English Rose Water

Of all the floral waters used for toning and cleansing, rose water has the most universal appeal.

£4.50 — £25.00

This pure and very special English rose water is made from dew covered rose blooms gathered from daybreak through the mid-morning across the summer. A small cultivation of some eight acres allows all the cultivation and gathering to be done by hand. The daily harvest is steam distilled directly on the farm giving the freshest and most vibrant of rose waters. Thanks to the ideal rich clay soil, use of organic manure and tender care, the roses remain pesticide free.

Since the birth of writing, the rose appears in myths, legends, rituals all across the Old World. Once steam distillation methods were perfected by the Arab alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan around the year 800AD, rose water began to be used in medicinal, cosmetic and culinary recipes. The heady and distinctive damask fragrance, often used as a perfume ingredient holds meaning across cultures and is evocative to almost every person.

This English rose water is distilled from varieties specially chosen for their fresh rosy fragrance and high levels of rose oil – The Kazailik damask rose, famous across Turkey, Iran and Bulgaria and loved for its true hypnotic damask scent; the Louise Odier, a Bourbon rose known also for its intense damask scent with light raspberry overtones and the Roserie de l’Hay, with its spicy overtones of clove and honey. With the reputed aphrodisiac qualities of rose water and an antiseptic and astringent action, means that it will always be more than a natural toner, cleanser and skin conditioner!

We are hoping for a rainy spring this year, to attain the more complex and subtle fragrances, for which English rose water is fêted.

How to use rose water

Soak a piece of cloth with rose water and gently wipe over the face neck and hands to cleanse and tone the skin. Alternatively splash rose water on with the hands, or use a spray mister and allow the rose water to dry on the skin naturally. Rose water can be used to good effect as a cleanser and toner between washing with clay and applying argan oil.

Rose water has cooling properties and can be used as a cooling and freshening mist on the body or to cool skin with sunburn or nappy rash.

Rose water can also be mixed with Rhassoul clay for extra special face masks, skin cleansing and hair washing.

Rose water can also be used as a room spray or be sprayed onto carpets to create a natural summer fragrance.

Rose water is excellent for reconditioning dry lips. Spray some rose water on the lips and rub with the finger until it has evaporated, rub slightly on the inside of the lips also to remove all staining from food and drink. Once the rosewater has completely evaporated, the lips will be smooth and comfortable. Now apply argan lip balm for the smoothest most comfortable results. I use rose water on my lips twice as day and it is much easier to keep them moisturized now.

Rose Water is recommended for all skin types and specifically for …

Dry skin.
Aging and delicate skin.
Skin prone to acne.
Skin to prone to broken capillaries.
Skin with large pores (helps to reduce pore size)
For cleaning the lips after eating or drinking staining foods

Ethics of English Rose Water

Supporting a small scale British grower/distiller.
The farm is not registered organic but the roses are grown without artificial fertilizer and pesticides.
High in dissolved rose oil (this is partly what makes this rose water so special).
Rose water is a traditional product, popular in Britain since the Medieval Period and it is used in many historical recipes.
Much lower in transport miles than rose water imported from Bulgaria, Turkey and the Middle East.
Available in spray mister, capped and refill bottles.
Reusable or easy to recycle glass packaging.