Once again roses are the center of attention, and how not with their prickly personalities and alluring scent? If you asked me, it sounds like the perfect date IMHO.
As you may already know, I’m pretty obsessed with roses not only for their beauty or their lovely aroma, but for their medicine. That’s right, the seemingly delicate rose (and truly they are underneath all the thorns) is one of the most powerful herbal allies one can enlist. There is hardly any skin condition that can survive the healing touch of rose.
One can ease their heavy hearts or slow a racing pulse with a dropper of tincture. A swipe of rose vinegar can pull heat from sunburn; a smear of rose jam can bring a sense of wellbeing to anyone who eats it. Rose infused honey is a joy to add to teas, pastries, or even straight off the spoon!
Rose is unique in that it’s awfully good at what it does, no matter the application.
One of my favorite ways to use rose is by spritzing rose water all over my skin. It has been amazing for controlling acne breakouts!
Used for thousands of years as a youthful skin tonic, rose water boasts some amazing benefits.
Rose water is good for:
• Tightening pores
• Smoothing fine lines and wrinkles
• Balancing the acid mantle (skin’s PH)
• Slowing the aging process
• Freshens the complexion
• Calming the senses
It is very important to make sure you source high quality roses. I strictly get my dried rose petals from Mountainroseherbs.com as their quality is second to none. The fragrance is strong and the color pay off in beauty recipes is often a rich ruby hue. Their roses are not treated with chemicals and are harvested at just the right time for the highest potency.
Fresh petals are of course a delight when you can find them; just make sure they are not sprayed with pesticides. Harvest the fresh roses in the morning when they are most fragrant and make rose water as soon as you can for best results. I particularly love wild roses when I’m lucky enough to come across them.
There are two ways to make rose water; the hydrosol method and the basic method. I will be teaching you the basic method in this post, but if you would like to learn how to make a rose hydrosol (which is clear in color) then check out my post on how to make it.
How to Make Rose Water – Quick and Easy
Making rose water is super simple. It only takes minutes to make a beautiful tonic for the skin that can be used as much as you desire. Don't miss my video tutorial below!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
• Spring water
• Dried red rose petals
• A funnel
• A glass bowl
• A nut milk bag
• A spray bottle
Loving Preparation- How to Make Rose Water
• In a small clean pot, bring the spring water to a boil (I measured a little more water than would fit in my 4oz spray bottle)
• Next, add in a handful of dried red rose petals (you can use fresh but make sure they are fragrant and not sprayed with chemicals)
• Cover the pot and gently simmer the rose petals until they lose their color
• Turn off the heat and let the rose water cool completely
• Once cool, strain the rose water in the nut milk bag in the glass bowl
• Pour the strained rose water into a spritzer bottle
• Use daily and often! Will keep for 7 days at room temperature or up to a month in the fridge
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Rose Water Video Tutorial
How to Use Rose Water
I often use rose water as a toner for my sensitive acne prone skin. Not only does it help balance my skin’s PH, it also soothes redness and calms inflammation. Pop it in the fridge for an hour before use on hot days for a refreshing and cooling spray.
One of my favorite routines is to cleanse my skin, pat it dry, liberally spritz on rose water, then apply my favorite rosehip serum. My skin feels supple and amazing!
I have also used this spritz all over my body after a shower to keep skin fresh and smooth. It's really amazing in the summer months too as an all over refreshing mist that helps restore balance during hot muggy days.
During the winter, using rose water helps keep your skin from drying out too much when the weather is cold and dry.
You can also add rose water as a base for many homemade body care lotions and creams for added benefits.
How Long Does Fresh Rose Water Last? Plus a Few More Fun Uses
If kept in the fridge, fresh rose water can last about 2 weeks. If kept in the bathroom, it might last 1 week. If you end up with more rose water then you can use, try adding it to your bath or freezing it in an ice cube tray for later use. It makes for an amazing sunburn remedy. Try soaking a few cotton rounds with it and freezing them to use for undereye circles. It's really refreshing and help depute and lighten the undereye area. You can also use the rose water ice cubes for soothing inflamed acne as well.
What have been your favorite uses for rose water? Please let me know in the comments!
