Rose

The first recorded preparation was in the tenth century, although in much earlier times, the Roman Emperor Nero is known to have enjoyed his feasts while lounging on rose petal filled pillows, later to bathe in rose perfumed pools while drinking rose flavored wine and eating rose pudding for a dessert!



And it is said that the mosque builders of Baghdad mixed it with their mortar mix while building, so that the sun would release the scent. In fact the Arab world of the 11th century indulged in rose water drinks, desserts and savory dishes.


The highly fragrant Cabbage Rose (Rosa R.Centifolia) is used in France for distillation of rose water. The petals are taken from the flower and distilled into a clear almost colorless liquid which is free of metallic impurities. Commercially produced, it (known as Rose Hydrosol)is a by product of the steam distillation process used to isolate rose oil. (Oil, Attar or Otto) Rose water is what's left after the rose oil is skimmed and collected.


How to make rose water.
Making your own is relatively easy. Gather some fresh dark red damask roses (or your favorite red, smelly ones!) preferably organically grown and definitely pest and pesticide free.


Infuse in very hot, distilled water for 45 minutes. Strain and contain. Unfortunately, because it is a pure form and contains no preservatives it should be kept in a sealed jar in the fridge. Outside of the fridge it will only keep for about 4 or 5 days.


Much can be done with it. Besides scenting your bath tub or freshening your sweaty brow, how about making Marzipan (yes, the original recipe calls for almonds, sugar and rose water!), or the famous French Madeleines. My personal favorite is mixing it with Mango Yogurt!....mmmmmmmm.


So now you have learned how to make rose water why not try some of the recipes that use it?


Rosewater Recipes Check Here
Using Rose Water in Skin Care.
Sharon Hopkins shares some of her ideas on using Rose Water (and Other ingredients) as a skin toner.

Tune Up Your Skin With Toner, by Sharon Hopkins.
Skin toners are the next step after a facial cleansing routine. Skin toners ensure complete removal from the skin of all cleansing preparations.


They freshen and tone up the skin and prepare a clean surface for the application of make-up. They also restore the acid or alkali balance of the skin, because they are pH balanced.


They are designed to penetrate pores, refresh and cool your skin while clearing away excess oil, impurities and dead skin cells that were not removed with your cleanser.


Toners restore the skin's natural pH balance. When you wash your face, the pH balance of the skin is distorted leading to skin working overtime to restore pH levels; the process of skin restoring the pH levels on its own can take up as much as half and hour or more. By using a skin toner, the pH level of your skin is restored instantly.


Choose a toner appropriate for your skin type. A wide variety of toners are available. Alcohol dries the skin and harms the soluble collagen below the surface of the skin. It is thus safer to use an alcohol-free toner.


Use witch hazel, geranium, honey, lemon, ivy, sage, nettle and burdock, although Witch hazel has a tendency to dry the skin it is good to combine it with moisturizers such as Vitamin E, honey, etc. Rosewater helps keep skin and face moisturized, fresh and balances the pH levels.


Essential oils are the gentlest way of toning up. Rose water for normal or dry/sensitive skin or witch hazel for oilier skins is ideal bases for fresheners. These can be applied with cotton wool, using smooth, gentle upward strokes or sprayed on to the face. Oily skin benefits from juniper or lemongrass whereas drier skins would benefit from rose or sandalwood.


Apply the skin toner to a cotton ball and sweep it gently across your face. The cotton wool should come out relatively clean when toning. If it is not clean it indicates the cleansing has not been done properly.


Do not succumb to the temptation to tone the skin whenever you feel it has become dirty. It should be used only after the skin has completed a cleansing routine and not as a substitute for cleansing. So, remember that your toner must function as a toner and not as a cleanser.


Toning is pleasant and refreshing, can act as an additional cleanser on very oily or dirty skin, and is valuable in removing any traces of grease that the cleanser may have left behind. Think of it as the polishing touch in your skin care treatment.