How To Make Rose Water: Benefits, Steps, Safety, And Uses

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HealthlineSubscribeSkin CareHow to Make Your Own Rose Water for Beauty, Wellness, and Relaxation

Medically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES — Written by Kavitha Yarlagadda — Updated on October 1, 2025

Benefits
Methods
Simmering
Distilling
Essential oils
Shelf life
How to use it
Keep in mind
Takeaway

You can prepare rose water by simmering, distilling, or using essential oils. Its antioxidant properties may potentially improve skin, eye, and brain health, and relieve headaches and sore throats, though more research is needed.

For many, roses evoke romance, sensuality, and luxury. Known in Latin as Rosa damascena, their sweet aroma is arguably one of the most recognizable in the world.

This type of rose is widely popular in the beauty and wellness industries, and it is used in everything from face creams to perfumes.

Rose water, a liquid made from water infused with rose petals, is one of the many ways roses can be used for health, beauty, and even food and drink.

Rose water may have originated in Iran before the 7th century CE. Fast-forward to the modern day, and rose water is still a health and wellness staple.

From room spray to a sweetly scented bath, rose water is a versatile part of a self-care routine. Read on to learn about the benefits of rose water and how to make it yourself.

Benefits of rose water

Rose water is popular for its medicinal and therapeutic benefits, and it’s chock-full of antioxidants.

It’s been shown to be potentially beneficial for:

skin health
eye health
digestion
headaches
infection
sore throat
brain health

When it comes to the skin, rose water may help:

protect the cells against damage
soothe irritation
calm redness or other color changes
ease symptoms of skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea

It does this by inhibiting harmful enzymes known as elastase and collagenase.

Natural rose water, without any chemicals, can be used daily. It’s suitable for all skin types and can be used directly on the skin.

This makes it an ideal addition to your beauty routine.

Still, if you’ve never used it before it’s always a good idea to do a patch test first. It’s possible to be allergic to rose.

Rose water can also make soothing eye drops, support wound healing, and may even be effective as an antidepressant and mood enhancer. However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits.

Methods of rose water preparation

There are a few methods of preparing rose water, including:

simmering
distilling
using essential oils

Unless you’re using the essential oil method, you’ll start by collecting the petals.

You can ask your local farmer, florist, or grocer for food-grade quality roses.

It’s best to get organic petals if you can, but any healthy flowers will do. Just be sure the roses you select aren’t sprayed with pesticides or chemicals.

The number of petals you’ll need depends on how much rose water you want to make.

How much do you need?
As a general rule, 2 or 3 flowers is enough for 1 cup of fresh petals or 1/4 cup dried petals.

Next, separate the petals from the flower and gently wash them with water to get rid of dust and any traces of foreign material.

Then you’re ready to move on to your next step: simmering or distilling.

The simmering method

Supplies

2–3 cups of fresh rose petals, rinsed and cleaned
a wide pot or saucepan
strainer
glass spray bottle or jar
1/2 gallon distilled water

Steps

Add your clean rose petals to your pot or saucepan.
Add enough distilled water to just cover the petals. Don’t add too much water, or you’ll dilute your rose water!
Place the pot on the stove on low heat.
Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for 30–45 minutes.
Simmer until the petals lose their color.
Leave your rose water to cool completely.
Strain the water into a spray bottle or jar.
Refrigerate and use for up to a month.

The distillation method

In the distillation method, the rose water collects on the underside of the lid as condensation and drips into the bowl. This method gives you the most concentrated rose water but takes a few extra steps.

Supplies

2–3 cups fresh rose petals, rinsed and cleaned
wide pot or saucepan
small heat-proof bowl, like metal or ceramic
1 cup ice cubes
1/2 gallon distilled water

Steps

Place a small heat-resistant bowl in the center of a wide pot.
Add the washed petals to the pot, being careful they don’t get stuck under the bowl.
Add distilled water to the pot until the petals are just submerged.
Place the lid upside down on the pot, and place the ice cubes in the lid.
Bring to a boil.
Continue adding ice cubes as needed.
Turn the heat to low and simmer for 30–45 minutes.
Carefully remove the lid with tongs to check the color of the petals. Once they’ve lost their color, you’re done!
Allow the rose water to cool completely.
Once cool, transfer the rose water from the bowl to a spray bottle.
Refrigerate and use for up to 6 months.

The water in the pot can also be strained and used as in the simmering method, so none of your rose petals go to waste!

The essential oil method

The essential oil method is arguably the easiest way to go and keeps for longer.

Its downsides are that you can’t ingest the rose water, it is unsafe to apply it anywhere near your eyes, and it requires the use of rose essential oil, which is generally relatively expensive.

Still, if you’re short on time, it does the job.

