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!
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.
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Notes
Sourcing 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). It's best to pick them first thing in the morning when they are freshest and most aromatic.Color check: The distilled rose water (aka rose hydrosol) should be completely clear and should have a floral scent. When adding petals to the pot, make sure none of them are in the small bowl.Check the blog post for how to use rose water!