Rose hydrosol is one of nature's many miracles - imparting a beautiful soft fragrance that takes me right back to early June in the garden. Additionally, it is filled with active compounds that soothe skin, fight free radicals and inflammation, and help maintain skin pH.
How Rose Hydrosol is Made at Aurelian Studio
Damask or Cabbage roses are the most common roses used to make rose hydrosol, and a considerable portion of the industry is based in Bulgaria. They are highly valued due to their high yield of essential oil. There is minimal production of roses and associated hydrosols and oils in the United States. It is most commonly found in California, where the climate is a little forgiving and offers a longer growing season.
I grow seven varieties of roses, selected as much for their beauty as their scent here in my garden in New York State. Most are hybrid tea or English roses. These are the base for my rose hydrosol - while not as strong as damask roses, the outcome is soft and beautiful. My roses are like my kids; I baby and nurture them - chatting them up through the season, and thanking them for their gifts.
I use organic-only fertilizer and organic-approved pest control methods - all to ensure that my harvested petals are as organic as possible. During harvest, I balance taking in petals and leaving flowers for pollinators, especially bees. Production gardening is about balance, and the more I give the environment, the soil, and the creatures that share it with me, the more it returns. The 2022 season yielded over 30 pounds of petals from my small garden.
Each batch of petals is distilled in my 22-liter copper alembic still using spring or distilled water. This process is incredibly time intensive, taking up to 7 hours depending on the batch size. Each distillation yields approximately a gallon of hydrosol. Roses are susceptible to temperature and heat; too much can affect the final result's smell and composition.
Once distilled, the hydrosol needs to rest for at least a month. The compounds distilled from the roses come in waves during the distillation process, requiring time to reintegrate into the final result.
What is the Difference Between Rose Hydrosol and Rose Water?
Rose hydrosol and rose water are two very different things. I often see them confused online, so I hope to clarify.
Rose hydrosol can only come from steam distillation or water (hydro) distillation. This means raw plant material is immersed in water, or steam passes through a column to extract vital compounds and oils. When fresh material is used, this often includes the cellular water of the plant - which contains additional minerals and compounds. Given their delicate nature and complex composition, steam distillation is the preferred method for roses.
Rose water most often encompasses one of two things: 1. Rose essential oil (or synthetic fragrance) emulsified in water. 2. Rose petals boiled in water and then strained.
I prefer rose hydrosol because it is the most refined way to extract the active compounds and oils from petals efficiently, all while maintaining a genuine rose scent profile. Rose water with rose essential oil will capture some of those benefits, but not all. Boiled rose petals will capture some of the scent (depending on heat control) and a diminished amount of active compounds.
