It was recently my birthday and my mother got me a dozen, beautiful pinkish/purple roses. It was the perfect gift! They sat on my writing desk and I would look at them fondly while I was drafting my NaNoWriMo project. When they started to wilt, I was reluctant to just throw them in the compost. But with a little time and effort, my flowers are getting new life (and new use) as rose water!
This super simple homemade rose water is versatile and zero waste. Learn why you should make this recipe the next time you have some extra roses lying (or should I say dying) around.
Why I love this DIY
- Requires little effort and “cooks” with mild supervision.
- Gives wilted roses another purpose before composting.
- Only two ingredients: rose petals and water!
- Costs nothing to make!
Whether you are gifted roses or you can pick roses from your garden, rose petals are easy to come by zero waste and by making your own eliminates purchasing packaged rose water.
About rose water and it’s uses
Rose water is just what it sounds like: rose-infused water. It’s been used for thousands of years and is thought to originate from the Persian empire. It’s been used to make perfumes and other fragrant beauty products as well as used in cooking. Here are some zero waste uses:
- Makes a mild yet lovely, natural perfume.
- Spray it on linens or your pillow to help you relax.
- Add it to bathwater for lovely smelling skin and self-care soak.
- Freeze some to use later.
- Use it as a makeup setting spray.
- Apply chilled rose water to cotton rounds and place on puffy eyes.
- Spray on hair to calm fizziness and add shine.
- Soak your scalp with rose water to eliminate a dry scalp and hydrate your hair.
- Mix with equal parts witch hazel for a refreshing toner.
- Add it to food recipes for meals or baked goods.
Is anyone else a huge fan of Como Aqua Para Chocolate? If you’re familiar then you know what I’m talking about when I say quail in rose petal sauce. Or you could make something like rose water shortbread cookies.
I’m really excited to replace my weekly apple cider vinegar hair rinse/soak with rose water! It’s will stabilize the pH of your hair and scalp, hydrating the scalp and adding shine.
Rose Water Recipe
Yields about 4 cups of rose water.
Ingredients
- rose petals from a dozen roses (about 4 cups)
- 6 cups of filtered water
The ratio is 1 and a half times water for the amount of rose petals you have. About half of the water will evaporate during heating.
Directions
- Separate the petals from the stems and sepals and rinse.
- Place petals in a pot and cover with water, making sure the amount of water just soaks all the rose petals. Cover with a lid.
- Over a low-medium heat, heat the petals and water for about 45 minutes or until all the color has drained from the petals, turning them white. I checked it every 15 minutes and gave the mixture a small stir. Note: the water will decrease by half.
- Strain the petals from the water. Compost the used petals.
- Store in some upcycled jars or containers and keep in a refrigerator or in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
Related: DIY Reusable Cotton Rounds and 3 Zero Waste Makeup Removers
Rose Water Properties
Rose water has a multitude of different naturally occurring properties that make it the perfect eco-beauty hack.
- It’s an astringent which can shrink pores and tone the skin.
- It’s anti-inflammatory which can reduce redness.
- It’s anti-bacterial to help eliminate acne and breakouts.
- It can soften skin and fine lines.
Rosewater can do almost everything! Especially for natural skin and hair care, it’s a handy ingredient to have around. And by keeping it in the refrigerator, it can last a couple of weeks. Because this is a homemade recipe, it does not have the preservatives to make it last for months.
Happy Making-
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