Homemade rose water

by Kiran on September 11, 2012 · 71 comments

in DIY

Hello!!

I’ve been getting so many emails on how to make rose water to use in some of my recipes, i.e Cantaloupe in Coconut Rose Cream recipe.

So here it goes, right from the basics…

Strolled into Publix to get some fresh roses.

Saw a few bouquet that has seen better days. Demanded for a discount.

Headed home with 1 dozen of mangled roses, for $4. My policy is simple — “you won’t get it till you demand ask for it”.

It’s definitely not a peak season for roses. Thank you lord.

Hmmm.. if you get cheaper than that, don’t tell me.

Some key steps in making homemade rose water:

  • Homegrown, pesticide-free petals is the way to go. If not, purchase organic roses.
  • Use petals only, no stems or leaves.
  • Wash petals thoroughly before processing.
Rose water is used not only in desserts. You can use it in your bubble baths and even as a cool face toner and cleanser.

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Rose Water — adapted from Tipnut.

Items:

  • Petals from half a dozen of roses
  • Distilled water
  • Big pot
  • Sterilized jars or bottles

Directions:

  1. Fill bottom of pot with rose petals.
  2. Pour distilled water over rose petals just enough to cover.
  3. Heat pot but DON’T bring it to boil. Just steaming hot.
  4. Remove pot from heat and allow rose petals to steep for half an hour or until petals looses its color.
  5. Strain water and squeeze out liquid from petals.
  6. Cool rose water completely before storing it in sterilized jars or bottles. Keep it refrigerated.


I would like to take this moment to remember everyone that was and still is affected by 9/11. We will never forget your sacrifice and heroism on that fateful day.

Rest in peace.

 

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Comments on this entry are closed.

1 Alyssa (Everyday Maven) September 11, 2012 at 5:49 PM

This is awesome! Why have I never thought to do this myself before? Thanks 🙂
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) recently posted..The Food Matters Project: Garlicky Edamame Cakes

2 Rosa September 11, 2012 at 5:50 PM

Dreamy pictures and wonderful recipe!

Cheers,

Rosa

3 fabiola@notjustbaked September 11, 2012 at 5:57 PM

Wow this is amazing. I have the type of roses that are used for making essential oils, I walk by them everyday saying I will make it myself, still haven’t. But I never thought to make my own rose water, that is brilliant! I don’t have roses on there now, will have to wait, but I can’t wait to make it, thank you!
And thank you for the kind words of remembering and honoring.
fabiola@notjustbaked recently posted..Spicy Eggplant with Pork

4 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 5:47 PM

Fabiola — you are welcome! I am glad this post is helpful 🙂

5 Jen @ Savory Simple September 11, 2012 at 7:24 PM

I have always wanted to try this! During cherry blossom season I was desperately looking for cherry blossom extract and almost tried making my own.
Jen @ Savory Simple recently posted..Pumpkin Spiced Cocktail Nuts

6 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 5:50 PM

Jen — I’ve never heard of cherry blossom extract. It already sounds delicious 😉

7 Jen @ Savory Simple September 17, 2012 at 5:52 PM

Apparently you can only find it in Japan. While there I had cherry blossom ice cream that was out of this world. I never thought to pick up the extract :\
Jen @ Savory Simple recently posted..Authentic Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

8 Kankana September 11, 2012 at 8:20 PM

I have to try this. I know my skin would love it 🙂
Kankana recently posted..Shrimp Pulav – Guest Post at Healthful Pursuit

9 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 6:02 PM

Kankana — 😉

10 chinmayie @ love food eat September 11, 2012 at 10:21 PM

Never thought I could make my own rose water! WOW! Super cool photos as well 🙂
chinmayie @ love food eat recently posted..Spicy Grape Tomato Salad

11 Angie@Angie's Recipes September 12, 2012 at 12:04 AM

These photos are so so pretty!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Overnight Yogurt Sunflower Seed Bread Rolls

12 Carolyn Chan September 12, 2012 at 2:06 AM

How simple and beautiful !
Carolyn Chan recently posted..La Maison Fatien

13 vianney September 12, 2012 at 2:55 AM

How lovely~~ I have alwasy wanted to make rose water. And what a treat for Vday!! thanks,
vianney recently posted..Jalapeño Cream

14 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 6:47 PM

Vianney — thanks love. Ditto about V Day 😉

15 Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen September 12, 2012 at 4:21 AM

