Rose water is sometimes expensive and difficult to find, but it is easy to make at home. It can be used in the kitchen, to flavor cakes and biscuits, or in DIY cosmetics recipes. It can also be used as a tonic for the skin of the face or to perfume the sheets. This article shows you how to prepare it in four different ways.
Ingrediants
Rose Water Obtained with Rose Essential Oil
- 12 drops of rose essential oil
- 240 ml of distilled water
Rose Water Obtained with Dried Rose Petals
- 5 g of dried rose petals
- 300 ml of warm distilled water
Rose Water Obtained with Fresh Rose Petals
- 5 g of fresh rose petals (approximately equal to those of 2 roses)
- 475 ml of distilled water
- 1 teaspoon of vodka (optional)
Rose water Obtained with crushed rose petals
- 500 g of rose petals
- Distilled water to taste
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Make Rose Water with Rose Essential Oil
Step 1. Prepare everything you need
In addition to the rose essential oil and distilled water, you will need a glass jar. Also, if you plan to vape it, you'll need a bottle with a spray nozzle (it's best to use a high-quality glass or plastic bottle and avoid those made of cheap metal or plastic).
Step 2. Fill the jar with water
It is essential to use distilled water and not tap water, as it may contain bacteria. If you don't have distilled water at home, you can boil 240ml of mineral or filtered water and then let it cool to room temperature.
Step 3. Add 12 drops of rose essential oil
You will need to dilute it in a couple of teaspoons of vodka first or it will float on the water. Make sure it is pure essential oil and not a simple scented essence; otherwise you will enjoy the fragrance of roses, but not the many health benefits.
Step 4. Close the jar tightly and shake it
Keep shaking it for a couple of minutes to mix the essential oil with the water.
Step 5. If desired, you can transfer rose water to another container
You can leave it in the glass jar or, if you prefer, you can pour it into a spray bottle and use it to perfume the sheets or freshen the skin on your face. Transfer it using a funnel.
Method 2 of 4: Make Rose Water with Dried Rose Petals
Step 1. Prepare everything you need
In addition to dried rose petals and boiling water, you will need two glass jars and a colander.
Step 2. Insert the rose petals into one of the jars
If you want to use rose water in the kitchen, it is preferable to purchase edible petals, such as those of the damask, centifolia or gallica rose. You will get a better tasting rose water.
Step 3. Pour warm (not boiling) water over the petals
It is a must to use distilled water, which is free from bacteria of any kind. If you don't have distilled water at home, you can boil 300ml of mineral or filtered water.
Step 4. Close the jar and wait for the water to cool
It will take 10-15 minutes, depending on the temperature in the room.
Step 5. Place the colander on the empty jar
You will need to transfer the rose water to the second jar and the colander will serve to hold the petals.
Step 6. Pour the rose water into the second jar
Carefully pour it into the colander so that the liquid falls into the jar below and the petals are held by the mesh. After you have decanted it, you can throw away the petals.
Step 7. Close the jar tightly with the lid and place it in the refrigerator
You will need to use rose water within a week or it will go bad.
Method 3 of 4: Make Rose Water with Fresh Rose Petals
Step 1. Select fresh, fragrant flowers and rinse them carefully
The fresher the roses, the better the result. It is preferable to use flowers from organic cultivation, on which no pesticides have been applied. Even if you will have to wash them, there is no guarantee that you will be able to completely eliminate the chemicals. Furthermore, it is better to select only one variety of roses, as each one has a distinctive scent and the combination of fragrances may be unpleasant to the nose. Rinse the flowers to get rid of dirt, insects, and pesticide residues.
If you intend to use rose water in the kitchen, it is preferable to purchase edible petals, such as those of the damask, centifolia or gallica rose
Step 2. Remove the petals from the roses and throw away the rest of the flower
You will need enough petals to fill a cup. You will probably need to use 2-3 roses, depending on the size.
Step 3. Transfer the fresh petals to a pot and pour the water over them
Distribute them evenly across the bottom and use just enough water to submerge them. If you use too much water, the final product will be rather bland.
If you want you can add 1 / 2-1 teaspoon of vodka. The vodka will not affect the scent of rose water and make it last longer
Step 4. Put the lid on the pot and turn on the stove
Use mild heat and do not let the water boil so as not to alter the color and properties of the roses. After about twenty minutes, you will notice that the petals have turned paler as the water has turned pink.
Step 5. Place a colander on a large glass jar
Make sure it is perfectly clean and large enough to hold about half a liter of water. The colander will be used to hold the petals during the pouring.
Step 6. Pour the rose water into the jar
Lift the pot with both hands and carefully tilt it over the colander. Slowly pour the contents into the colander, so that the liquid falls into the jar and the petals are held by the meshes.
If you want, you can transfer some of the rose water to a smaller, easier-to-handle container. You can refill it after consuming it
Step 7. Store rose water in the refrigerator
Keeping it cold, it will keep for about a week. If you added vodka, it should last a little longer.
Method 4 of 4: Make Rose Water with Crushed Rose Petals
Step 1. Divide the petals into two equal parts
Crush only half of it and keep the others intact for later use.
Step 2. Crush the petal portion using a pestle and mortar
The crushed petals will release their juices, which you will use to make rose water. An alternative method is to rub them against the mesh of a metal strainer. If so, place the strainer over a glass jar and rub the petals against the mesh using the back of a spoon.
Step 3. Transfer the juices and crushed petals to a ceramic bowl
If you prefer, you can use a glass jar. Leave the petals to soak in the liquid for a few hours to further release their fragrance.
Step 4. Add the rest of the petals and wait 24 hours
Add fresh petals to crushed ones and juices. Cover the bowl and let them soak undisturbed for a whole day.
Step 5. Transfer the juices and petals to a glass or ceramic dish
Do not use a normal saucepan to prevent the oils from reacting in contact with the metal.
Step 6. Heat the contents of the dish over low heat
Put it on the stove and bring the juices to a light boil. When they start to simmer, take the pot away from the heat.
Step 7. Pour the rose water into a jar by filtering the petals with a plastic strainer
You can also use a coffee filter or muslin gauze. If necessary, strain it several times to remove even the smallest pieces of petals.
If you want to use rose water as a facial skin tonic, dilute it with distilled water to achieve the desired concentration
Step 8. Seal the jar with the lid and expose it to the sun for a few hours
The heat of the sun's rays will help extract the beneficial natural oils.
Step 9. Store rose water in the refrigerator
Use it within a week or it will go bad.
Advice
- The more scented the roses are, the more aromatic the water will be.
- There are multiple varieties of roses, each of which has a unique fragrance. Select a single one as the set of fragrances could be unpleasant to the nose.
- Rose water can become a very welcome gift. You can create a themed gift basket by combining it with massage oil, soap bars and candles.
- Use your rose water as a tonic or perfume. You can also spray it on the sheets.
- Add rose water to your homemade cosmetics.
- You can also use it in the kitchen, to flavor cakes, biscuits, creams and herbal teas.
- Rose water has numerous beneficial properties, for example it is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. You can also use it as a facial tonic to rebalance the pH of the skin.
- If you intend to mist it using a spray bottle, make sure it is made of good quality glass or plastic.
- You can get a skin lightening lotion by mixing rose water and strawberry puree.
Warnings
- Do not use tap water as it may contain bacteria. Use only the distilled one or the mineral or filtered one after boiling it.
- Do not store rose water in a metal or low-quality plastic container. Natural rose oils react on contact with metal, while low-quality plastics may release toxic chemicals.
