in polyvagal theory, glimmers are small moments of joy, calm and safety when our biology is in a place of connection
the garden is a place of glimmers for me; sometimes that might mean picking fresh fruit off the tree but sometimes it’s more like salvaging a wonky piece of discarded driftwood that sits on the table in such a way that i can’t keep my eyes off it; or maybe it’s a dotted red leaf from a maple tree that i’ve saved to use as a bookmark and every time i open the page, it reminds me of my Mom; small ephemeral moments that have the potential to ignite a more expansive experience.
this floral spray is like that too ~ at its essence it’s rose petals steeped in water ~ pretty simple stuff, and yet the process of making it, much like the tea ritual, is so satisfying and the result is a sensory delight that you get to inhabit over and over again with every spritz ~ the delicate fragrance of garden fresh roses is heavenly and nourishing for your skin and mood too.
my favorite way to enjoy this rose water spray is straight out of the shower/bath when pores are open and skin is in an optimal position to receive its goodness ~ i use it mostly on my face and neck and keep a bottle in my swim bag too!
beneficial properties of rose water:
- hydrating and skin pH balancing
- soothing and anti-inflammatory
- antioxidant protection
- toning and tightening pores
- refreshing and cleansing (pubmed study)
beneficial properties of rose oil:
rose oil, a component of rose water, is found in the petals of roses and has a long history of being used medicinally as an anxiolytic (to reduce anxiety) and an anti-inflammatory.
studies pointing to the health benefits of rose essential oil include (all links are to published scientific studies):
- Cognitive Health: The role of REO in delaying Alzheimer’s Disease symptoms
- Stress Relief: The role of REO in decreasing stress hormones
- Anxiety, Surgical Site Pain & Recovery: the role of REO in reducing extubation time, surgical site pain severity, and anxiety in surgical patients
- Nervous System Support: The role of REO in reducing autonomic arousal in humans (decreased breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure)
- Hormonal Balance: the role of REO in relieving perimenopausal symptoms
info & tips for success:
- choose organic (non-sprayed) roses from a place you trust – roses are among the most heavily sprayed crops in North America which is one of the reasons why organic brands of rose waters/oils/teas etc. are expensive; i used to buy an organic rose water mist and it cost a small fortune – making my own gives me full control over the ingredients i’m using while also being far less expensive (it’s also fun and empowering to make your own stuff!) — source from environments you trust like a familiar home garden or an organic grower at the farmers’ market.
- use distilled water (cheap and lasts a long time – store in cool, dark spot) — the idea is that the water is purified through the process of distillation which reduces the risk of irritants and contaminants (bacteria/microorganisms/minerals) making it more gentle and suitable for all skin types — it may also reduce the risk of microbial growth while you’re enjoying the spray.
- use rich coloured roses — the colour of the roses you use will influence the final colour of your spray — choose rich saturated colours (in the pink, purple, red family, for example) over pale colours — a mix is great – steeping longer can influence colour as well.
- fragrant roses will yield a more aromatic spray – try to source from the most fragrant roses possible — you can use the sniff test for this (and remember the spray will be an attenuated version of what you smell); you can also enhance the fragrance with an essential rose oil, more below.
- consider enhancing the rose flavour with a pure essential rose oil — you don’t have to add essential oil fragrance to this spray however you may find that it both enhances and brightens the rose fragrance (i like it without too but find it more earthy/musky and the rose fragrance more delicate) — i like using rose geranium for this.
- consider adding a few drops of vitamin E oil — i use vitamin E for both its moisturizing and antioxidant properties. Although it is not technically a preservative, i do find its antioxidant action helpful for preserving shelf-life.
- ⟡ 1 cup (approx 6 g - super light) dried rose petals (from about 4 mature roses) use vibrant coloured roses and make sure the petals are fully dry
- ⟡ 2 cups/ 16 oz (473 mL) distilled water
- ⟡ 4 drops or so (depending on potency preference) rose geranium essential oil per 4 oz bottle
- ⟡ 3 drops vitamin E oil per 4 oz bottle
- ⟡ 2 x 4 oz (118 mL) clean glass bottles with spray nozzle attachment (i purchased mine on Amazon, they come with the small funnel which is handy -- if you plan on using this in a gym bag or for travel etc. i suggest purchasing a durable plastic that you can keep recycling for the purpose, works great)
- Start by rinsing your dried rose petals with some distilled water to remove any dirt (don't soak them - i put them in a large colander give them a shake first to remove any debris and then run some distilled water through them).
- Place the rinsed petals in a pot on stove and add distilled water over top (you can use a clean implement to stir).
- Bring water just to the boiling point and then reduce to lowest heat, allowing the roses to simmer uncovered for about 20-30 minutes (you should be left with about 8 oz / 1 cup of rose water at the end). You will notice the colour draining from the roses into the surrounding water (see photo).
- Turn heat off, cover pot with lid and let it sit for another 10 minutes undisturbed.
- Allow the rose water to cool before straining (fine mesh strainer) into a suitably sized measuring/pouring cup of sorts (see photo) -- use the back of a clean implement to gently press against the roses to release all of the delicious rose water into the cup. You should be left with about 1 cup/8 oz of concentrated rose water.
- Using a small funnel (see photo) pour rose water into each bottle dividing the quantity between them -- make sure your bottles are nice and clean (i run mine through the dishwasher first)
- You can leave as is or add rose essential oil and vitamin E oil to each bottle, according to recipe. Once oils have been added, cover the top of each bottle and shake gently to combine. Place nozzle attachment and lid to each bottle.
- Storage: without the use of preservatives, there is always a chance (even with distilled water) that bacterial growth can begin to form at room temperature -- I have not had this problem leaving mine in a cool shady spot in the bathroom but best practice is to store in the fridge between uses.
What a beautiful skin toner and perfect timing for the heat of the summer. The colour is wonderful and I just love that you actually use dried rose petals.