How to Make Rose Water and Tips for Using DIY Rose Water


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Rose water is fun and easy to make if you have roses in your yard. Learn how to make rose water and how to use it in projects and recipes when you’re done.

What is Rose Water?

Rose water sounds very fancy and elegant, and I guess in a way it is, but when you find out what it is and how easy the rose water recipe is, you’ll wonder why it seemed so mystifying before.

Rose water is literally what it says it is: rose petals steeped in water, like rose tea, if you will. It’s long been used as a perfume (because it smells like roses, of course) but has also been used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Uses of Rose Water

homemade rose water in jar

In addition to using rose water as a perfume, it’s also said to be great for the skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to calm skin problems like rosacea and eczema.

It’s also an antibacterial that can be used to treat wounds, and even (according to the source linked above though I’m scared to try it) used as an eyedrop to help treat dry eyes and problems like conjunctivitis.

Breathing in rose water (such as the steam when you make DIY rose water) is said to be helpful in treating depression, headaches and other ailments.

As a food product rose water is used in Middle Eastern cooking and elsewhere in the world for the floral note it can add to dishes. It’s particularly great with fruit and is considered to be an aid to digestion.

How to Make Rose Water

The rose water recipe is actually really simple. First you need rose petals, from a trusted source like your yard, or flowers you know were grown without the use of pesticides.

You can make as big or as small of a batch as you like. For this batch I used maybe six flowers of different colors. If you want pink rose water, use red roses. Mine were mostly white and yellow and my rose water came out sort of golden.

flower petals in pot to make rose water

Add the petals to a pot and cover with water.

Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to low.

Allow to simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from heat and steep for 20 minutes.

making rose water with rose petals

Fish out the petals and then filter through a coffee filter into a glass jar.

straining rose water

Rose water is perishable so I keep mine in the refrigerator.

Uses for Homemade Rose Water

Rose water is a natural and gentle product that you can use in a lot of different ways. You can apply it directly to the skin or add it to bath water for a fun scented experience.

Or you can try rose water in a recipe for your hair or skin to make it even nicer.

Rose Water for Skin

rose petals for making rose water

Rose water by itself is great for a lot of things:

  • use it as a toner
  • put in a spray bottle for a refreshing face mist on a hot day
  • soak a cotton pad and use under your eyes for cooling and preventing signs of aging

But of course you can mix your DIY rose water with other great ingredients to pack more of a punch.

Rose water toner: mix 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (or witch hazel) with 1/4 cup of rose water for an even better effect. Apple cider vinegar is great for oily skin, while witch hazel is great for sensitive skin.

Rosewater face mist: make a strong tea with a cup of hot water and two green tea bags. Remove tea bags after steeping and let cool. Add rose water in equal portions to the tea (a quarter cup of each is a good place to start) then put in a spray bottle and keep in the refrigerator.

Body oil using rose water: Mix almond oil and rose water for a super-moisturizing (and great smelling) treat for after your bath or shower. Try adding half a cup of rose water to a cup of almond oil.

Rose water makeup remover: This recipe comes from Simply Darling. Mix a cup of water, 1.5 tablespoons of baby shampoo, 1/8 teaspoon baby oil, 1/4 cup rose water and up to 15 drops of tea tree oil (especially good for acne-prone skin). Use cotton balls or a washcloth to apply.

Sunburn soother with rose water: the Chalkboard Mag has the how-to for a simple sunburn spray made with rose water, aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar. I’m definitely keeping this on hand all summer.

Pink clay and rosewater soap: If you like to make soap, Hello Glow has a great looking recipe for pink clay and rose water soap. It uses a simple melt and pour soap base so it’s great for beginner soap makers.

Rose Water for Hair

how to make rose water

DIY rose water is a great treatment for your hair. Mix a couple of tablespoons of rose water into regular water to rinse your hair; it will make your locks smell great!

Or add rose water to your favorite hair conditioner for extra rosy goodness. Use in the shower mixing about half as much rose water as you use conditioner, or try this recipe from Eco Chic to make a leave-in conditioner with one part conditioner to two parts rose water along with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for extra shine.

Have you ever made rose water? Now that you know how to make rose water I hope you’ll give it a try and share your uses for it with me!

how to make rose water and uses for diy rose water

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1 Comment

  1. Rose water really benefits for the skin, at least it works great for me! till now I’m buying rose water from the store, after reading I am doing my own!

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