner and as a refreshing facial mist.
- Rose water can be used as a hair care treatment when used alongside shampoo and conditioners.
- Rose water can also be used as a soothing lotion on irritated skin, wounds, scars and bruises. It is a great addition to any herbal remedy cabinet because it has so many gentle healing effects.
- Rose water can be spritzed on pillows and bed sheets, or indeed about the room as a calming mist that aids sleep and relaxation.
- Rose water can be used with a diffuser to fragrance your home. It has a wonderful floral scent that can be used in aromatherapy as well as a gorgeous air freshener which eradicates bad odors.
What Are the Benefits of Rose Water?
Rose water has so many medicinal, healing, health and wellbeing benefits thanks to the many vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the rose’s natural oil.
Rose water contains Vitamins E, C, A, and B, which are great antioxidants, and it has anti-inflammatory ingredients such as terpenes and glycosides.
The Ph of rose oil is very similar to that of human skin, and the oil has antimicrobial effects thanks to its geraniol and eugenol which both have antibacterial properties.
The benefits of Rose Water include the following:
Beauty Benefits of Rose Water [1]
- Rose water has anti-aging properties that help smooth fine lines and wrinkles in the skin, as it is filled with antioxidants, Vitamins E and C, and flavonoids.
- It can plump the under-eye area and make skin look generally more plump and glowing thanks to its re-hydrating properties.
- It can reduce the appearance of age spots on the skin and dark circles around the eyes.
- It can tighten pores and temporarily tightens skin as it is a mild astringent
- It cleanses the skin of dirt and imperfections and provides a neutral base for other products to be applied to
- It restores water and fluids to dry skin
- It reduces redness and acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties
- It balanced the PH of your skin’s natural oils, resulting in a refreshed and even complexion
- Improves blood circulation at the skin’s surface, resulting in smoother, more radiant skin
Hair Care Benefits of Rose Water
- Rose water softens hair thanks to its distilled nature
- It reduces dandruff and oiliness due to the fact that it is a mild astringent and therefore tightens the body’s tissues
- Reduces unruly frizz and flyaways
- Improves glossiness and shine
- Soothes scalp issues thanks to its anti inflammatory properties
Health Benefits of Rose Water [2] [3] [4]
- Rose water has been taken as a drink for centuries. It aids healthy digestion and soothes digestive upsets like stomach ache, indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux
- It soothes headaches and migraines both when applied as a cooling mist and when inhaled as a fragrance
- It has antiseptic and antibacterial qualities, meaning that rose water can be used to clean and heal wounds such as cuts, scars and burns. It also helps to speed up the healing process
- Rose water can help to rejuvenate and regenerate cells in the body
- It has analgesic and antiseptic properties, which mean that it can be used to treat infections and also to prevent them if used regularly
- It reduces skin redness and puffiness thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, and this is particularly beneficial to those suffering from acne
- Rose water can soothe sore throats when gargled
- It soothes skin irritations such as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, acne, breakouts, rashes and sunburn
Mental Wellness Benefits of Rose Water [5]
- Rose water improves mood through its relaxing and calming properties, meaning that it alleviates stress and anxiety when inhaled as a soothing mist
- It aids sleep thanks to its calming and relaxing properties
- It combats fatigue and depression
General Benefits of Rose Water
- It has a bright, floral smell and can be used to fill your home with a wonderful aroma
- It can be applied directly to bad smelling surfaces in order to eradicate foul odors
- Droplets can be applied to neck, wrists and other areas of the body as a natural perfume alternative
- It tastes great in cocktails, smoothies and desserts and is a great ingredient to experiment with in the kitchen
How To Make Rose Water – A Step By Step Guide
Rose water is effortless and fun to make at home, so there is no need to spend a fortune purchasing this beauty product. I have tried a few different recipes and methods over the years, but one of my trusted favorites is here.
No matter how inexperienced you are, anyone will be able to make their own rose water in just a few simple steps…
Simple, easy home rose water recipe
Ingredients
- Half a cup of organic fresh rose petals (4-5 blooms approximately) OR 1/4 cup dried organic rose petals
- 1.5 cups filtered water
Equipment
- One saucepan with fitted lid
- One sieve / fine mesh strainer
- Cheesecloth or nut milk bag
- Measuring jug for decanting
- One bottle for storing (preferably glass)
Method
Source your Organic Rose Petals
Firstly, you need to pick or buy your rose petals. If you have an organic rose garden at home, then you’ve already sourced your perfect organic roses!
If you do choose to pick your own roses, I would recommend plucking the blooms from the stems first thing in the morning, as this is when they are at their most fragrant.
