How to Make Rose Water

Valentine's Day has come and gone, but the scent of fresh roses will last much longer with this rose water recipe. Rose water is used in many DIY beauty recipes for its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. Commercially produced rose water is made from the hydrosol that is left after distilling the essential oil from the rose petals. Some recipes call for you to make a crude still at home, but I made mine a much easier way. Keep reading after the recipe for some great ways to use your homemade rose water.

Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales.

How to Make Rose Water

What You Need

1 cup rose petals
2 cups heated distilled water
2 tablespoons vodka
Colander
Cheesecloth
Quart mason jar

Directions

Start with fresh roses that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Take the petals off the flower and place on a tray. Make sure they do not have dew or water on them.
Bring 2 cups of distilled water to a boil and let cool slightly.
Place the rose petals in a quart sized mason jar.
Pour 2 cups of hot water over the rose petals.
Place a lid on the jar and let sit to cool. When cool, add 2 tablespoons vodka as a preservative and let sit for 24 hours. You may omit the vodka, but then your rose water will not be shelf stable and will need to be stored in the fridge.
Line a colander with cheesecloth and place inside a big bowl.
Pour the rose petal water in the cheesecloth.
Pick up the cheesecloth and gently squeeze out the water.

And you're done! This rose water recipe is super easy, and you will have over 16 ounces of rose water to use in recipes. Mine ended up an amber color, but that was because I used white roses. If you use pink or red roses, yours will be pink.

Benefits of Rose Water

Cools and soothes irritated or sensitive skin.
Cleanses oily skin.
Tones matures skin.
Full of antioxidants.
Naturally antiseptic.
Antibacterial.
Anti-inflammatory.

How to Use Rose Water

Rose water can be used in cooking, but I don't recommend using this recipe. Here are some beauty recipes that you can easily make at home:

Wet a cotton ball with cool rose water. Place cotton ball on eyes to reduce puffiness.
Mist cool rose water on your face in the summer to refresh your skin.
Use as a lotion to hydrate dry skin.
Mix rose water and coconut oil for a natural makeup remover.
Spray lightly over makeup to set it.
Use as a toner to tighten pores and tone skin.
Use after shaving to soothe irritated skin.
Make a natural deodorant spray.
Calming face lotion for sensitive skin.
Homemade wrinkle cream.