Make Your Own Rose Water

Rose bushes provide a beautiful accent to your landscaping, and you will enjoy their lovely aroma throughout the blooming seasons. Some gardeners enjoy cutting roses and bringing them indoors to create floral arrangements throughout the home, while others press the blooms and use them in craft projects. But there’s another terrific way to use your roses: Rose water! It is one of the most useful home remedies for many health conditions, and it’s surprisingly easy to make!

Here are just some of the more popular uses for rose water:

• Controlling acne breakouts (just spritz it on your face)
• Balancing your skin’s pH levels
• Smoothing the skin, lessening the appearance of fine lines
• Tightening pores
• Slowing the aging process
• Calming anxiety
• Soothing sunburned skin

If you want to make your own rose water, remember to use blooms that have not been treated with chemicals such as pesticides. Harvest fresh blooms early in the morning, to capture them at their most fragrant, and use them right away.

Next, bring a small pot of spring water (about five ounces) to a boil. Then add a handful of rose petals, cover the pot, and simmer until the petals lose their color. If you want to make a larger quantity of rose water, just adjust the above measurement accordingly.

Allow the rose water to cool completely, and strain into your desired container. If you’re using the rose water for your complexion, pour it into a small spritzing bottle. Your rose water will stay fresh for about seven days if you keep it at room temperature, or up to a month if you store it in the refrigerator.