How to make distilled rose water at home
Partake in a one of a kind experience of making homemade rose water through distilling water from fresh organic rose petals at home.
Each spring Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort welcomes guests from near and far to enjoy the green mountain which becomes transformed into a hub for a gorgeous rose picking ritual. It's the only place I've ever known that you're welcome to pick fresh and vibrant blooms from abundant indigenous fragrant rose bushes.
If you're completely enamored and drawn to roses like I am, this is a trip you simply must make. I ended up with a basket full of fresh blooms to take home, which I also made Rose honey, Rose ice cream, &wild rose petal jam with.
During my stay at the resort, I was also able to engage in an incredible journey of picking fresh rose blooms, and bringing them to locals for distilling in a unique way - by smoking their rose water. While I couldn't replicate this method at home, I wanted to share about it here, along with my own recipe which could easily be replicated at home. Enjoy it in one of these delicious rose water drinks.
With so many rose recipes here on frolic and fare, it only makes sense to share how to make your own rose water at home. You'll be shocked how easy it is to make with no special tools required.
This diy rose water can be used in so many different ways. Rose water has been used for centuries. It is believed that the life force of the flowers can be imprinted into the water and used to create remedies, when ingested or used topically. This is why you see rose water so frequently in skin care regimes.
The history of rose water:
Avicenna, a 10th century Persian scientist, is credited with the invention of refined rose water. Avicenna is regarded as one of the most significant physicians, astronomers and writers of the Islamic Golden Age and is considered the father of early modern medicine. He was a Muslim philosopher and is believed to have written 450 works on medicine. Avicenna was first to derive the attar of flowers from distillation and used distillation for heart treatments.
Methods of making rose water:
- Distillation method (produces rose water) - This is the method we use in this post and the recipe provided.
- Infusion method (produces rose essence) - Simple and diluted, made by simply infuse rose petals in water for several days in your refrigerator and then strain roses and use your rose water.
- Smoked rose water (produces smoked rose water, native to Oman) - Oman is home to one of the most unique rose waters in the world, produced from the fragrant damask rose native to the mountains of Jabal Akhdar in Al Dakhiliya region.
- Solvent extraction method (produces rose oil) Rose absolutes are obtained through solvent extraction, a technique originated in Iran. Rose oil is widely used in perfumery.
Difference between rose water, rose oil, and rose essence:
Before going further it is important to understand the difference between rose water, rose essence, and rose oil. All of which are produced in different ways.
- Rose water: Rose water, and the recipe we're producing today as a by product of distillation - or the process of separating the components of substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation, usually inside of an apparatus and results in pure components.
- Rose essence: A flower essence is generally a solar and water extraction of the vital life It force of a plant. It is made by allowing flowers infuse in water in direct sunlight in order to allow the life force of the plant to "imprint" on the water.
- Rose oil: The highly concentrated oil extracted from the petals of various types of rose.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- Roses are loaded with health benefits
- It makes a beautiful, thoughtful gift, and doesn't take a long time!
- According to Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry roses exhibit very strong radical scavenging effect and antioxidant power
- Its petals are nutritionally dense, containing an abundance of vitamin A, B, C, E
- In Ayurvedic medicine, roses are believed to to balance the heart chakra
- Roses are calming to the central nervous system according to thel Journal of Experimental Biology
- Rose water can be used in your recipes, like rose lemonade or cucumber rose water gin and tonic.
- Rose water is prized in all natural skincare regimes, add a splash to your bath with some essential oils and prepare to relax!
Symbolism in roses:
Roses are so beautiful that they have a built-in protection mechanism (thorns). Roses are popular for their beauty, but also their healing properties. They symbolize love, and authentic rose products have an extremely high vibration. Everything on earth is made of energy and therefore vibrates within a certain frequency. Natural rose water is a wonderful way to capture the essence of the your most beautiful roses. I very much enjoyed the process of creating this post because through the process of learning to make rose water, little hints of synchronicity were all about, reminding me that everything is connected.
It's really no wonder why I love to add rose water to my tea, like Rose water matcha tea recipe or even rose chocolate chip cookies. And in addition to being added to my culinary creations, using rose water as a rose hydrosol is also prized as a natural beauty product. More on that below! In this easy diy rosewater recipe, we use a classic distillation method.
I seek roses everywhere I go. I was fortunate enough to witness a floral water class in Nabeul Tunisia. One of their favorite uses for their rose water was in their espresso after fasting during Ramadan. I tried it myself and must say, rose water in espresso makes a wonderful addition. Enjoy it in our rose milk tea latte or rose water coffee. They were also very well known for their orange blossom water, which I used for my Orange Blossom Popsicles.
And now, I was able to witness the ceremony of smoking rose water here in Oman, where they still use a traditional rosewater processing system. A gas-fuelled ground fire first steams the rose petals. As the steam rises, cold water is added into the round dish tops, which causes the steam inside the compartments to condensate. The condensation drips down an inverted cone into a steel bowl, which produces the rosewater. This system is a simple gradual distillation technique that creates smoky brown distilled rosewater. View in this video.
How to choose the right roses
This simple distillation process results in edible rose water, as long as you've chosen the right type of roses. I have a whole post dedicated to Where to buy or find edible flowers if you're not sure where to start!
