How to Make Rose Water

Prepare materials. Besides the dried rose petals and hot water, you also need to add 2 glass jars and a sieve.

Put the dried rose petals in a jar. If you want to use water for cooking, choose dried petals from edible roses such as Rosa damascena, Rosa centifpia and Rosa gallica. ^[5] These roses produce a delicious flavor.

Pour hot but not boiling water over the petals. You should use disinfected distilled water. If you can’t find distilled water, replace it with filtered water.

Close the lid of the jar and wait for the water to cool. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes depending on the temperature of the room.

Place the sieve over an empty jar. You will pour rose water into this jar and the sieve will help filter out the rose petals.

Pour rose water into the jar. Carefully pour the water over the sieve so that the water flows into the jar and the petals are retained on the sieve. When all the water has flowed into the jar, you can discard the petals.

Close the lid of the jar and store in the refrigerator. You will need to use the toner for 1 week before it expires.

Choose fresh, scented roses and wash them well. The fresher the rose, the better the finished product will be. ^[6] Use organic, pesticide-free roses; Although you do rinse, it is not possible to guarantee that you will completely wash off the chemical. Besides that, only one type of rose should be used; Each type will have its own scent and if combined, you cannot create a fragrance. Be sure to wash your roses thoroughly to remove dirt, insects, and pesticides.

• If you want to use rose water for cooking, you should use dried petals from edible roses such as Rosa damascena, Rosa centifpia and Rosa gallica. ^[7]

Peel off the petals and discard the other parts. You need 1 cup of rose petals, which is about 2 flowers, depending on the size of the rose.

Put rose petals in a pot and add water. Make sure the rose petals are evenly distributed in the water and that the water level is no more than the petals. If you use a lot of water, the rose water will have less of an odor. ^[8]

• Add a teaspoon of vodka. This does not affect the scent but will help preserve the rose water to keep it longer. ^[9]

Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Do not let the water boil or simmer; High temperatures will lose the color and other properties of rose water. After about 20 minutes, you should see the petals have faded and the water is the color of the petals.

Place the sieve over a large jar. Make sure the jar is completely clean and big enough to hold 2 cups (480ml) of water. You will need to use a sieve to filter out the petals.

Pour rose water into the jar. Hold the pot above the jar with both hands and carefully pour out the water. Slowly pour the water and petals into the sieve so that the water flows into the jar. The water will flow through the sieve and the petals are retained.

• Pour rose water into a small bottle. Using a small bottle is easier to use than using a large bottle. When you run out of rose water in the bottle, you just need to pour more from the big bottle.

Store rose water in the refrigerator. Rose water will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. ^[10] If you add vodka, it will last longer.

Divide the rose petals into 2 parts. You will grind 1 portion first and use the rest later.

Crush part of the petal with a pestle and mortar. When you crush the petals, you will see water come out; This water will be used to make rose water. You can also rub the petals into the sieve; Just place the sieve over the jar and rub the petals into the mesh with the back of the spoon.

Place the crushed petals and water in a porcelain bowl. You can also use a glass bowl or jar. Leave the rose water and petals in the bowl for a few hours; This makes the water darker.

Add the rest of the petals and let it sit for about 24 hours. Mix fresh petals with crushed petals. Cover the bowl and let it sit for about 24 hours.

Put the rose water and petals in a glass or porcelain pot. Do not use a metal pot as it will react with the oil.

Heat rose water and petals on low heat to simmer. Place the pot on the stove and turn the stove down to low heat. Bring the petals to a simmer. When you see bubbles rising, remove the pot from the stove.

Pour rose water into the jar through a sieve. You can also use a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Filter continuously until there are no more petals in the water.

• If you want to use rose water as a toner then mix it with a little distilled water until you get the texture you want.

Close the jar and leave it in the sun for a few hours. The heat from the sun produces beneficial natural oils.