Is it possible to make rosewater at home?

[Shermie Girl]

I splurged and bought a bottle at the natural foods store today. It is very nice, but it is also quite pricey.
So, I was wondering if anyone makes their own rosewater and would you share the how-to?

Thank you. :puppy:

[jessie58]

Oh my favorite subject Shermie Girl.
I made rosewater a couple of months ago, by boiling water and putting in roses. I probably used a cup of water per rose. I boiled it for about 15 minutes and then cooled it. I strain the rosepetals and I keep it in the fridge and put only a little in a cup in my bathroom. It only lasts for about 5 days before going off as there are no preservatives in it. I use it every day with a cotton ball after washing and then I splash with cold water. I've never had a better toner in my life. It also helps remove any traces of oil after I use the OCM too. I love it.
I actually hate the smell of roses, but I love my homemade rosewater. I need to make some more. Hope that helps.

[kittcatt]

sounds yummy, i may have to try that./

[Love My Cop]

Jessie, thanks for this bit of info. Think I'll give it a try too. I've been wanting to try rosewater for time now, and have not been able to find it. :smile:

[jessie58]

You're welcome Love My Cop, this is when I started wanting a mini fridge in my bathroom and if I had the room, I use all kinds of stuff these days that needs refrigeration, however the rosewater will keep for a few days and the secret is to only put a container with that amount in your bathroom. It's nice to know that there's absolutely nothing but natural water and flowers in it. By the way did I mention that I haven't had a zit since using this as a toner?

I also mix a few drops of this with baking soda and make a paste to put on any bump that looks like a zit starting up. Keep it on for about half an hour and rinse off, the bump never turns into a pimple. I swear, I haven't had since I started this. It's been over 3 months.

[Shermie Girl]

Thank you for the recipe, Jessie. And the idea for the baking soda and rosewater paste for pimples trying to be. I really appreciate your help. :grinhappy:

Now..... to get some roses....:whoohoo:

[jessie58]

Actually Shermie Girl I snuck the roses that my DD got from her bf. On another thread there was some talk that they should be fresh or they can bring mould with them to the recipe.

I know that you could probaly buy a rose for about a buck some places.

[Koala Kim]

Thanks jessie for the recipe! I'm going to try this as soon as I receive my goodies from the Camden Grey GO. One of the things I ordered was grapefruit seed oil to use as a preservative. That way- I can make fresh rosewater *and* keep it on hand for more than a few days. :happy:

[jessie58]

Thanks jessie for the recipe! I'm going to try this as soon as I receive my goodies from the Camden Grey GO. One of the things I ordered was grapefruit seed oil to use as a preservative. That way- I can make fresh rosewater *and* keep it on hand for more than a few days. :happy:

Wondering how that would affect it as a facial toner. Probably good for other uses though. What does the grapefruit seed oil do for skin KK? Would it be good or bad after washing?

[Koala Kim]

Wondering how that would affect it as a facial toner. Probably good for other uses though. What does the grapefruit seed oil do for skin KK? Would it be good or bad after washing?

I meant to say "extract" not "oil". :ooh: Duh!
I don't think the GSE will have any effect on the toner. It's used as a preservative by some natural cosmetic companys. And- I believe the percentage you use is very small.

[Suzie]

Here is another way to make rose water. This site has lots of neat recipes. http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/293

[jessie58]

Here is another way to make rose water. This site has lots of neat recipes. http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/293

Oh what a good recipe Suzie. :happy:

[jessie58]

I meant to say "extract" not "oil". :ooh: Duh!
I don't think the GSE will have any effect on the toner. It's used as a preservative by some natural cosmetic companys. And- I believe the percentage you use is very small.

Kim I'll have to look into this. I really like the idea of having a natural preservative in it. It took some trial and error for me to find out just how long it lasts on its own and I'd rather be on the safe side with freshness.

[hairyfairy]

This is how I do it.

Bring a liter of water to a rapid boil. Throw in the cleaned petals of about a dozen red roses. Cover and switch off the flame. Let it steep for 6-8 hours or overnight. Remove cover. All the petals would have sunk to the bottom. Pour the deep red liquid into a sterilized bottle and keep in the fridge, tightly capped. Use as and when necessary.

Wetting a cotton pad with the cold liquid and wiping your sweaty face with it in this hot and humid climate of ours...heavenly:happy:

[Shermie Girl]

Thank you for the link, Suzie. :happy:

[jessie58]

This is how I do it.

Bring a liter of water to a rapid boil. Throw in the cleaned petals of about a dozen red roses. Cover and switch off the flame. Let it steep for 6-8 hours or overnight. Remove cover. All the petals would have sunk to the bottom. Pour the deep red liquid into a sterilized bottle and keep in the fridge, tightly capped. Use as and when necessary.

Wetting a cotton pad with the cold liquid and wiping your sweaty face with it in this hot and humid climate of ours...heavenly:happy:


Oh lovely Hairyfairy, I'm so happy to see you tonight. That is exactly what it feels like on the face, so refreshing isn't it. Another thing we share.:grinhappy:

[hairyfairy]

Originally posted by jessie58Oh lovely Hairyfairy, I'm so happy to see you tonight.

It is 10 in the morning here, my dear:purplex: LOL.

The moment my DH leaves for office, I drop whatever I had been doing and park myself in front of the computer, so that I can talk to you all. The time gap ensures that any delay in this will find all of you cozily asleep. If this is not addiction, what is?:boggle:

[jessie58]

It is 10 in the morning here, my dear:purplex: LOL.