More rose articles:
Rose Infused Witch Hazel
Raspberry Rose Liqueur- A Romance in Photos
Rejuvenating Matcha and Rose Face Mask
How to Make Sweet Rose London Fog Tea
Facial Oils not Working out for You? Rose Water can Help!
The Benefits of Rose Water
Thaleia Natural Skincare says
This is awesome! I love making rose water ice-cubes to use as a toner in the morning. It does wonders to de-puff the sleepy face, tighten pores and refresh the complexion.
Deirdre says
I followed this recipe yesterday since my roses just bloomed again. I used about 10 roses (most were fairly small). When I put the rose water in my containers, it was a very, very faint pinkish-brown color. I put the containers in the freezer and when I saw them this morning, the color was a dark pink, almost fuchsia!! Any idea why this happened and if it's a bad thing? Thank you for the help!
Cindy says
Rather than boiling the rose petals in water, could I make a raw preparation that would preserve all aspects of the rose petals by mixing the petals gently in my Vitamix?
Tash says
There's a thought! I've never tried that before. How did it go?
Ann says
Does adding witch hazel help with preserving the rose water?
Tash says
No 🙁
Ariel says
What if the end result came out green? Is that still good or bad to use? I just bought a new fresh batch of roses but my water came out green....
Tash says
That's odd! What color roses did you use? Did you include any stems or green parts of the rose?
Eliza says
Hello,
I received a bunch of flowers on my birthday last week, and there were about four roses in the vase. The roses started to wilt, so I took one to preserve it and used the other three to make rose water. I used distilled water, which I thought was good if I wanted it to last longer. Are there any ways to make the rose water last cause I really love using it for my face! I don't want it to go to waste, but when it does, how do I tell if it's gone bad? Thanks!
Panashe Peters says
On my birthday, my boyfriend bought me a tone of roses and I didn't want to throw them away.
So I thought... Rosewater!
I didn't boil them, I just plucked out the petals and put it in a plastic container. Put fresh water and put them away for two days.
When I finally opened the container it frixzed out! The "rosewater" had fermented.
What can I use it for, do you know?
Or I should throw it away ??
Tash says
Sounds like it went bad 🙁 I wouldn't use it on the skin in case it has weird bacteria in it. That's too bad that happened!
JWanders says
Hi
A ordered 4 bottles of 2 oz rose water from a friend. After receiving it in the mail.. it looked kind of weird. The rose buds were inside and it had a lot of sediments floating and on the bottom... plus it had a strange smell when I sprayed it. I figured it might’ve been spoiled. Although she said it wouldn’t expire. Anyways, I’m afraid to use it and I’ll take the loss of money I spent. I want to make my own... so is distilled water preferred to make this?
Tash says
Distilled water is preferred. That's too bad about the rose water you received!
Rock says
Hiii...
Today I made PURE DIY rose water. it can safe last long for one or two months..??
Tash says
I will typically keep it in the fridge or freeze what I am not using. If you are worried about it spoiling, I would add a preservative like germall plus.
Maryam says
Thanks for the tutorial, can i use dried rose buds instead?
Tash says
You can!
Joy says
Please how do I get these rose
I'm in Nigeria
Renee says
Can I make rose water and put it in spray bottle and refrigerate for how long ? Thank you
Tash says
Hi Renee!
Rose water does well in the fridge! It can last 2-3 weeks no problem if you made it using the hydrosol method 🙂 If you made it like you would a tea, it will last 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
Margaret says
Just Wondering if I can add some rose petals to the sprayer bottle to make it look pretty and possibly some lessons might come out later on? Thank you
Tash says
Hi Margaret!
Unfortunately, adding rose petals to the water will encourage mold and other bacteria to grow 🙁
G says
I made rose water 2 days ago and today I noticed some sediment at the bottom. I used a cheese cloth to strain it. What is that sediment....mold? Feeling concerned.
Tash says
Hi G!
Hmmmm... sometimes that can be the pigment from the rose petals, but if you're concerned I would chuck it out and make a new batch. Was the cheesecloth you used new? Sometimes it can be sediment from the cheesecloth itself.
