Learning how to make rose water at home is so incredibly easy that you'll never need to buy it at the store again! Use it for culinary recipes, skincare, and so much more! With just 2 ingredients (rose petals and water), you can whip up some homemade rose water in a snap!
Guide To Homemade Rose Water
Maybe you've just discovered rose water, or perhaps you've been a fan for a long time! Either way, the bottles can be pretty pricy in the store, so making it at home is so much better (plus it is ridiculously simple)!
Not only does it smell fantastic, but it has so many different uses! Enjoy it for all its amazing benefits on your skin, or add it to some baked goods for some extra flavor!
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🤔 What Is Rose Water
Rose water is a natural byproduct created by either steeping rose petals in water or distilling them. It can be used in a wide variety of ways, from skincare to culinary, and has a lot of associated health benefits!
🌹 How Can Rose Water Be Used
Rose water can be used for skin care, beauty, and (much more importantly) in cooking or baking recipes! Try it out in some of these amazing uses!
- Clean cuts or burns
- Use it as a facial toner
- Soothe skin irritations (sunburn)
- Add it to homemade beauty products (soap and scrubs)
- Soothes sore throats
- Reduces skin redness
- Use it in recipes
- Add to jam or jelly
- Add to ice cream
🥘 Rose Water Ingredients
You only need two ingredients to make your rose water at home! Rose petals (either fresh or dried) and some distilled water!
- Rose Petals - 2 cups of fresh rose petals OR 1 cup of dried rose petals. If you are using fresh rose petals, buy organic ones specifically made for culinary use. If you have a rose bush, you can easily use those! However, you can always order organic food-grade dried rose petals online if you have difficulty finding them.
- Distilled Water - 5 cups of distilled water. You can find this at any grocery store.
🍲 How To Make Rose Water By Simmering
Simmering your rose petals is the easiest way to make rose water. It requires minimal work and will leave you with beautiful red-hued water that can be used in so many ways!
- Combine. Add your rose petals to a large saucepan and pour the distilled water over the top.
- Boil. Place the saucepan over high heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Steep. Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to sit and steep for 1 hour.
- Strain. Strain the liquid into a bottle and use it immediately or store it for later.
🔪 How To Make Rose Water By Distilling
Distilling your rose water is also exceptionally easy, but it does require more babysitting than just simmering the mixture. As a result, you'll have clear rose water.
- Prepare. Set a heat-proof bowl into the center of a large stockpot.
- Pour. Place the rose petals in the pot (not inside the bowl) and pour the distilled water over the top. *Avoid getting anything inside the bowl.
- Boil. Place the lid upside down onto the pot and bring the water to a boil.
- Simmer. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low so the water can simmer, and place some ice on top of the upside-down lid.
- Replace the ice. As the ice melts, dump it off and add new ice. Simmer and replace the ice until the color has faded from the rose petals and clear water has collected inside the bowl.
- Cool. Remove the lid and let everything cool before bottling the water collected in the bowl (or using it immediately).
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Instead of 2 cups of fresh rose petals, you could use 1 cup of dried rose petals.
- If using fresh petals, buy organic roses and clean them thoroughly before using them to remove any pesticides, dirt, or bugs.
- The simmering method will result in rose water that has a slight red color, while the distilling method will yield clear water.
🥡 Storing
Keep your rose water stored in a glass jar or clear container in the fridge or a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
When stored properly, your rose water can easily last up to 1 year! That's an easy way to save some money! Just keep it in an airtight jar in a cool place.
Yes! You can use either fresh or dried rose petals. However, you don't want to use the roses from the grocery store, as they could have been sprayed with pesticides. Instead, choose fresh roses that are organic and food-grade if you are intending to add it to your recipes.
This homemade rose water is 100% safe for consumption! Just make sure you are using food-grade, organic roses. Add it to your tea, cakes, cookies, lattes, or anything else you might like!
📖 More Cooking & Baking Guides
- How To Make Bone Broth - Learn how to make some tasty bone broth using your leftovers easily!
- How To Make Homemade Cake Mix - This simple homemade cake mix is so much better than the store-bought kind in a box!
- How To Make Cake Flour - Whip up your own cake flour using ingredients you already have at home!
- How To Keep Cookies Soft - These are the best tips & tricks for ensuring soft and tender cookies!
- How To Cook Risotto - The ultimate guide to preparing this elegant and delicious dish!
- How To Melt Chocolate - The best methods for smooth and glossy melted chocolate every time!
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📖 Recipe Card
How To Make Rose Water
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh rose petals
- 5 cups distilled water
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Simmering Method
- Add your rose petals to a large saucepan and pour the distilled water over the top.
- Place the saucepan over high heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to sit and steep for 1 hour.
- Strain the liquid into a bottle and use it immediately or store it for later.
Distilling Method
- Set a heat-proof bowl into the center of a large stockpot.
- Place the rose petals in the pot (not inside the bowl) and pour the distilled water over the top. *Avoid getting anything inside the bowl.
- Place the lid upside down onto the pot and bring the water to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low so the water can simmer, and place some ice on top of the upside-down lid.
- As the ice melts, dump it off and add new ice. Continue to simmer and replace the ice until the color has faded from the rose petals and clear water has collected inside of the bowl.
- Remove the lid and let everything cool before bottling the water that has collected in the bowl (or using it immediately).
Notes
- Instead of 2 cups of fresh rose petals, you could alternatively use 1 cup of dried rose petals.
- If using fresh petals, make sure you buy organic roses and clean them thoroughly before using them to remove any pesticides, dirt, or bugs.
- The simmering method will result in rose water that has a slight red color while the distilling method will yield water that is clear.
- To store: Keep your rose water stored in a glass jar or clear container either in the fridge or in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.
kt says
I had no idea how easy this would be. Wanted to make a Persian Love Cake and no rosewater at any of our local stores. We have roses everywhere in the Pacific NW right now and gave it try. The house smells amazing, super easy, and cost almost nothing after grabbing roses from the yard. I think it will actually encourage me to use in recipes more now that I have a good supply.