http://www.care2.com/greenliving/rose-water-how-to-make-your-own.html
How to Make Your Own Rose Water
Adapted from Rosemary Gladstar's Herbs for Natural Beauty, by Rosemary Gladstar.
Rose water is used in cosmetics for its lovely scent, but also because it has light astringent properties. As the gentlest of all astringents, rose water is often used as toner for fair and dry skin.
You must be careful when purchasing rose water to buy only the 100 percent pure form. Often what is available in pharmacies and even some natural food stores is synthetic rose oil and water with preservatives added. Pure rose water is the distilled water of roses. It is usually made by stream distillation, and it smells heavenly and tastes delicious.
Availability: Besides health food stores and herb stores, you can often find rose water in delicatessens; it is used as a flavoring in fancy Greek pastries, puddings, and cakes.
Rose Water, Method No. 1
This recipe is the more traditional way to prepare rose water. Though it’s a little more involved, its fun to do and the results are outstanding. You can make a quart of excellent-quality rose water in about 40 minutes. However, if you simmer the water too long, you will continue to produce distilled water but the rose essence will become diluted. Your rose water will smell more like plain distilled water, rather than the heavenly scent of roses.
Be sure you have a brick and heat-safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl ready before you begin.
Ingredients:
2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petals
Water
Ice cubes or crushed ice
1. In the center of a large pot (the speckled blue canning pots are ideal) with an inverted lid (a rounded lid), place a fireplace brick. On top of the brick place the bowl. Put the roses in the pot; add enough flowers to reach the top of the brick. Pour in just enough water to cover the roses. The water should be just above the top of the brick.
2. Place the lid upside down on the pot. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a rolling boil, then lower heat to a slow steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, toss two or three trays of ice cubes (or a bag of ice) on top of the lid.
3. You’ve now created a home still! As the water boils the steam rises, hits the top of the cold lid, and condenses. As it condenses it flows to the center of the lid and drops into the bowl. Every 20 minutes, quickly lift the lid and take out a tablespoon or two of the rose water. It’s time to stop when you have between a pint and a quart of water that smells and tastes strongly like roses.
Go to the Source
Rosemary Gladstar's Herbs for Natural Beauty
True beauty doesn't come shrink-wrapped! In this inspiring guide, internationally known herbalist Rosemary Gladstar offers a healing, holistic approach to beauty and body care.buy nowrelated stories
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34 comments
add your comment »Wow! What an awesome idea...we thought we wouldn't be able to make our own, but your writing that really inspired us...Thanks!
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The web site for JHerbals is http://www.juliasgoatmilksoap.com/ . Original poster left email, not web site. I hope this helps.
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Sorry, I forgot to add that I used 'New Dawn' roses (pale pink and very old fashion fragrance). They are prolific and send up new bushes all the time. Just dig up a runner that as a new plant starting and transplant; keeping it watered for a week or so. They start blossoming within weeks. It's a very sweet rose. I plant them under windows and my house smells great.
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This method worked very well. As the ice cubes melted, I used a turkey baster to drain off the water, thereby not lifting off the lid which would allow steam to escape. I just kept adding ice cubes.
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I own a rose farm in Ecuador and would like to know if anyone out there wants to buy rose petals to make rose water or use it as an ingredient to flavour foods etc. If so please feel fee to contact me at paolaha@hotmail.com
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I own a rose farm in Ecuador and would like to know if anyone out there wants to buy rose petals to make rose water or use it as an ingredient to flavour foods etc. If so please feel fee to contact me at paolaha@hotmail.com
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I own a rose farm in Ecuador and would like to know if anyone out there wants to buy rose petals to make rose water or use it as an ingredient to flavour foods etc. If so please feel fee to contact me at paolaha@hotmail.com
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I own a rose farm in Ecuador and would like to know if anyone out there wants to buy rose petals to make rose water or use it as an ingredient to flavour foods etc. If so please feel fee to contact me at paolaha@hotmail.com
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i shall be grateful if anyone could guide me as to how to preserve rosewater for longer periods of time?how long can one preserve rosewater?
thank you.please send the information if possible through email-farmessentials@gmail.com
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ok this jherbals@click1.net does not work. Can anyone give me an update? Please. I am 54 and would like to look like I am in my 30s. Oh I would be happy for 40ish
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