Binky Melnik says
Hi! I’m preparing to make a Rose hydrosol and thought I oughtta google in case there’re any tips I need to know, and I found this in your article: “It’s really refreshing and help depute and lighten the undereye area.” Looks as if autocorrect bit you in the butt, because rosewater can’t “depute,” obviously. ☺️ What was the word you’d meant to use? I hadn’t known rosewater is useful around the eye area, so I’d like to know what the word was in case I wanna try a side project involving rosewater in an eye cream. Thanks very much, and thanks also for the tip about the “nut bag.” (It makes me giggle to type that!) I haven’t found the perfect solution yet for straining my hydrosols, so I’ll check those out. I appreciate the info!
Dawn says
Hi
Doesn't the high heat process destroy the vitamin c content that Rose water and Rose hips are so popularly known for?
Tash says
Hi Dawn!
You would need to have temperatures higher than 374 degrees in order to destroy the vitamin C content of roses/rosehips which is far hotter than boiling water. And, since vitamin C is water soluble it will end up in the final product 🙂
raven says
Could you make extra rose water and freeze the portion you are not ready to use with in the week time frame?
Tash says
Hi Raven!
Absolutely! That's a great way to preserve rose water 🙂
tara says
Rose water that I know is different.
They use Steam distillation and the rose should be Damask rose.
Tash says
Yes! This is true! However, if you want to make your own rose water at home, this method is your best bet 🙂
Grace says
Umm what if your rose water turns green? I don't know what to do!
Tash says
Wow! I haven't heard of this happening before! Can you tell me how you made it? Did you use any reactive metal?
Suzanne Racki says
HI,
Are there measurements for this recipe?
Thanks, S
Tash says
Hi Suzanne!
Not really! I have always just eyeballed it 🙂 I basically harvest a a few handfuls of fresh rose petals and then cover them with filtered water (they tend to float so use your best guess) and voila! Works well every time.
Erin says
I was wondering if cheese cloth(folded over a few times) can be used instead of the nut milk bag?
Tash says
Hi Erin!
Yes! 🙂
Jeanna says
Hi, I was wondering if you need to use fresh petals to make the hydrosol with the distillation method, or can dried rose petals be used? Thanks!
Tash says
Hi Jeanna!
You can use either one! However, I do find that fresh petals make for a nicer hydrosol. If you use dried, make sure they have a good amount of fragrance 🙂
hoa khai truong says
great! I love using rose water for my dry skin– so soothing!
autumn says
Can you use filtered water? Also can you use wild roses or do they have to be the big roses?
Tash says
Hi Autumn!
You can definitely use filtered water and any type of fragrant rose you have available 🙂
Roza Ricardo says
I read this article and it is helpful, if you want more information about rose water I have also read this article and it has helped me, so thought of sharing
Melissa says
Can I use this basic recipe rose water for homemade soaps? I worry about the soap going bad because of the short shelf-life of the rose water...any tips/recommendations? Thanks!
Tash says
Hi Melissa!
I'm not very familiar with soap making, but what I do know is that water will most certainly breed bacteria. Homemade rose water is even less stable because it will have rose particles in it as well. So to be honest, I'm not entirely sure if you can use rose water in soap making. Sorry I can't be more helpful! Maybe try looking into a soap making blog and shoot them the question? 🙂
Tonya Whitefawn says
Instead of rose water you can use rose essential oil, it gives you the smell of rose, the safety that water doesn’t give you and maintains the healing properties as well.
Kayla says
If I am making this with fresh roses and am not sure if they have been sprayed with anything can I clean them somehow first?
Tash says
Hi Kayla!
I'm not sure if there's a way to remove chemicals from potentially sprayed roses since the chemicals will be within the petals. Best of luck with your rose water making though 🙂
Mellissa says
Can you ise different types of roses? Also do they haave to be dry? Thank you
Tash says
Hi Mellissa!
You can use either dry or fresh rose petals. Just make sure any fresh ones you use are not sprayed with a bunch of chemicals. You also want them to have a strong fragrance in order to make the best rose water 🙂
Genie says
I have 5 large knockout rose bushes. I don't spray them with chemicals, just soap water when the beetles come by. I am going to try this! Just think of all the roses I've wasted...