Supplies

12 drops of rose essential oil
1 tablespoon carrier oil of choice, like coconut, almond, or jojoba
1 cup distilled water
glass spray bottle or jar

Steps

Mix essential oils and carrier oil together, then add water.
Pour the mixture into a glass bottle or jar.
This method doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

Do not ingest rose water made with essential oils.
While research suggests there are health benefits, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils.
It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider before you begin using essential oils. Be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.

Shelf life of rose water

It’s ideal to store rose water in the refrigerator or in a cool and dry place to maintain its potency and preserve it for as long as possible.

Like all other products, rose water has a shelf life that depends on the method used to prepare it. With time, rose water loses its potency.

Rose water made using the distillation method can last for up to 6 months in the fridge if stored in a sterilized, sealed glass container, while rose water made from the simmering method lasts only a month or so.

If the scent or color of your rose water changes after you store it, it’s best to discard it.

Adding a preservative

To keep your rose water for longer, you may want to add a preservative, like vodka.

Add one teaspoon of vodka for every 2 cups of water during the distillation or simmering process.
Follow the instructions of your chosen method for all other steps.
Cool and store in the refrigerator to keep your rose water even longer.

How to use rose water

Facial toner

Rose water toner is an excellent alternative to pricey facial toners, especially those with alcohol that tend to dry out the skin.

Using rose water as a toner helps remove excess oil and dirt and aids in maintaining the pH balance of the skin.

Body spray

Rose water body spray is a refreshing way to perk up, cool down, or simply get a blast of floral scent.

Spritz it on the face to keep the skin hydrated and balanced. Spray it on your body immediately after a shower, followed by a body moisturizer, to feel fresh and rejuvenated all day.

You can also spray it on rashes and sunburn to heal and cool the skin.

Room spray

Want your house to smell like roses? Spritz some rose water as a natural air freshener.

Spray it on furniture, curtains, and pillows to release a gentle scent. Rose water is a great alternative to chemical scent-releasers and is generally considered safe for those who are sensitive to scents.

Hair spray

Rose water can be spritzed on your hair to tame frizzy and wavy hair or to refresh a sweaty or itchy scalp.

Mix rose water with coconut, almond, or jojoba oil and give yourself a scalp massage to relax, hydrate the hair, and stimulate the hair follicles.

You can also rinse your hair with rose water after shampooing. This acts as a mild conditioner and keeps hair shiny and sweet-smelling.

Spritzing a bit of rose water on the hair before going out acts as a natural hair perfume, leaving a subtle fragrance.

Ironing spray

Rose water can be used to refresh your clothes while ironing. Just pour some rose water into your steam iron instead of normal water.

Cocktails and mocktails

You can mix some sweet, floral cocktails and mocktails using rose water. Just add a few tablespoons to your favorite concoction (as long as you haven’t used the essential oil method to make your rose water).

Eye health

Cotton pads dipped in rose water can be used to cover tired eyes and reduce the look of fatigue and puffiness.

It’s also been shown to help treat eye conditions like conjunctivitis, dry eye, and cataracts.

Keep in mind

Using rose water is generally considered safe and mild. Still, it’s possible to be allergic to roses. Always do a patch test before using it to ensure there’s no reaction.

Also, be sure that the rose water you buy has no harmful additives.

Many rose water products available online are artificial or synthetic, which means they have no therapeutic benefits at all. They may also contain other additives and chemicals.

Takeaway

Rose water is a simple, natural way to add a little bit of floral sweetness to your wellness and beauty routine.

From skin benefits to improving mood, rose may have a number of potential benefits, and making rose water at home is a relatively simple process.

Just be sure to keep it refrigerated and discard it when the scent or color changes.

Kavitha Yarlagadda is an independent writer based in Hyderabad, India. She has by-lines in publications like Al Jazeera, Women’s Media Center, South China Morning Post, Whetstone Magazine, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, and also writes for other technology and social platforms. Read more at her website.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bidyanand M, et al. (2011). Essence recovery from flowers through solar thermal distillation process.https://www.indianjournals.com/article/bpasph-30d-1-019
Boskabady MH, et al. (2011). Pharmacological effects of Rosa Damascena.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3586833/
Mahboubi M. (2016). Rosa damascena as holy ancient herb with novel applications.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411015000954
Thring TSA, et al. (2011). Antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and formulations of white tea, rose, and witch hazel on primary human dermal fibroblast cells.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3214789/
Wang H, et al. (2023). Beneficial medicinal effects and material applications of rose.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10758878/

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Medically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES — Written by Kavitha Yarlagadda — Updated on October 1, 2025

How To Make Rose Water: Benefits, Steps, Safety, And Uses

Benefits of rose water

Methods of rose water preparation

The simmering method

The distillation method

The essential oil method

Shelf life of rose water

Adding a preservative

How to use rose water

Facial toner

Body spray

Room spray

Hair spray

Ironing spray

Cocktails and mocktails

Eye health

Keep in mind

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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