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Learn all of the benefits of Rose Water, including a step-by-step tutorial on how to make rose water! Not only will you learn how to make homemade rosewater, but you’ll get a DIY Rosewater Face Toner recipe too!
By now most of you know I love a little DIY. From homemade kombucha to bath salts, if I have an ounce of free time I’m probably doing a DIY.
It just feels good to make things from scratch (probably why I have a blog!) and this rosewater is no exception.
Not only am I going to walk you through how to make rose water, I’m also sharing the benefits of rose water and its many uses, including a recipe for homemade rose water toner.
Be sure to check out my step-by-step video…
CHECK OUT MY VIDEO ON HOW TO MAKE ROSE WATER
I’m walking you through how to make your own rose water step-by-step.
What is Rose Water + Rosewater Benefits
Rosewater is exactly as it sounds, roses + water. It gives you all the benefits of water plus the bonus of the anti-inflammatory and hydrating advantages of rose. Plus it smells awesome.
Rosewater is used in some cuisines for flavor, but I find myself using it most frequently in my skincare routine. People live and die by this stuff, but I’m not desperate enough to spend $10 on a small bottle. Especially since it’s so easy to make at home.
Fortunately, I’m thrifty and was able to make over 3 bottles for the same price. Love me a good deal, and especially when the DIY version is stupidly easy.
What are the benefits of rose water?
- helps balance the pH of skin
- soothes skin irritation
- reduces redness (has anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial properties!) including rosacea, acne and eczema
- may reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- some evidence the smell can reduce anxiety
[source]
Ingredients in Rose Water
This rosewater recipe is super simple and requires just two ingredients:
- Rose petals – use organic fresh roses if you can find and be sure to rinse them well as if there’s any pesticides, dirt or grime (or mold) it will end up in your rose water.
- Distilled water – make sure you use distilled water or else you’ll need to use the distillation method where you flip your pot lid upside down using just regular tap water.
How to Use Rose Water:
Now for some of the ways I like to use this homemade rose water in my skincare routine:
1. Skin Toner – by and far this is the #1 way I like to use it. Apple cider vinegar can also be a great skin toner, but let’s be real rosewater smells so much better and is just as effective. See recipe below to use as a facial spritz.
2. In the bath – I’ll add about a cup to my bath water for extra hydration and relaxation from the scent.
3. Natural Perfume– we’ll get into the discussion of conventional perfume another day, but let’s just say you are far better off sticking to this natural fragrance.
4. Face refresher/Make-up setter – Spray this on your face when you’re at your 3:00 PM slump or just a low mood…it works.
These are just a few of the many ways you can use rosewater. Now that I’ve hacked a super easy and cheap version for you, I challenge you to go out and experiment! But if you air on the side of caution, try my DIY Rose Water Face Toner. I promise you will be in love (roses included).
How to Store Rosewater:
This rose water recipe makes a big batch so I like to store my rose water in the refrigerator.
How Long Does Rosewater last?
If you store rose water in a clean and sterilized jar it should last in the fridge for up to 6 months.
More Homemade Skincare Products
PrintHow To Make Rose Water
Learn all of the benefits of Rose Water, including a step-by-step tutorial on how to make rose water! Not only will you learn how to make homemade rosewater, but you’ll get a DIY Rosewater Face Toner recipe too!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1.5 litres 1x
- Category: Skincare
- Method: Boil
Ingredients
For the Homemade Rose water:
- Organic Roses (as many as you like-I use 7 stems)
- Distilled water (enough to cover the rose petals- I use about 1.5 litres)
For the Homemade Rosewater Face Toner:
- 1 tbsp pure rosewater (recipe above)
- about 4 tbsp of distilled water (or enough to fill your spray bottle)
- 1 2.5 ounce spray bottle
Instructions
For the Homemade Rose Water:
- Remove petals from stems and run them under lukewarm water to remove any leftover residue.
- Add petals to a large pot and top with enough distilled water to just cover (no more or you’ll dilute your rosewater).
- over medium-low heat bring the water to a simmer and cover.
- Let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until petals have lost their color and are a pale pink.
- Strain the mixture into a large bowl to separate the petals from the water.
- Discard petals and pour water in a clean glass jar to store.
For the Homemade Rose Water Face Toner:
- Combine all ingredients in spray bottle and shake.
- To apply: spray mist directly on face or spray a cotton pad and wipe face to remove any residue.
*Note: Using 7 stems makes around 1.5 litres of rose water. This seems like a lot but it keeps for a long time in the fridge. Just store in a sealed, glass container until ready to use.
Can you do this with dried roses?
I LOVE IT MY SKIN IS SO SOFT AND GLOWING
So happy to hear that!
I am also from Toronto and wondering where you buy your organic roses? Thank you, can’t wait to try!
Organic roses? Where do i find these?
Can you use dried roses to make rosewater?
I have always been told to add vodka to preserve the shelve life. Even keeping rosewater with nothing to preserve it in the fridge seems unlikely not to go rancid or spoil.
Hello, I was wondering if the roses you use need to be fresh. I already have roses from a bouquet but those are somewhat wilted and I wanted to know if I should just get new roses or if it’s ok to use the old.
I was about to buy some rosewater on Amazon and thought to myself, “Can you MAKE your own rosewater??” Sure enough, thanks to your instructions, I can! I know you said it last for up to 6 months in your fridge. Our roses are blooming now so I was thinking about making some gigantic batches and freezing them. Do you think that would work? Thanks!
oooooh that’s a good question! I’m actually unsure how well it would work with frozen roses. Wish I could be more helpful!
I think she meant freezing the made up rose water? But I guess you could try and freeze the petals but it would need to be airtight wih the air pressed out of the bag to stay fresh or suspended in water. Otherwise the petals would quickly get freezer burn as they are so thin. I think this is why people dry them. But freezing the rosewater sounds like a good idea.
Yes you can freeze home made rose water. I freeze them in ice cube trays that way you can just take one out each time you need it.
This is great to know! Thanks so much.
Okay, so I know this post is not recent, but I thought I’d leave this comment for you anyway. I know a man who makes jams and such from locally sourced ingredients to sell at the farmers market, and he makes an amazing jelly with pomegranate and rosewater. It was the first of his I tried, and though I have at least five different spreads of his in my refrigerator pretty much always, it is still my favorite. It’s delicious! And your video is great :> thanks for the excellent instruction.
That sounds incredible! Let me know if you make your own jelly!
*preservative