Making Wild Rose Water

Rose Water has been used for generations as a natural astringent, helping to tighten the skin and reduce redness and inflammation. It’s also very gentle and can be used on most skin types which is why it’s often used in beauty preparations such as creams and lotions.

Rosa Rugosa and a white Rosa Canina – both are types of wild roses

Unlike Rose essential oil, it doesn’t take hundreds of kilos of petals to produce and I’ve also found that it’s relatively simple to make at home. Whether spritzing it directly on your face or blending it into an emulsion, this natural extract is one that more women should consider making and using themselves.

At the end of the process, Rose Water should smell faintly of roses but if you want even a little of the fragrance to remain intact then it’s best to start with old fashioned or wild roses. So many of the modern cultivars have been bred for their beauty rather than their scent which makes me wonder what else they’ve lost in the process. Though it’s getting later in the summer you’ll still be able to find wild roses blooming in hedges, parks, and wasteland. Pick the petals direct from the flower, leaving the hip and flower’s reproductive parts in place. It could be that it’s already been pollinated and that you could return in the autumn to pick them for rose-hip syrup or tea.

After the petals have paled considerably, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer and compost the remaining rose petals. Pour the Rose Water into a sterilised jar, allow it to cool, and then keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to use it. Kept this way, it will keep for about a month if not two.