How To Make Rose Water: A Natural Skincare Essential
Why Rose Water?
It's great to have a jar of Rose Water handy, because rose water has a host of benefits. The list of rose water benefits is long, and it has been studied heavily. The most common use is for pains related to the chest, but digestion is also treated with rose water. At blissani, we love rose water for its ability to reduce inflammation in skin. Native Americans used it as a treatment for menstrual bleeding and some folks have reported the vapors from rose water have helped them with migraines and headaches. Some reports indicate rose water can help with depression, but the pharmacological effects of rose water will require further study.
How to Use Rose Water?
Once you have your rose water, what will you do with it? The easiest way to enjoy the benefits of rose water is to place it into a spray bottle and use it as an all day toner. A quick face wash and a spritz of rose water is a nice treat on a hot day. You can also add rose water to a glass of iced tea with a bit of hibiscus. It's delicious, but we would caution you to go easy on the amount of rose water you ingest. It is a laxative, and we'll leave it at that.
As to making rose water it couldn't be easier.
Ingredients for Rose Water
You will need
- A saucepan
- Distilled water
- 5 Rose blossoms (preferably organic
- Ice
Steps to Make Rose Water
Step 1: Separate the rose petals from the stems and wash them gently.
Step 2: Place the rose petals into the bottom of your saucepan and cover them with distilled water, place enough water in the saucepan to cover all of the petals, and a little extra to simmer.
Step 3: Place the cover of your saucepan on, and boil the rose petals for 30 minutes, checking periodically to make sure there is enough distilled water in the saucepan to create the desired amount of rose water.
Step 4: Allow to cool to room temperature while in the saucepan. Place into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Optional Steps for Rose Water:
More Roses: You can make it stronger by adding more rose petals, but keep in mind the digestive and laxative effects of rose water as you do this.
Ice: If your saucepan cover can handle heat, place it upside down in step 3 so it forms a bowl over the rose petal mixture. Place ice in the bowl formed by the upside down cover and add more ice as it thaws during the boiling process. This aids with condensation during the boiling process and produces better results.
We hope this rose water aids in your natural healing regimen. We certainly enjoy it, and we love using organic rose water in our Very Toney and Gemma Crema Anti-Aging Serums.
For more on Natural Anti-Aging:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this topic
Can I use homemade rose water as a daily toner on my face?
Yes, homemade rose water works perfectly as an all-day toner when placed in a spray bottle. Simply wash your face and spritz the rose water on for a refreshing treatment, especially on hot days when you need a quick skincare pick-me-up.
Is it safe to drink homemade rose water, and how much should I consume?
While rose water can be added to drinks like iced tea with hibiscus, you should go easy on the amount you ingest since rose water acts as a laxative. Start with small quantities to avoid any unwanted digestive effects.
What specific skin benefits can I expect from using homemade rose water?
Homemade rose water is particularly effective at reducing inflammation in the skin, making it excellent for calming irritated or inflamed skin conditions. Its anti-inflammatory properties are one of the main reasons it's valued as a natural skincare essential.
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Rose Water as a Daily Toner: What to Expect
If you've never used a toner before, rose water is one of the gentlest places to start. After washing your face, your skin's pH is often slightly off balance — cleansers, even gentle ones, can leave the skin's surface a little more alkaline than it naturally wants to be. A quick spritz or cotton-pad swipe of rose water helps bring things back toward a mildly acidic state, which is where healthy skin tends to thrive. You're not going to see dramatic overnight results, but over a few weeks of consistent use, many people notice their skin looks calmer and less reactive.
The key is consistency. Using rose water once or twice a day — morning and evening after cleansing — gives your skin a steady supply of those anti-inflammatory compounds. If you have dry or sensitive skin, applying it while your face is still slightly damp from washing can help lock in a little extra moisture before you follow up with a serum or moisturizer. For oily or combination skin, rose water alone can sometimes be enough to feel refreshed midday without adding more product to your routine.
If you want a toner that pairs rose water's calming properties with a more complete formulation, blissani's Clear Face Toner is worth a look. It's vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA — a good companion to your homemade rose water routine on days when you want a little more from your toner step.
Choosing the Right Roses (It Matters More Than You'd Think)
Not all roses are created equal when it comes to making rose water for your skin. Roses grown for commercial sale — the kind you'd pick up at a grocery store or gas station — are almost always treated with pesticides and other chemicals that you really don't want sitting on your face. If you're going to the trouble of making your own rose water, organic roses are worth the extra effort to find. Many natural food stores carry them, and if you have a garden, growing your own is even better.
Beyond the organic question, the variety of rose matters too. Damask roses (Rosa damascena) are the traditional choice for rose water and rose oil production, and for good reason — they tend to have a higher concentration of the aromatic compounds that give rose water its characteristic scent and much of its beneficial properties. If you can find them, they're worth seeking out. That said, any fragrant, organic rose will do a reasonable job. Heavily hybridized roses that have little to no scent have often had much of their natural chemistry bred out of them, so go with your nose — if it smells strongly of rose, it's likely a better candidate for your saucepan.
One more tip: harvest or purchase your roses in the morning if possible. The concentration of aromatic oils in rose petals tends to be highest early in the day, before the heat of the afternoon causes them to begin evaporating.
Storing and Keeping Your Rose Water Fresh
Homemade rose water doesn't contain preservatives, which is part of what makes it appealing — but it also means you need to be a little thoughtful about storage. A clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator is the standard approach, and it works well for up to two months. If you notice any change in smell — something sour or off — it's time to make a fresh batch. That's a short shelf life compared to store-bought products, but the trade-off is that you know exactly what's in it.
If two months feels too short for the amount you're making, you can freeze rose water in an ice cube tray and thaw individual cubes as needed. It works especially well this way as a cooling face treatment in the summer — just run a cube gently over clean skin for a quick refresh. For spray bottle use, only transfer what you'll use within a week or two, and keep the rest sealed in the refrigerator.
Making your own rose water is genuinely simple and costs very little once you have a source for organic petals. Start with the basic recipe, keep a spray bottle in the fridge, and work it into your morning routine right after cleansing — that's really all it takes to see what rose water can do for your skin.