Rose petals: recipes for toner, masks, tea and jam

Prepared with UFL flower delivery. Rose petals have long been used in skincare, cooking and decor: they smell lovely, add colour and gently tone the skin. Below are tried-and-tested recipes for a toner, face masks, tea and jam — plus the key safety rule that is often forgotten.

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Which petals are safe for recipes

For food and skincare use only petals from roses grown without pesticides: damask, tea rose, Rosa rugosa or roses from your own garden. Florist roses look great in a bouquet but are not suitable for recipes. Before using a mask or toner for the first time, do a patch test on the inside of your elbow: roses can cause allergies.

How to pick and dry petals

• Pick in the morning after the dew has dried, from freshly opened flowers.
• Rinse gently in cool water and pat dry on a towel.
• Fresh petals keep 2–3 days in the fridge in a container with a damp paper towel.
• To dry, spread them in a single layer in an airy, shaded spot for 5–7 days, or in an oven at 40–50 °C with the door ajar.
• Store dried petals in a glass jar in the dark for up to a year.

More methods in how to preserve rose petals.

Rose petal skincare

Face toner

Pour 250 ml of hot (not boiling) water over a handful of fresh petals or 2 tablespoons of dried ones. Cover, steep for 30 minutes and strain. Use morning and evening. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze into ice cubes and use within a month.

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Honey mask for dry skin

Crush 5–7 fresh petals and mix with 1 teaspoon of runny honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Apply to clean skin for 15–20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Oat mask for sensitive skin

Steep 5 rose heads in a cup of hot water for 20 minutes and strain. Stir in ground oats or rice flour to make a paste. Apply for 20 minutes, rinse and follow with moisturiser.

Petal powder mask

Grind dried petals in a coffee grinder. Mix 1 teaspoon of the powder with 1 tablespoon of plain yoghurt or cream. Leave on for 15–20 minutes.

Rose petal bath

A handful of fresh petals in a warm bath, or a tablespoon of dried petals mixed with sea salt, is an easy way to relax. Put them in a cotton bag so they do not clog the drain.

Cooking with rose petals

Rose petal tea

Steep 1 tablespoon of dried petals (or a handful of fresh ones) in 250 ml of water at 80–90 °C for 5–7 minutes. You can also add petals to green or black tea. The drink has a soft floral aroma and a pretty pink colour.

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Rose petal jam

• 200 g tea rose or damask rose petals
• 600 g sugar
• 200 ml water
• juice of half a lemon or 1 teaspoon citric acid

1. Snip off the white base of each petal: it tastes bitter.
2. Rub the petals with a third of the sugar and the lemon juice, cover and leave overnight so they release juice and keep their colour.
3. Make a syrup from the remaining sugar and water, add the petals and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes until thick.
4. Pour into sterilised jars while hot and seal.

Rose sugar and candied petals

Mix a cup of sugar with a handful of dried petals and leave in a jar for a week for fragrant baking sugar. To decorate a cake, brush fresh petals with beaten egg white, dip in caster sugar and let them dry at room temperature.

Decorating with rose petals

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A handful of petals floating in a glass bowl, a path to the bed, a festive table or a shower of petals for newlyweds — petals create a romantic mood in a minute. Any roses will do for decoration, including those from a bouquet. You can order rose petals with delivery in Kyiv from UFL: white, red or pink, in a basket.

FAQ

Can I use roses from a bouquet I was given?

For decoration, sachets or potpourri — yes. For food and skincare — no: bouquet flowers are treated against pests and to last longer.

How long does rose petal toner keep?

Up to 3 days in the fridge, or about a month as ice cubes.

Which roses are most fragrant for jam?

Damask (Kazanlak) rose, tea rose and Rosa rugosa. Strongly scented garden varieties work too, as long as they have not been sprayed.

Read also

• White roses: meaning, varieties and photos
• How to preserve rose petals
• Pink flowers: 10 types for bouquets

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Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.