The moment my DH leaves for office, I drop whatever I had been doing and park myself in front of the computer, so that I can talk to you all. The time gap ensures that any delay in this will find all of you cozily asleep. If this is not addiction, what is?:boggle:

It's 10:30 at night here and I usually post up until midnight, I'm awful, we always cross over during these few hours don't we?

[snowbear]

I tried to make rosewater with rainwater when I was about 7. I left a bucket of rose petals (we have rosebushes) outside, and the rain filled the bucket. So, figuring I was off to a good start, I left the bucket for a few days. When I checked on the bucket, it had gone sour. Sour roses smell nasty.
Thought I'd warn you all. :lafhard:

[Shermie Girl]

I did the same thing when I was a kid, Snowbear. Yuk! Big mistake! Probably one reason why I never went near rosewater again until now! :gurn:

[myrrh78]

True rose water is referring to distilled rose water which should need no preservatives. Another word for this is "hydrosol."

How this is made is from boiling rose petals in water and catching the steam. This isn't as difficult as it sounds, Victorian housekeepers did this every year. You set an empty heatproof bowl on top of a platform in the pot (also heatproof) and you invert the lid, so that as the steam collects it drips into the empty bowl. Continue with the rose petals and clean water until you have the desired amount collected. Cap in a sterilized bottle, it should need no special preservation other than cool storage.

For the maximum scent collect the blossoms as soon as they open, and put them in the water asap. This works best of course if you have lots of rose bushes. Also--the best roses for this are rugosa roses. The less altered the roses the better. Meaning generally the fewer "petals." Please ask me if this is confusing. I am an herbalist and botany enthusiast.

Distilled rosewater is not expensive in the US if you go to a Middle Eastern or Indian store. It should be under $3.

HTH
~Myrrh

[jessie58]

True rose water is referring to distilled rose water which should need no preservatives. Another word for this is "hydrosol."

How this is made is from boiling rose petals in water and catching the steam. This isn't as difficult as it sounds, Victorian housekeepers did this every year. You set an empty heatproof bowl on top of a platform in the pot (also heatproof) and you invert the lid, so that as the steam collects it drips into the empty bowl. Continue with the rose petals and clean water until you have the desired amount collected. Cap in a sterilized bottle, it should need no special preservation other than cool storage.

For the maximum scent collect the blossoms as soon as they open, and put them in the water asap. This works best of course if you have lots of rose bushes. Also--the best roses for this are rugosa roses. The less altered the roses the better. Meaning generally the fewer "petals." Please ask me if this is confusing. I am an herbalist and botany enthusiast.

Distilled rosewater is not expensive in the US if you go to a Middle Eastern or Indian store. It should be under $3.

HTH
~Myrrh

Yes, this method was posted in a link above. It seems like a much more efficient way than the way I did it. I definitely would try this for my next batch.

[myrrh78]

That's great. :happy:

I hadn't checked the link yet. The funny thing is I even have that little booklet by Rosemary Gladstar, but that isn't where I learned how to make rosewater :grinhappy: . I learned in my herbalism apprenticeship. It's also in Discovering Wild Plants by Janice Schofield, a great book for people in the Pacific Northwest or Western Alaska. Roses are abundant and wild here, especially near the coast.

Rosemary Gladstar is so cool. On a hair note -in that booklet she goes over how to henna your hair, she calls it "henna lights." :happy:

[Deeds]

Distilled rosewater is not expensive in the US if you go to a Middle Eastern or Indian store. It should be under $3.

HTH
~Myrrh

Thats the type I have... and I am very pleased with it.

I also use it as a toner. :grinhappy:

[Hedera]

You might want to be careful though: most roses are grown using a lot of pesticides, anti-fungals and other nasties...:rain:

Don't want to put any of that on your face!

[jessie58]

You might want to be careful though: most roses are grown using a lot of pesticides, anti-fungals and other nasties...:rain:

Don't want to put any of that on your face!

Oooh scary, maybe I'll be growing a third eye soon. LOL:lafhard:

[Hedera]

Oooh scary, maybe I'll be growing a third eye soon. LOL:lafhard:

Well, at least you wouldn't get any fungusses (fungi? fungee? fungooses? fungz?) growing on your face. ;)

The stuff that's used for cosmetics or food preparation is grown for the purpose, with less/different pesticides. The roses you'd buy at a flower shop have been grown for maximum production, durability (to survive at least a few days after they've been picked, to make their way to the flower shop and your home) etc. Roses are extremely prone to all kinds of diseases, so a lot of poisons are used then.

[jessie58]

Well, at least you wouldn't get any fungusses (fungi? fungee? fungooses? fungz?) growing on your face. ;)

The stuff that's used for cosmetics or food preparation is grown for the purpose, with less/different pesticides. The roses you'd buy at a flower shop have been grown for maximum production, durability (to survive at least a few days after they've been picked, to make their way to the flower shop and your home) etc. Roses are extremely prone to all kinds of diseases, so a lot of poisons are used then.

This is true. Maybe I should snitch some out of my neighbor's garden, she's a natural gardener, she has a lot of trouble with her roses though and strangely enough, I had a rose bush for about 5 years and it grew like a weed and I never once put anything on it and my neighbors all couldn't believe it, because theirs would always succumb to various ailments and bugs. I made the stupid mistake of trying to move my rosebush and of course I killed it off and I haven't got another one since. I'm trying to remember the name of it, but it had star shaped pink roses.