Rose Water and Rose Oil

My mom has the most beautiful and fragrant roses in her yard.   We have been using them for happy spring centerpieces and drying the rose petals for potpourri.  Recently I found some other great uses for them.

I'm reading a book right now that takes place in the 1700s in Europe and there is all of this talk about the queen always smelling like rose water...it sounded so delicious and regal that I decided to take it on myself!  Well "taking it on" makes it sound much more difficult than it actually is...if you can boil water you can make rose water.  The only tricky part is not getting pricked by the thorns of the rose plant which is by far my favorite feature of a rose...you have to work to get it.  Rightfully so for something that beautiful!

The process is simple...gather 1 cup of rose petals, bruise them and place them in a large glass bowl.  Then pour 1 pint of boiling water over the petals and let steep overnight in a covered container.  Voila!  It can be used as a toner or just as aromatherapy.  I just dip a cotton pad into in and wipe over my face.  It is supposed to help with dry skin and has anti-aging properties.

Rose oil is almost as easy.  I gathered a bunch of rose petals, orange blossoms (which smell so delicious!) and two mint leaves, bruised them and mixed in sweet almond oil (olive oil works too).  I let it sit over night and then filtered the oil, making sure to squeeze excess oil out of the petals.  It makes a wonderful essential oil to be used for perfume, aromatherapy, or whatever else you can think of!

I'll leave you with this last thought that I read the other day...
"When you sleep don't count sheep.  Count your blessings, then sleep."