Rosewater is flavored water made by crushing rose petals in water. After crushing, the mixture is filtered to remove crushed rose petals, and the filtrate is left behind—the filtrate (rose water) widely used for cosmetic, industrial, and commercial purposes. Rosewater is widely used as it is readily available and requires low production costs. Rosewater is mainly used for beauty purposes due to its beneficial properties to the skin.
Some of the uses of rose water are discussed below;
1. Food and beverages
Rosewater is edible and, therefore, can be used in foods and beverages as a flavor. It is non-toxic to humans; hence it is suitable for consumption. It can be added as one of the ingredients when preparing foods like rice, dough, soups, etc. Rosewater helps in improving the flavor of the food.
Rosewater can be used to be in the making of rose water-based beverages as a substitute flavor. For instance, red-tinted rose water can be mixed with milk, flavoring tap water, and making juices.
2. Cosmetic products
Rosewater is rich in anti-inflammatory and emollient properties. These properties make rose water an important component to include in the making of cosmetics. Cosmetic creams made of rose water helps to protect the skin against skin-related disorders. It is used in making perfumes due to its favorable properties and its sweet-smelling odor.
Similarly, it can be used directly as a perfume and moisturizer without adding any other compound to it.
3. Wound treatment
The antiseptic and antibacterial properties contained in rose water are vital in treating and caring for wounds. Washing wounded parts, cuts, or burns with rose water helps to kill the bacteria around the wound hence reducing risks of infections and easing the healing process. It is therefore used as a home-made antiseptic.
4. Digestion
Rosewater acts as a laxative, and therefore it is beneficial to the human digestive system. In the digestive system, rose water helps to increase bile flow, which helps to reduce stomach-related disorders like stomach upsets and bloating. It can also be used to treat constipation as it increases the frequency of going to the toilet.
5. Treating headaches and migraines
Rosewater contains compounds that help in the relaxation of the mind. Inhaling the fumes of rose water helps in improving moods and hence relieving and treating headaches and migraines. The sweet scent of rose water has de-stressing properties that may help to improve mood. Rosewater can also be used in the aromatherapy process.
6. Treating respiratory disorders
Rosewater contains antioxidant, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties that help to treat and alleviate respiratory-related disorders. Inhaling or consuming rose water can treat sore throat and reduce symptoms related to asthma. It also plays an important role in treating, soothing, and relaxing swollen membranes and muscles on the throat.
7. Hair treatment
Rosewater can be used as a home-made hair moisturizer and a conditioner. Using rose in hair treatment helps to improve the quality of the hair as hair contains moisturizing and nourishing properties. Rosewater works magic when it comes to eliminating dandruff, and improving the rate of hair growth for people are has a slow growth rate of their hair.
8. Balancing skin’s pH
Too much oil and dryness on the skin caused by an imbalance of skin pH can be corrected by using rose water. Bathing with rose water helps to balance the skin pH and control excess oil. Balancing the skin’s pH helps to minimize skin-related diseases and rashes.
9. Treating acne and eczema
Acne and eczema caused to the skin as a result of allergies, and bacteria can be treated and be controlled by bathing using rose water. The anti-inflammatory property of rose water aids in soothing the irritation caused to the skin by acne and eczema. The antibacterial property of rose water plays a vital role in killing bacteria and reducing infections, causing irritation.
10. Eye treatment
People with eye problems can use an eye drop made of rose water as a home-made treatment. Eye problems like pink-eye (conjunctivitis) and dry eye can be alleviated by the use of rose water eye drop. Rosewater used in eye treatment is economical as compared to other industrial made medicines.
11. Treating skin redness
The redness caused to the skin by pimples can be alleviated by using rose water. Rosewater contains anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce in reducing redness. Rosewater is also used as a key ingredient in making redness relief products.
12. Treating sunburn
Sunburn patches caused by longer exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays can be treated using rose water. Massaging the burns areas with rose water helps to reduce the sunburn pain and facilitate the healing of the burn. The anti-inflammatory property of rose water plays a vital role in healing sunburn patches. Rosewater products can also serve as sunscreen and therefore reducing the effect of ultraviolet rays on the skin.
13. Treating wrinkled skin
Rosewater is associated with anti-aging properties that help to reduces wrinkles on the skin. It helps to makes the skin tissue tight and smooth. Most of the water-based rose products are aimed to reduce wrinkles and beautify the skin due to the anti-aging effects of rose water.
14. To prevent and treat infections
Rosewater contains antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Because of its favorable properties, it can be used in making antiseptic products, or it can be used as an antiseptic in its pure state. Bathing with rose water inhibits the growth of the bacteria and reduces the risk of infections.
Some medicinal products that are used to treat and prevent infections depend on rose water as the key ingredient.
15. Used as an astringent
Rosewater can be a home-made astringent. The properties of rose water make it a good astringent. Using it as a bathing waters plays the following roles as an astringent; cleaning of pores, toning the face and reducing the redness as it draws tissues together and tightens capillaries. It a cheaper and a non-toxic astringent as it only has water and rose-petals as the ingredients. Rosewater may also be used to make other astringents.
