How to Prepare Rose Water and Enjoy Its Amazing Benefits

The intoxicating and delicate essence of rose water holds the key to some of the most effective health and beauty secrets known to mankind. Regularly used in Arabic countries and India, rose water has long been known as:

• a basic natural remedy for skin rejuvenation
• holy water used in religious ceremonies, and
• to add flavour to dishes.

Rose water has many properties, which is why we’d like to tell you how to prepare it at home, for daily application on your skin. But first, let’s go over some of the general benefits of roses.

Roses – their general benefits

• Benefits for skin – Owing to the incredible properties of rose water, it can be used regularly to heal the skin, wounds and prevent ageing.
• Benefits for the respiratory system – Roses can also be used for curing colds and flus. The best way to use roses for this purpose is by using the rosebush fruit, the fruit that comes from the plant once the rose flowers are gone. You can boil this fruit along with the seeds, strain it and drink the residual water (at least 2 cups per day) to benefit from the rose’s respiratory properties.
• Astringent properties of roses – An infusion prepared with roses is highly beneficial for eye inflammation.
• Digestive benefits of roses – Adding rose petals to your dishes can significantly help alleviate constipation and clean up your intestines. Rose petals can even be added to salads and used in the preparation of a delicious rose tea.

Rose water properties

• Healing and antibacterial properties – These properties make rose water an indispensable solution for skin conditions like acne, ulcers and sores.
• Relieves headache – Apply a handkerchief or compresses soaked in rose water to wherever it hurts.
• Decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties – You can use rose water as a perfumed toner to obtain relief from fatigue caused by a long day at work. It is particularly helpful in getting rid of dark circles under the eye if used regularly in the mornings.
• Rose water also smoothes out wrinkles, stretch marks and dark spots on the skin.
• As an anti-aging remedy – The high vitamin C content in rose water is perfect for collagen synthesis and for providing protection against the free radicals responsible for aging.
• Can be simply used for relaxation – Rose water can also be simply used for relaxation purposes. Nothing rejuvenates better than a fragrant rose water bath after a long day’s work!
• Works as an effective skin cleanser – Thanks to the tannin, pectin, vitamin B and vitamin E contained in it, rose water can be used as an ideal toning solution for cleaning and firming up the skin too.
• For hair loss prevention – Regular use of rose water can improve the flow of blood to your scalp and strengthen your hair follicles, thereby preventing hair loss.

How to prepare rose water?

What do you need?

• A glass bottle with an air-tight seal
• A pan that has a lid
• Half a kilo of rose petals
• Half a litre of distilled water

Instructions for preparation:

1. Pick the rose petals first – This is the first step in preparation of rose water. You must pick red and pink roses as they are the most fragrant. Remember that you need at least half a kilogram of them, so getting someone else to help you can be very helpful and less time consuming. Furthermore, if you’re picking them personally, it’ll be better that you do it early in the morning as roses have the best properties during the early hours of the day.
2. Fill up the cooking pan with half a litre of distilled water – It is always better to use distilled water (easily available in supermarkets) when preparing such kinds of skin toners meant for physical use. Add half a kilogram of rose petals after filling up the cooking pan with half a litre of distilled water, and put the pan on stove on a high flame.
3. Reducing the heat – This is the most critical step in rose water preparation. You must lower the heat level as soon as you see the water coming to a boil. Make sure that the steam doesn’t escape as it contains the essential oils of the roses, and has the maximum beneficial properties. Allow the rose water mixture to cook on low heat for 10 more minutes and then turn off the stove.
4. Let the infusion sit and mix well for another hour. This is very important.
5. Filter the solution once the steam level lowers down considerably, so that you’re left with only the rose water.
6. Now, put this rose water in a clean glass bottle and store it in the refrigerator after shutting it properly. The prepared rose water can be used from the next day onwards. Its temperature will work very well to deliver the perfect toning effect on your skin, clearing it up, toning it and healing it in the process. All in all, rose water is one of the simplest and most beneficial natural remedies known to mankind!