Imagine yourself in a garden full of roses (only roses) - Roses of different colours and
bloom. Don't you think it is a pure bliss to sink in the magic of aromatic and
beautiful roses? . Roses are not only aromatic and pretty to look at; it has got
many skin healing and rejuvenating properties.
My garden will be in colorful bloom next month - Pink, yellow,
red, white and velvety dark pink roses dominating my garden with its radiance and sheer beauty. I can already spot rose buds covering
the shrubs and it is not long to go for my roses to be in full bloom. My rose
plants will eagerly stretch its arms and extend a warm welcome to use its rose
petals and when the bloom is over for this season, it will be happy to show off
its hips - I mean Rose hips. Rose hips can be used to make rose hip tea as it
has got lot of health benefits. Many skin care products contain oil made from
rose hip which has got anti-aging and skin reviving properties.
I will share with you some ideas and tips to make use of your rose plant.
The first and foremost important thing to remember when you are using
rose petals to make rose water, sun-infused rose oil and other skin care
recipes at home, make sure that you have not sprayed the plant with toxic
pesticide or chemicals. Same thing is applicable when using rose hips.
Beautiful things that you can prepare from Rose petals:
A. Sun-infused Rose oil:
This is my ultimate favorite because Rose infused oil has properties of
being a astringent, firming the skin, moisture retaining, stimulating,
anti-bacterial, healing and relaxing. Rose infused oil can be used for therapeutic
massage. Rose infused oil is used in skin products such as lotion, balms,
salves, scrubs, bath oils. It is better to use dried rose petals for making
sun-infused rose oil.
How to make rose infused oil:
1 part dried roses
2 parts oil (olive oil/sweet almond oil/grapeseed oil)
Sterilize a glass jar. This is done by placing the jar in hot boiling water
for 4-5 minutes and drying it well. To make smaller batch, put your 1 part of
dries rose petals in the jar and pour your oil on top of it to cover the petals
well. Seal the jar with clean and dry tight lid. Place the jar on a windowsill with lots of
sun for 3 - 4 weeks. Give the jar a quick shake once daily. The object is to
keep the jar warm as the herbs steep in the oils, so if you live in a cold
climate, take that into consideration. After one month, filter the oil through
muslin/cheese cloth and make sure you squeeze the last drop from the petals as
the essence of the flower is concentrated in the petals.
B. Rose water:
My favorite use of rose water is to
use it as a face spritz. All you need is a spray bottle. Fill your spray bottle
with rose water. Add a drop of Lavender essential oil and use it whenever you
need to cool and tone your skin. Rose water acts as a good toner. You can use
it as an aromatic mist for your room.
How to make rose water:
I found this simple homemade recipe for rose water under Times of India
website. I tried it at home and wow!
C. Rose petals in scrubs and face mask:
Dried rose petal combined with fine oats and honey makes an exotic face
mask and dried rose petal with fine oats and rose water acts as good face
scrub.
How to make simple face mask using rose petals:
1. Put 1/3 cup of the rolled oats into a food processor. Using the
"pulse" feature, grind the oatmeal for a few seconds until it
resembles a coarse flour.
2. 1/8 cup of freshly picked red/pink rose petals to the oatmeal in the
food processor. Pulse again for 10 seconds.
3. Add two teaspoons of rose water, and then 1/4 cup of honey to the rose
petals and oatmeal mixture. Pulse for 10 seconds. If you have a difficult time
getting the mixture to blend well in your food processor, you can mix it
vigorously by hand, or try it in a blender. Often larger food processors don't
work well for small mixing small amounts of ingredients.
4. Apply the rose petal mixture to your face and allow it to stay on for 30
minutes. Rinse off with warm water and gently towel your skin dry.
D. Dried rose petals can be added to your pot pourri or to your linen
sachet (Look under linen sachet recipe in my blog) to scent your home and
cupboards naturally.
E. Rose hip tea and Rose hip oil:
Rose hips are the fruit of the rose tree, or what is left after the rose
petals fall off. They are an excellent source of vitamin C. Rose hip tea is
both delicious and good for you. Also known as rose mosqueta, rose hip oil is used
in facial products for aging skin. It contains essential fatty oils and can
help with scarring.
- Rose hip tea:
Rose hip tea is refreshing, pleasantly tart and contains vitamins A, B, C,
E and K, pectin and organic acids. Besides battling colds, the nutrient-rich
tea boosts your health in other ways as well. This popular medicinal tea
strengthens the body's resistance to infection, reinforces digestive function,
combats all kinds of illnesses with fever, flushes out the kidneys and urinary
tract and relieves mild rheumatic pain. The vitamin C content gives rose hip
tea its primary benefit, the ability to help prevent and treat colds and flu.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 heaping teaspoons of chopped rose hips.
You can use rose hips with or without their seeds. Steep the herbal tea,
covered, for 15 minutes and strain. Sweeten the refreshing, slightly sour tea
with honey, if desired. Drink the tea lukewarm at bedtime for maximum
effectiveness.
- Rose hip oil:
Rose hip oil is naturally rich in
beta-carotene and lycopene, a power antioxidant found in tomatoes and
watermelon. Foods rich in lycopene have many health benefits. The lycopene in
rose hip oil helps to protect skin from premature ageing and is responsible for
the oil's rich amber colour. It is a natural source of Vitamin A known as
trans-retinoic acid. Research shows that topical trans-retinoic acid is
effective in helping to prevent premature ageing caused by sun exposure.
Do share your ideas and tips to make use of rose petals from the garden and write it under comments.
Thanks and bye for now - with love from PetalDew.
Really a good post. I wanted to know about the preparation of genuine rose water for long, I got it now thank you.
ReplyDeletevery very informative! congrats !
ReplyDelete