12+ Things To Make With Roses (+Printable!) - The Nerdy Farm Wife

Types of Roses to Use

Many people wonder if they can use regular roses from their backyard to make these projects. The answer is, yes!

When it comes to making medicinal home remedies with roses, old-fashioned or wild types that are naturally fragrant are the best option.

However, if you only have access to modern-day hybrids or something like knockout rose bushes – they’ll work just fine for any of the DIY bath and beauty projects below.

If you don’t happen to have fresh rose petals available, look for high quality organic dried roses from online vendors such as Mountain Rose Herbs.

Roses from the florist aren’t recommended for internal use – they’re often sprayed with chemicals to make them grow perfectly pretty, but they’re not approved for food or remedy purposes.

Before You Begin

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How to Dry Rose Petals

Some of these recipes call for dried rose petals.

To dry roses, I usually just spread the petals out in a single layer on paper towels or clean dish towels and let them air dry for several days. You could also us a dehydrator set to very low heat for a few hours.

Once completely dried, store your dry rose petals in brown paper bags or glass jars, out of direct heat and sunlight, which will fade the colors.

For more information on drying plants for crafts, soap, remedies, and skin care, check out my article “How to Harvest & Dry Flowers & Herbs From Your Garden“.

Printable Plant Spotlight for Roses

Here is your free printable that I mentioned above!

It’s a helpful reference for tips for growing roses, their benefits, how to harvest and preserve, plus uses for rose petals. Clicking on the image below will open a pdf file that you can download and save to your computer, or print out.

** Be sure to print the full sized PDF, not the photo below. If you have trouble printing, try printing from a computer or laptop, instead of a phone.

Feel free to share with friends and especially the younger generation, helping to carry on the legacy of using what grows around you.

I share more plant and other types of printables in my newsletter! :)

(You may print copies of my free printables to share with scout groups, garden clubs, etc. Just make sure the copyright information stays attached at the bottom and do not sell them for personal gain. Links WILL change as printables get updated over time – please link to this page when sharing, not the exact printable to avoid broken links.)

1. Rose Infused Oil

You can make your own rose oil to use in salves, lotions and creams, lip balm, and soap recipes. Shelf life of the strained, infused oil is around 9 months to a year.

To make rose oil, fill a canning jar about half-way up with dried rose petals. Cover with about twice as much as your favorite carrier oil, or to the top of the jar. (Some oils I like to use include sunflower, olive and sweet almond.) You can buy high quality organic oils from Mountain Rose Herbs, or your local grocery or health food store may carry some as well.

For a quick infusion, or if infusing coconut oil: Set the uncovered jar down into a small saucepan filled with a few inches of water. Heat over a low burner for a few hours, keeping a close eye that the water doesn’t evaporate out. Remove from heat and strain.

For a slower, more traditional infusion: Cap the jar of dried rose petals and oil and tuck away in a cabinet for around 4 to 6 weeks, shaking occasionally as you remember to. When the infusing time has passed, strain.

For a third option: You could also place the jar of dried rose petals and oil in a sunny windowsill for several days to a week to jump start the infusion. (Don’t store for long periods in sunlight though, as it tends to fade flowers and herbs over time.)

2. Rose Petal Salve

This rose petal salve recipe is made with real rose petals along with rosehip seed oil, which has amazing benefits when applied to mature, sun-damaged, dry, or irritated skin.

I like to dab it around my eyes, forehead, and mouth, to help offset little wrinkle lines that appear as we age.

Find the full recipe in my article: Rose Petal Salve Recipe!

3. Rose Lotion Bars

Lotion bars are simple to whip together and are fantastic at healing damaged skin. They also make wonderful gifts!

To make rose petal lotion bars, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1/4 cup (52 g) rose infused oil
• 1/4 cup (28 g) beeswax pastilles
• 1/4 cup (44 g) shea, mango, or cocoa butter
• a few drops of geranium (or rose) essential oil
• optional: rose kaolin clay for a natural colorant

You can find the full recipe in my article, Rose Lotion Bars.

4. Peppermint Rose Lip Balm

This lip balm recipe incorporates the rose infused oil you made above. (See #1.) Peppermint essential oil is added to give a great flavor, but you can leave it out if you wish.

My full recipe and instructions for making this delightful Peppermint Rose Lip Balm can be found RIGHT HERE.