The color of the petals does not matter in this easy rose water recipe, and you can use any type of fragrant roses.
You can choose fresh organic rose petals directly from your garden, or organic dried rose buds. Having your own edible flower garden is the best place to get your natural ingredients, flower petals, and in this case - your own roses: fresh rose petals and rose blossoms.
You can also forage wild plants safety and sustainably. For example, over the summer there was an abundance of wood roses behind my mother's house in the mountains, and I foraged some rose infused honey and wild rose petal jam.
HOW TO responsibly forage roses:
Responsible foraging means
- Never forage plants that are endangered or rare
- Only take what you need and what you can sustainably get to without damaging the plant.
- Leave plenty of flowers for bees and others
Harvesting tips for working with flowers for consumption:
- Don't use roses from highly contaminated areas such as roadways, or chemically treated gardens.
- If you haven't tried a particular flower in culinary uses, taste a small piece before ingesting too much. You can be allergic to flowers.
- Do not use that wilting bouquet from the grocery store. It has likely been highly sprayed with pesticides.
Ingredients you need:
- Organic rose petals, preferably fresh petals - but you can use dry rose petals if that's all you can access.
- Distilled water
- Ice
Tools you need:
- A large pot with a lid
- A glass bowl that fits inside of the large pot
- A strainer
- An airtight container to store your rose water
Step by step process:
For the freshest, most flavor-enhanced method - we distill the rose petals and end up with the most natural fragrance and benefits from the roses.
- First, you'll need to pick and prepare your roses
If you're using fresh roses from your organic garden, remove the petals from the stems. Gently mist your petals with tap water from a gentle mist spray bottle to clean them, being careful not to bruise them. Remove any dirt or bugs. If you're using dried petals, skip this step. The amount of roses you use is entirely up to you. Try to use petals from least three full fresh roses, or one cup of dried rose petals.
- Place a small glass bowl in the center of a large pot. Place petals into the pot and around the bowl before adding the distilled water. Make sure you don't get distilled water directly into your bowl. The rose-infused condensation will collect on the underside of the pot lid, then drip down inside the clean bowl, giving you pure, concentrated rose water.
- Prepare your pot and distill
Place your lid upside down on your pot. The lid is used to trap steam inside, creating condensation - which will accelerate the steam. Turn your stove on to low temperature. As the ice starts to melt, remove the ice cubes and melted ice cube water and continue to add more fresh ice. Your water should not boil. Distill for 20 - 30 minutes or until the rose petals' color has faded. Make sure you have enough water throughout the process.
- Strain + Pour rose water in a sealed container
Turn off the heat and wait for your pot to cool completely. Remove the bowl of steamed rose water. Pour into an airtight container.
Note: You can also use the rose water that's remaining around the rose petals in the large pot. First, Pour off your rose water over a strainer into a large bowl. Let it sit so the water can drip from the petals. Store in the same or a separate airtight container, if desired.
What is the shelf life ?
Store in the refrigerator for up to six months or at room temperature for two weeks.
Adding a preservative
To keep your rose water for longer, you may want to add a preservative.
- Add one teaspoon of vodka for every 2 cups of water during the distillation or simmering process.
- Follow the instructions of your chosen method for all other steps.
- Cool and store in the refrigerator to keep your rose water even longer.
Frequently asked questions:
How long does diy rose water last:
Store rose water in the refrigerator for up to six months or at room temperature for up to two weeks
Is homemade rose water adequate?
Absolutely. The distillation method, as described in this recipe, is just as effective as a store-bought rose water. An infused method is less effective, but you will reap benefits from the roses either way.
Can I make rose water with tap water?
If your water is clean and safe for use, then absolutely. If not, it's best to use filtered water.
Can I make rose water without boiling water?
Yes, you would infuse rose petals in water for several days and then strain the roses out. Wa-la! You have rose water.
Why is rose water good for the skin?
Rose water hydrates the skin, is antibacterial, keeps the skin clean, and is high in antioxidants giving it a youthful glow.
Can I use any roses?
It's best to use food-safe organic roses for rose water.
How to make rose water at home
Ingredients
- 1 cup of organic rose petals
- 3 cups of distilled water
- 2 cups of Ice
Instructions
- If you're using fresh roses from your organic garden, remove the petals from the stems. Gently mist your petals with water to clean them, being careful not to bruise them. Remove any dirt or bugs. If you're using dried petals, skip this step. The amount of roses you use is entirely up to you. Try to use petals from least three full fresh roses, or one cup of dried rose petals.
- Place a small glass bowl in the center of a large pot. Place petals into the pot and around the bowl before adding the distilled water. Make sure you don't get distilled water directly into your bowl. The rose-infused condensation will collect on the underside of the pot lid, then drip down inside the clean bowl, giving you pure, concentrated rose water.
- Turn of the heat and wait for your pot to cool completely. Remove bowl of steamed rose water. Pour into an airtight container.
- Note: You can also use the rose water that's remaining around the rose petals in the large pot. First, Pour off your rose water over a strainer into a large bowl. Let it sit so the water can drip from the petals. Store in the same or a separate airtight container, if desired.
Notes
Follow the instructions of your chosen method for all other steps.
Cool and store in the refrigerator to keep your rose water even longer.