Tash says
Hi Genie!
How did it turn out? 🙂
Ruth Gonzalez says
Do you need a ceramic pot to simmer the rose petal or will a stainless steel pot be adequate? Where can I buy a nut milk bag, and is it reusable? Could I use a strainer instead? Also, should the rose water be stored in a brown bottle?
Hope to prepare my own rose water asap. Thanks.
Tash says
Hi Ruth!
You can use ceramic or a metal pot to make this. If you do have a ceramic pot though, I would opt for that only because metal can react with herbal preparations though i haven't had any issues with the rose water 🙂
Anna@GreenTalk says
I would always store this is the refrigerator. It goes bad really quickly without a preservative. I make the hydrosol.
Tash says
Some very good tips Anna!
Lorie Sherbrooke says
I made some last week and cooled and stored in the refrigerated and have for spray bottles & in small 4oz bottles to also use on a cotton ball at night. Do I need to add anything else to it such as more water? It has a pretty mauve color and wondering if it'll stain on clothing while sprit zing my face?
Tash says
Hi Lorie!
I have never had an issue with it staining my clothes but it's always nice to be cautious. What you could do is just cover your shirt with a small towel if you like or yes, you CAN add more water but it will lose its PH value which is what makes rose water so special. Best of luck! 🙂
Miranda says
I actually ran into this issue! Mine also had a deep pink hue, and I spritzed it on my face and went back to work, only to realize there were purplish/pink splotches all over my face and chest! It came off with a cotton ball, but I'm not sure how it would fare on clothing. I think the hydrosol method is the best way to go, so it's clear in color 🙂
Sara says
Can you drink this?? I am looking for a recipe that I can drink
Tash says
Hi Sara!
You can definitely use this rose water as a drink or as a flavoring in recipes. The more fragrant the roses, the better!
Tash says
Yes you can! 🙂
Kelley says
Is there a way to preserve this so it lasts longer?
Tash says
Hi Kelly!
You can add a few drops of essential oil to help it last a bit longer. Just shake it up really well before use and ovoid getting it in your eyes of course.
peter says
My friend recommended this rose water for my acne prone face. it is really effective! I've used lots of remedy and this toner is the most effective among them! so happy. hehe.
Mickey says
I have store bought a rose water spray that I love! I never thought of making my own. Such a great idea and relatively easy, must try this! Thanks for sharing!
Melanie says
I had no idea how great roses water was for our skin. Thanks for all the great info!
Loriel says
I have a bag of those same roses! I should try and make some. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Chloe @ How We Flourish says
Great tutorial! I have never used rose water, but I always hear how great it is. I'll have to try it.
Krystal says
I used to buy Rose water, it really is good for your skin. Now i'll start making it. Thanks for sharing!
Megan Stevens says
I love rose water but didn't know all of its purposes. Thanks for this awesome post!
Renee says
I bet that smells amazing! I would love to try this! I didn't know roses had so many benefits!
Andrea Fabry says
I used to buy rose water - next time I'm definitely making it. I have the most beautiful dried roses! Thanks for the tutorial.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This is lovely! I've never made my own rose water before. Thanks for sharing this.
Jessica @ConveyAwareness says
Is this like a hydrosol spray? If so, cool! I have purchased mine from 100% Pure before but it's cool I can make mine. Thanks. Pinning for future reference.
Tash says
Hi Jessica!
It IS like a hydrosol! The main difference is the way it's made. Hydrosols are steam distilled so they're clear in color. This is the basic method so the color of the rose stays in the finished product 🙂
linda spiker says
I never knew it was so simple!
Anna says
I never knew roses can be used for so many things. I am super keen to try this rose water on my skin, fingers crossed it smoothes out my wrinkles 🙂
Ariana {And Here We Are...} says
This is great! I love using rose water for my dry skin– so soothing!
Rachel @ day2dayjoys says
I love this... I am new to herbs and skincare, well making stuff on my own I should say... this looks pretty simple, I need something for my face.
Marjorie says
Pinned! I was going to buy some, but now I'll make it instead!