Be sure to choose roses that are at the height of their bloom and have healthy, soft and plump petals. The healthier the petals the more oils and nutrients that will be gathered from them.
Roses that have passed their best will be less potent and will have reduced health benefits. The same applies for flowers that are too small, young and underdeveloped.
If you do not have a garden where you can gather your own roses, be sure to buy from a reputable food or health shop, not a florist.
Big, boastful roses from florists are usually covered in chemicals and pesticides, which you do not want in your homemade rose water. Instead, use edible roses or dried rose petals for tea making.
You may also use dried rose petals to make your own rose water: you’ll need 1/4 cup.
Prepare the Roses
Next, it’s time to peel the petals from the bloom and wash them in cool, fresh water.
Be gentle as you separate the petals and try not to press and damage them too much as you don’t want to disturb the chemical makeup and oil balance on the surface of the petals.
A great way to wash the petals is to place them on a sieve and let a gentle stream of water rinse through them.
This will cleanse the petals and get rid of any chemicals, pesticides, dirt or germs that might be lurking in them.
Prepare The Pan
With the petals picked, plucked and washed, you can now pour them into the saucepan. Try to spread them evenly in a thin layer over the base of the pan.
Use Filtered Water
Next, pour in a cup and a half of filtered water. You must use good, clean, pure water, as this will be the liquid that forms the base of your finished product.
This is my favorite water filter for 10 years running.
You will be applying it to your skin, hair, food and drinks, so you want to make sure it is high quality H2O.
As you pour the water over the petals, make sure it covers them completely. The topmost petals may float on the surface, but that is ok; be sure that none of the petals are left dry.
Add Heat
Once the water and the rose petals are ready, you can now turn the heat to medium/low and gently heat the pan. You do not want to heat the pan too high, as the water will all evaporate, and the petals will burn.
Cover the pan and watch closely until the water begins to simmer, then turn the heat down to low gently.
Simmer your Rose Water
Leave the pan to simmer for 5 – 10 minutes, or until most of the color has drained from the petals. Your water should have a lovely rose-colored tint!
Cool your Rosewater
Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool at room temperature until it is no longer steaming and all the condensation on the lid has dripped back into the pan.
This may take some time but be patient as it will improve the quality of your finished rose water.
Strain It
Once the mixture has cooled, you can strain it. To do this, line the thin mesh strainer with a cheesecloth and then place the strainer over a wide jug.
Carefully pour the contents of the saucepan into the strainer and let the water trickle through the cheesecloth into the jug below.
When all the water seems to have drained, gather the corners of the cheesecloth and twist them tightly around the petals that will have gathered in the sieve. Squeeze the cheesecloth until all the droplets from the petals have been strained.
Store your Rosewater
Now, all that is left to do is to pour the rose water into a glass bottle and store in the refrigerator.
Since we have not added a preservative, your homemade rose water is best used within ten days and should be kept in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it into ice cube-sized chunks and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
A Note on Preservatives
My personal preference is to not add preservatives to my homemade beauty products. I prefer to keep my concoctions as natural as possible, which means anything water based has a SHORT self life.
I’m okay with this, and you will find many of my recipes are small batch so I can use them up before they spoil.
Please don’t make this and leave it under your bathroom sink for months, it will grow bacteria! Store it in the fridge and toss it after about 2 weeks, then make a fresh batch.
If you’re looking for a way to preserve your rose water, citric acid has natural preservative properties and can lengthen the shelf life of homemade rose water to up to 3 months. I still recommend storing it in the fridge.
Of course, you can purchase commercial rose water products that are preservative-free, however this is only possible because these products are made in professional environments with sterile equipment.
When you are making rose water at home you simply cannot achieve the same levels of cleanliness and therefore cannot guarantee that no contamination will occur.
Shop Rose Water Options
If you think that all this sounds a little too involved for your schedule then have no fear!
There are plenty of excellent rose water products available to buy online and in stores. Here are a few of my favorites:
Organic Rose Hydrosol is similar to rose water but is made using a steam method, and the final liquid is clear. I love this product straight up as a facial mist and in all kinds of beauty DIYs (it would be FAB in this toner recipe), and this is one of the most affordable options I’ve found.
This Simplified Skin rose water for the face and hair is another affordable option. It can be used as a toner after washing and before moisturizing, or it can be used as a hydration spray throughout the day.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it is incredibly simple and inexpensive to make rose water in your own home. With only two main ingredients (roses and water!) anyone can give it a try.
Let me know below – have you used rose water before?