My love of everything lavender is well-documented around these parts, but lately I’ve been all about the roses. I picked up a bottle of Rose Petals Rosewater in a health food store a few weeks ago, and ever since I’ve been spritzing the stuff just about everywhere (including on myself: I think it’s a beautiful, light daytime fragrance).
Tip: If you’re using your rosewater as a body spray, keep the bottle in the refrigerator to make it extra-refreshing.
Rosewater is incredible stuff: it can be used as a perfume, as a gentle astringent for dry skin (in college, I wiped a cotton ball soaked with rosewater over my face every day), as a home fragrance, and even as a food flavoring (love this Rosewater Angel Food Cake recipe from Epicurious).
Some of my favorite rosy products:
– Burt’s Bees Rosewater & Glycerin Toner ($12)
– Calypso Christiane Celle Rose Eau de Toilette ($32)
– L’Occitane’s Rose 4 Reines Home Perfume ($20, in a gorgeous atomizer) and Solid Perfume ($9)
– Jurlique Rose Body Oil ($55)
– Dr. Hunter’s Rosewater & Glycerin Hand Creme ($12, but I found it for $4 at TJ Maxx and have been using it nightly ever since)
DIY ROSEWATER:
Just pour boiling water over fresh rose petals (choose a highly fragranced variety, and make sure that the flowers haven’t been sprayed). Let steep about 15 minutes (or until the liquid cools), and strain into a pretty bottle (I like these), squeezing out any remaining liquid from the petals. Store in the refrigerator.
