Rosewater: This post originally appeared on the bMAKER blog as How to Make Rose Water.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Rosewater - You can learn how to make rose water! Beautiful, delicately floral-scented rose water for cooking, beauty products, and an infinite number of DIYs (heat and steam method).

How to Make Rosewater

Hi Everyone, have you ever wondered how to make rose water?

Personally, I have always loved the scent of soaps and perfumes, and it's amazingly easy to make at home in your kitchen.

There are two ways to make rose water, the heat method (also called the simmer method) on the stovetop and the steam method (also called the distilling method) which can also be done on the stovetop.

Uses for Rose Water

There is an infinite number of uses for rose water.

You can use it in recipes wherever water is an ingredient that would instantly add a lovely, delicate rose fragrance to any recipe.

This would be perfect for drinks, cocktails, or desserts.

Rosewater is known as a mood enhancer, you can mist it on your bed linens before bed or add it to your bathwater.

The "Heat" Method is shown on the left and the "Steam" Method is shown on the right (above).

Heat Method Vs. Steam Method

The heat method makes rose water by simmering it over a heat source.

You essentially make a rosewater "tea" and strain it through a filter or cheesecloth.

The rose water comes out more colorful (as shown in the photos) and I found that you get a greater quantity faster.

I would use the rose water from this method for use in recipes.

The steam method makes rose water by distillation (making it a hydrosol).

It works also over a heat source and has a slightly more complex setup.

You boil the rose petals and water and in a bowl (raised up above the liquid) you collect the rose water from the vapor of the roses and water.

The vapor collects in the bowl when the steam hits the lid which is inverted so that the droplets form and dip down into the bowl.

It helps to put ice or ice packs on the top of the lid to get the droplets to form more effectively.

The rose water is clear or nearly clear when using this method. It takes at least 30 minutes or longer to get a usable amount.

It lasts up to 6 months when stored in a dark-colored glass container with a lid.

I would use rose water from this method for beauty products since it lasts longer.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup edible (food grade) dried rose petals
• 1 ½ cups distilled water

Kitchen Tools

• saucepan (with lid)
• cheesecloth to strain or a paper filter (what I use)
• funnel
• a container or wet measure to collect the rose water as it's being filtered
• amber or cobalt blue glass spray bottles (16 ounces)

Helpful Kitchen Tools for (Steam Method)

• lidded tall pot with a curved lid (it's great if it has a clear lid so you can see how the droplets are forming or if you need to switch out the ice)
• something to raise the bowl up from the water and rose petals, this could be a grate, a vegetable steamer (what I use with the middle unscrewed) or a small metal colander turned upside down
• a small metal bowl for collecting the rose water.
• ice

Let me know what you use rose water for in the comments below!

If you make this recipe, and like it, please give it a rating in the recipe card below and let us know in the comments at the end of the post.

Thank you for reading and following along!

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How to Make Rosewater

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 11 minutes

How to Make Rosewater – you can make this beautiful, delicately floral-scented rose water for cooking, beauty products, and an infinite number of DIYs (heat and steam method).

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Ingredients

heat (simmer) method

• ¼ cup dried rose petals, food grade
• 1.5 cups distilled water

steam (distill) method

• 1.5 cups dried rose petals
• 3-5 cups distilled water

Instructions

Heat Method

1. Combine ¼ cup dried rose petals with ⅕ cup distilled water in a small-medium saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the petals are nearly colorless. Remove from heat.
3. Put a funnel over a jar (if storing, use a dark-colored glass jar with a lit/cap), and place cheesecloth or filter (I use a No. 4 coffee filter). Pour the rosewater over the filter to separate out the rose petals.

Steam Method

1. In a tall, large pot, put dried rose petals and water in the bottom. Place a vegetable steamer with the center unscrewed (you can also use an upside-down small colander, brick, or something that's heat-safe that will make a platform for the small metal bowl.
2. Place a small metal bowl on top of the platform.
3. Place the lid concave so that the dome of the lid is pointing down, allowing the steam to collect and drip into the bowl. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or longer, depending on how much rose water you want, and add water if the level gets low. 
4. When the desired amount is distilled, place a funnel over a heat-safe jar, and using oven mitts, add the rose water to the jar. Allow the rose water to cool completely, you can use it right away or store it in a dark-colored glass container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

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  Cuisinart 719-16 Chef's Classic Stainless Saucepan with Cover, 1 ½ Quart

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 308Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 175mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 1g

Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best.

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• This post was published on 7/29/2018
• Updated & republished on 12/5/2018, 2/27/2021, 7/29/2021, 1/9/2023, 6/5/2023, 6/6/2024

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Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community.

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