And I just picked up a bottle of rose water at the store this weekend! I wish I had seen this before.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Tomato Fennel Gratin

16 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 10:19 PM

Sylvie — I do that too, all the time. It’s just too expensive to take a bath with it, though 😉

17 Choc Chip Uru September 12, 2012 at 6:06 AM

I can’t think of any other word but beautiful my friend 🙂

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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18 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 10:19 PM

Uru — oh, you are too kind my dear 🙂

19 Ina gawne September 12, 2012 at 7:52 AM

How lovely! This is something I must try….if I can find organic roses. Rosewater is truly beautiful!
Ina gawne recently posted..GLUTEN FREE CLAM PENNE ALFREDO AND A PRESENT

20 Kitchen Belleicious September 12, 2012 at 8:13 AM

oh rose water- how I love thee! i am so glad you did this post so I can actually make my own instead of buying it! Thank you

21 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 10:58 PM

Jessica — you are welcome honey. Let me know how it turned out, as and when you make it 🙂

22 Maria September 12, 2012 at 9:30 AM

Your photos are gorgeous!
Maria recently posted..Homemade Fruit Leather

23 Kiran September 17, 2012 at 11:06 PM

Maria — thanks a lot!

24 Asmita September 12, 2012 at 3:40 PM

Gorgeous snaps!

25 Viviane Bauquet Farre September 12, 2012 at 3:45 PM

Very helpful recipe, Kiran! Rosewater has so many wondrous applications in food and around the house. Gorgeous photography has come to be expected of you!
Viviane Bauquet Farre recently posted..Boston lettuce with corn, fresh tomato vinaigrette and grilled zucchini skewers

26 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 1:19 AM

Viviane — thanks a lot dear friend. I truly appreciate your heart-felt encouragement 🙂

27 Cass @foodmyfriend September 12, 2012 at 8:30 PM

So beautiful Kiran. I love the natural colour of it! I think the lowest price I can get roses for is about $12.00 for a small bunch at the supermarket. I will be grabbing a bunch next trip!

28 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:39 PM

Cass — make sure you make it 🙂

29 Juliana September 12, 2012 at 8:35 PM

Nice recipe Kiran…and it is really simple. I love the pictures as always so pretty.
Hope you are having a great week 🙂

30 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:41 PM

Juliana — thank you my dear, and hope you are having a great vacation 🙂

31 Simply Life September 12, 2012 at 9:44 PM

oh this is so beautiful! I feel like it should be in a spa or hotel somewhere!
Simply Life recently posted..Squeezing in Summer Meals

32 Cakewhiz September 13, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Those pictures look like they came out of a fancy magazine ….just gorgeous!
And i always keep a bottleof rose water in the kitchen….it gives my cakes and creams such a wonderful aroma. It’s nice to see i can make my own…it will be more fresh this way 🙂

33 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:45 PM

Cakewhiz — thank you so much for the lovely compliments — made my day 🙂

34 Tadka Pasta September 13, 2012 at 3:56 AM

So beautiful! Gorgeous pictures and a really fabulous recipe. I don’t like to use the store-bought one, but this is definitely do-able.
Tadka Pasta recently posted..Crackling Churmuri

35 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:51 PM

Tadka — on the contrary, I love using the store bought version in recipes. Its stronger in flavor 🙂

36 Maureen | Orgasmic Chef September 13, 2012 at 9:58 AM

Okay I’ve got a little bottle of rosewater and I only used it once in a dessert. What do you use rosewater in? (Other than a bath which sounds like a fab idea)
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Real Food Festival

37 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:54 PM

Maureen — I use it as a facial toner, homemade creams + scrubs, and even as air freshener 🙂

38 Deb September 13, 2012 at 11:48 AM

What a gorgeous post! Simple recipe with outstanding results and lyrical photos, one of my favorites!