5. Rose Bath Salts

These rose petal bath salts are quick and easy to make and smell so wonderful!

To make them, you’ll need:

• 1 cup Epsom salt
• several drops of rose or geranium (rose) essential oil
• a handful of dried rose petals
• (optional) 1/4 cup sea salt.

Combine the Epsom salt with sea salt, if using. Rub the dried rose petals between your fingers to crush into tiny pieces. Stir into the salt. Add several drops of rose or geranium essential oil. Stir well and pour into a pretty jar.

To use: Pour into a cotton muslin bag or tie up in a clean sock. Drop the bag into comfortably warm water as it fills your tub.

6. Rose Petal Vinegar

This stunningly beautiful rose petal vinegar is super easy to make and has tons of great uses! It will keep for at least a year, though the color is most brilliant during the first few months.

To make, gather fresh rose petals and fill a canning jar quite full of them. (If you don’t have fresh petals, use half as much dried petals instead.)

Heat up some vinegar to almost a simmer and pour over the rose petals in the jar. Any type of vinegar will work with this recipe.

Let cool, cover the top of the jar with a plastic lid (vinegar erodes metal) and store in a cabinet for four to six weeks, shaking periodically.

After that time, strain out the petals and it’s ready for use.

Seven ways to use this lovely rose vinegar can be found HERE.

7. Rose Water

You’ll need a lot of fresh rose petals, some ice, a pot with a lid, and a heatproof bowl to make this scented water. (It’s lovely for washing your face!)

My daughter wrote up how she makes rose water over at our family site, Unruly Gardening:

Rosewater & Other Plant Experiments

8. Rose Body Butter

This rose infused body butter is loaded with wrinkle fighting rosehip seed oil, skin nourishing oils and butter, and naturally tinted pale pink with a smidge of rose clay.

To make it, you’ll need:

• 7 oz (199 g) avocado butter (or there’s directions to use shea/mango instead)
• 2 oz (57 g) rice bran, apricot kernel, or other light oil (I infused mine with rose petals)
• 1/2 oz (14 g) rosehip seed oil
• 18 drops of essential oil – try geranium rose and/or rose absolute, adjust amount to your scent preference
• 1 teaspoon tapioca starch, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon rose clay

Read the full recipe at:

Homemade Rose Body Butter

9. Rose Plantain & Yarrow Itch Remedy

This vinegar based liniment, or rub, can help relieve some of the pesky itchiness that chiggers and mosquitoes can inflict.

Roses are included for their anti-inflammatory properties, plantain for its skin-soothing benefits and yarrow for its antiseptic action.

Vinegar and witch hazel act as the solvents that extract and carry the benefits onto your skin.

Find the full recipe at my article:

Rose, Plantain & Yarrow Itch Remedy

10. Rose Bath Bombs

These beautiful heart-shaped bath bombs are naturally colored with rose clay and scented with a relaxing blend of essential oils, while creamy cocoa butter and milk powder are added for their extra skin-loving benefits.

They’re topped with a sprinkling of ground rose petals.

To use, run a comfortably warm bath then drop a bath bomb into the water. Watch it fizz and enjoy a luxurious skin-softening bath!

Find the full recipe in my article: How to Make All-Natural DIY Rose Milk Bath Bombs

11. Rose Face, Body & Hand Creams

I created this rose face and body cream as a gift for my mom. She absolutely adores all things roses and the color pink, and loved this handmade cream as well!

You can find full directions on how to make Rose Face & Body Cream, HERE.

That recipe above is based on beeswax; if you’re looking for recipes based on emulsifying wax (which I enjoy using more these days), check out the two rose hand creams I made for a nurse relative:

Nourishing Rose Hand Cream [2 Versions]

12. Basil & Rose Kombucha Toner

Cooling, soothing roses combine with basil, a powerful herb with impressive anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects, in this mild facial toner.

It also features kombucha, which has been shown to have benefits for your skin that are similar to apple cider vinegar.

To make:

• Place 1/4 cup of rose petals (dried or fresh), plus 1/4 cup fresh torn basil leaves in a glass canning jar.
• Pour 8 oz (250 ml) kombucha over the roses and basil. Cap the jar and place it in the refrigerator to infuse for around 1 week.
• Strain and store in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 months.

To use, apply the toner to a cotton ball and gently wipe over your face at night, after washing.

(This recipe is also featured in my print book, The Big Book of Homemade Products.)