Making Rose Oil or Rose Water

Rose scented oils and waters have been around for ages. But there is no need to pay for expensive pre-made versions when you can easily make your own. Keep in mind that if you prefer a different floral scent, you can substitute any flower petals, herbs or combination of fresh ingredients to obtain the scent you want. I will concentrate on the rose fragrance here simply because it is one of the most common requests. When making scented oils, I use jojoba oil as my carrier oil simply because it is the one that seems to work best with my hair and skin. Any pure carrier oil will do the job, including quality olive oil. Therefore, the choice of oil depends on your personal preference. The rose scented oil is great for use in making soaps or perfumes at home.

You will need:
Fresh rose petals
Large jar
Carrier oil
Water
Sieve
Cheesecloth
Spoon
Bowl
Amber Bottle with lid

Instructions for Rose Oil:
1. Gather fresh rose petals and place them in a large jar or container.
2. Cover the flower petals with the carrier oil of your choice.
3. Use the spoon to bruise the petals and help release the petals' natural oils.
4. Leave the petals to sit in the oil for at least twenty-four hours.
5. Line a sieve or strainer with cheesecloth and strain the resulting oil into a bowl or container.
6. Use the cheesecloth that has contained your petals to squeeze the remaining oil into the bowl with the rest. This oil will be the strongest.
7. If happy with the scent, use a funnel to jar the resulting oil and store in a cool, dark location until use. If you want a stronger scent, repeat steps one through six with the same oil but fresh flower petals until you are completely satisfied.

Instructions for Rose Water:
1. Bowl a kettle of water. I generally use about a pint of water to a cup of petals, but you can adjust to your preference.
2. Collect fresh rose petals and place in a seal-able container.
3. Pour the boiling water over the rose petals and seal the container.
4. Let the container sit until the liquid has cooled completely.
5. Line a sieve or strainer with cheesecloth and strain the resulting liquid into another container.
6. Use the cheesecloth that now contains your petals to squeeze the remaining scented water into the bowl with the rest.
7. Use a funnel to store the resulting rose water in jars. If you are not planning to use the rose water for an extended time, you can freeze in ice cube trays or other containers for future use. Ice cube trays result in handy to use amounts for smaller recipes.