39 dassana September 13, 2012 at 1:52 PM

so beautiful. i usually get rose water from out and they do not even have a pinkish hue in them. thanks for sharing. i plan to make rose water from my own rose shrubs when they start blooming.
dassana recently posted..puran poli | ganesh chaturthi recipe

40 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:58 PM

Dassana — thank you and do let me know how it turned out 🙂

41 Raymund September 13, 2012 at 4:52 PM

Now thats how its made, very informative. Thanks!
Raymund recently posted..Balbacua

42 Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake September 14, 2012 at 2:23 AM

This is a such a fantastic idea! I would never have thought of it myself. Although I don’t receive roses nearly as much as I’d like. :/
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake recently posted..Nama Nama, Melbourne – Japanese lunch fare

43 Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella September 14, 2012 at 8:21 AM

I’ve wanted to make my own rosewater for ages! I even bought the bottles-your post has just urged me to make it myself 😀
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Surprising Salalah, Oman

44 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 4:59 PM

Lorraine — do make it, like right now 😀

45 Sommer@ASpicyPerspective September 14, 2012 at 8:48 AM

What a cool idea to make it yourself!!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective recently posted..Potato Skins Mac and Cheese

46 amy @ fearless homemaker September 14, 2012 at 10:02 AM

Ooh, I love rose water in bubble baths, creams, scrubs, etc., + had never thought of making it myself. We grow roses in our garden, so I’m putting this on my to-try list this weekend. THANK YOU! =)
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

47 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 5:23 PM

Amy — you are welcome, and please inform me once you’ve made it 🙂

48 Laavanya September 14, 2012 at 11:04 AM

I’ve always enjoyed shopping at Publix when living in Atlanta… i think they are quite gracious and when I’ve noticed any price discrepancies between what is shown against what rings up, they’ve given it to me for free!
Loved the pics and never thought to make rose water at home before… must be a fragrant process 🙂

49 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Laavanya — I concur with you about Publix services. They are so nice!

50 Jaime {sophistimom} September 14, 2012 at 11:37 PM

Such a wonderful thing to teach us, Thank you!!
Jaime {sophistimom} recently posted..emergency brownies

51 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 5:24 PM

Jaime — you are welcome 🙂

52 Baker Street September 17, 2012 at 2:38 AM

Easy peasy! Why does anyone ever need to go out and buy anything!!
Baker Street recently posted..#MuffinMonday: Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins

53 Kiran September 18, 2012 at 5:25 PM

Anu — to make recipes 😉

54 Simply Vicky September 26, 2012 at 8:55 AM

I have been wanting to start using rose water as a morning toner for a while now, and I’m so excited to try this! Beautiful pictures as always…loving your blog! xoxo
Simply Vicky recently posted..How To: Make Your Own Marinara Sauce

55 Kiran August 26, 2013 at 3:32 AM

Vicky — thank you so much and i hope you get a chance to make this soon 🙂

56 Nami | Just One Cookbook September 26, 2012 at 8:02 PM

So this is how you make rose water from scratch! This is my very first time learning this. I thought of buying but it sounds easy enough to make it at home!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Mentaiko Pasta | Spicy Cod Roe Pasta 明太子パスタ

57 Hardesh October 21, 2012 at 9:14 AM

Hi Kiran

Just looking thru all your beautiful posts and picture…..Well done …….. Really Mesmerising shots …………..

Going to definitely try this at home

58 Kieda May 12, 2013 at 1:15 AM

I love your Blog !! Check out mines as well ! 😀

59 Kiran August 26, 2013 at 3:36 AM

Kieda — haha, thanks! 😀

60 Emma July 5, 2013 at 5:09 PM

I’m so intrigued by the idea of making my own rose water!
Do you have any idea how long it will keep?
Emma recently posted..Wheat Berry Salad with Chickpeas + Za’atar, Tahini Beetroot

61 Kiran August 26, 2013 at 3:38 AM

Emma — mine lasted almost 1 month in the refrigerator. It might go for more than a month, depending on the sterile condition of the containers 🙂

62 Sidney August 14, 2013 at 7:38 PM

I would love to make this, but I won’t have the time in the next few weeks 🙁 Where would you buy rose water? I can’t find it ANYWHERE. I’ll be making this though, as soon as I’m free 🙂

63 Kiran August 26, 2013 at 3:39 AM

Sidney — you can definitely find rose water from a local Indian grocery store or online at amazon dot com 🙂

64 angel January 26, 2014 at 2:03 AM

Can i keep d homemade rose water in a plastic bottle?

65 angel January 26, 2014 at 2:05 AM

Can i keep d homemade rosewater in a plastic bottle?

66 Christa August 29, 2014 at 10:50 AM

hello I wanted to ask if it is necessary to refrigerate, and if not necessary then how long could it sit out before needing to be disposed of?

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