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How to make rose water at home with a couple of quick and simple steps. The distilled rose water can be used in recipes, as a beautiful product, a scented room mist, or even as a gift!
I love all sorts of DIY projects and this homemade rose water is one of my favorites. I find its lovely smell so relaxing, that I can spray it around me all day long. Plus, it can also be used for cooking and in cosmetics so I just had to learn how to make DIY rose water.
Table of contents
Why make rose water at home
If you too enjoy the smell of roses, you’ll love how simple the method of making rose water is and how fragrant it is. Plus, the resulting distilled water is completely chemical-free and is made using just water and organic rose petals. This means that you can use it both as an all-natural beauty product and in the kitchen.
However, to make it safe for consumption rose water needs to be made by distillation – this is the process of evaporating the water and then condensing it back to liquid. Then the distilled rosewater will have all of its impurities removed while keeping the floral aroma and taste of the roses. As this rosewater recipe is very simple, you can then quickly enjoy all of its benefits.
What you’d need
- Fragrant fresh roses: Rosa damascene (damask rose) and Rosa centifolia (centifolia/”cabbage” rose) are great choices but others will work too as long as they are aromatic roses, free of pesticides. Those from the flower shop are often sprayed with pesticides so you shouldn’t use them. Instead opt for unsprayed organic roses, foraged ones, or those from your garden (as long as you know if they are sprayed or not). You need 4-5 blossoms.
- Water: Tap water is fine as we’ll be boiling it. You can also use distilled water.
- Ice cubes: To help with the distillation process.
How to make rose water
Prepare the roses: If you are using roses from your garden, it’s best to pick them first thing in the morning – they will be freshest and most aromatic then. Remove the rose blossoms from the stems, separate the fresh petals, and carefully rinse them to get rid of any dust or little critters.
Heat the water and petals: Put a heatproof bowl at the center of an empty pot – this is where the distilled water will collect. Then add the rose petals around the bowl (not inside it). Add enough water to cover the petals. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then let it simmer.
As soon as it boils, place the lid on upside down so the handle is facing into the pot. The inverted lid will help catch the vapor for this distilling method so the water can roll down and drip into the bowl.
Ice the lid to distill the water: Next, add some ice to the top of the lid. As soon as it melts, add more ice cubes. This helps with the condensation of the evaporated water under the lid. You can spoon off the melted ice or use a towel to soak it up. Keep repeating this step for about 20-30 minutes.
Cool the rose water: In about 30 minutes, the distilled rose water will be ready. It should have condensed into the bowl in the middle of the saucepan and should be completely clear.
Finally, carefully remove the bowl as it is hot. Set it aside to cool down, then pour the rose water into a clean glass container.
Video tutorial
Storage
Store the rose water in a glass container or a spray bottle in a cool dry place. Make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight and heat. When stored properly, it can last for months, if not even years.
How to use rose water
Because this is pure distilled rose water, you can use it both for cooking and for beauty.
- Aromatic mist: It’s great to be used as a room spray! You can even spray it onto your pillow at night to help you sleep better or added to your bathtub for an aromatic bathing experience.
- Add to drinks: Add a few drops for a delicate floral flavor in cocktails or summer drink recipes like this Fresh Raspberry Lemonade.
- Use in desserts: A lot of traditional Middle Eastern desserts use rosewater, like baklava, bread pudding, or ashta cream. You can also add a drizzle to ice cream, tarts, and more.
- Skincare: Rosewater hydrates and refreshes the skin so you can use it as a natural facial toner, add it to a body lotion/moisturizer, or use it as hair perfume.
More rose recipes and DIYs
If you try this rose water recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
How to Make Rose Water
Ingredients
- 4-5 blossoms of fragrant organic roses make sure they are pesticide-free
- 3-4 cups water enough to cover the petals in your pot
- 3-4 cups ice cubes
This will yield about 1/2 cup (125 ml).
Instructions
- Remove the rose blossoms from the stems, separate the fresh petals, and carefully rinse them to get rid of any dust or little critters.
- Put a heatproof bowl at the center of an empty pot. Add the rose petals around the bowl (not inside it).
- Add enough water to cover the petals. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then let it simmer.
- As soon as it boils, place the lid on upside down so the handle is facing into the pot.
- Add some ice to the top of the lid. As soon as it melts, add more ice cubes. You can spoon off the melted ice or use a towel to soak it up. Keep repeating this step for about 20-30 minutes.
- In about 30 minutes, the distilled rose water will be ready. It should have condensed into the bowl in the middle of the saucepan and should be completely clear.
- Carefully remove the bowl as it is hot. Let it cool down.
- Pour the rose water into a clean glass container and store it in a cool dry place.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use roses that are dried/drying out from a bouquet?
Hi Sue,
It’s best to use fresher flowers that are not wilting. Also, make sure to use organic roses that are not sprayed with pesticides. I hope this helps.
Made this with my daughter from her fragrant Christmas rose. Fantastic in an atomiser. I’d there any use for the syrup left in the pan? Seem a shame to waste such great smelling liquid.
Hi Dale,
You can put it in a spray bottle and use it as an air freshener. I wouldn’t recommend using it for cooking.
Do you just throw out all the rose pedals or strain them and the liquid they are in? I did this today and have bright red water left, Can I use this for anything?
Hi Denise,
You can use the leftover water as a refreshing room spray, please don’t use it for cooking. The rose petals – you’ll have to discard or compost.
I did this with a dozen pink Ohara cabbage/garden roses but my rosewater turned golden brown & took on the scent of sweet potato. any idea why that could happen?
Hi Heymish,
It sounds like you used the water where the leaves were boiling in? Did you use that or did you catch the water from the condensation in a different container?
How long is the rosewater good for? Would it be safe to use longer if I canned it?
Hi Sam,
The rose water should be good for 3-4 months when stored in a cool dry place. I’m sorry but I haven’t tried canning it yet.
I used mixture of Rose’s of different colors and my rose water turned brown is it still okay to be used on the face
Hi Mariam,
Was it the distilled water that was collected in the bowl that turned brown? The distilled rose water should remain clear. It’s normal that the water in which the petals are sitting turns brown – it can be used as a room spray but not on your face.
Thank you so much for this fun distillation method!
Thank you for your comment 🙂
I really want to know where you got the dish with the heart bowl in the middle from I would like to make my own rosewater but can’t figure out with the cooking pots I have how to do it
Hi Jess,
The heart-shaped bowl was found online. You can use any bowl as long as you can fill it with about 1/2-3/4 liquid (to make sure it’s big enough for the distilled rose water). I hope this helps.
Hi,
Love this! Is there any way to use dried rose petals? I bought some on a whim and now I’m at a loss as to how to use them!!
Hi Aparna,
You can use dried roses but the resulting water may not be as fragrant or flavorful as rose water made with fresh roses. So I recommend using fresh petals.
Thank you for the recipe!! I love your pictures as well. Very beautiful
Thank you very much for your comment, Amanda.
Sounds cool. I have roses but if I wanted to buy a more condensed version, do you suggest any brands that are trustworthy. Also, I’m interested in drinking it only. Thank you for sharing…ill be trying your method
Hi Carmella,
The more fragrant the roses, the more fragrant your rose water will be. Rosa damascene (damask rose) and Rosa centifolia (centifolia/”cabbage” rose) are great choices but others would work just as well. Make sure they are organic and free from pesticides. I hope this helps.