Creating Rose Fragrance Oil: A Simple Guide

Rose fragrance oil is a pure, natural oil that captures the essence of roses. The process of making rose fragrance oil, also known as maceration, is simple and can be done at home. This involves using rose petals, a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba oil, and a glass jar. The rose petals are left to dry and are then placed in the jar with the carrier oil for a few weeks, allowing the oil to take on the scent of the roses. The oil can then be strained and used as a natural fragrance or in beauty products such as perfume, soap, or massage oil.

Maceration: Soak rose petals in a carrier oil for 3-6 weeks

Maceration is a simple process that involves leaving rose petals in a carrier oil for a few weeks until the oil takes on the scent of the roses.

Firstly, you need to select your roses. It is best to grow your own roses or buy them from a trusted supplier to ensure they are strongly scented and chemical-free. If you are buying roses, make sure they have not been sprayed with chemicals as this will taint the final product.

Once you have your roses, remove the petals and lay them out to dry. This step is important because any moisture in the petals could result in the oil becoming rancid. Place the petals in a tray and keep them in a dry, dark place such as an airing cupboard.

After the petals have dried, carefully collect them and put them in a glass jar. Fill the jar to the top with dry rose petals, then pour in your chosen carrier oil. Almond, jojoba, and apricot oil are all good choices as they have little to no scent and feel lovely on the skin. Make sure the petals are fully covered by the oil and that there is no space for air in the jar.

Seal the jar tightly and leave it in a warm, dark place for 3-6 weeks. Shake the jar daily or whenever you remember to prevent air bubbles from forming.

After at least 2 weeks, strain the spent rose petals through a muslin cloth or a fine sieve into a bowl or jug. Squeeze as much oil as you can from the petals, and you will be left with a beautiful, delicately scented rose oil.

You can use your homemade rose oil as an ingredient in natural face and body creams, or simply enjoy its fragrance and luxurious feel on your skin.

Selecting roses: Pick roses free of chemicals or pesticides

When selecting roses to make fragrance oil, it is important to choose roses that are free of chemicals or pesticides. This is especially important if you plan on using the oil in food products. Growing your own roses is the best way to ensure they are chemical-free. If you are buying roses, try to find out about the supplier and whether any chemicals have been used.

When selecting roses, pick them in the morning after the dew has evaporated. This will help to ensure the roses are dry, which is important as any moisture on the petals could result in the oil becoming rancid. Picking the roses before sunrise is also recommended as the flowers are said to be more fragrant at this time.

Once you have selected your roses, gently wash them to remove any bugs or dirt. Then, remove the petals and lay them out to dry in a dark place. An airing cupboard is ideal, or you can purchase an air dryer. It is important to remove any moisture from the petals but not the essential oil.

Preparing petals: Wash and shred petals, then add to oil

Preparing the petals is the first step in making rose fragrance oil. Start by selecting roses that are strongly scented and free of chemicals or pesticides, especially if you plan to use the oil on your skin or in food products. Pick the roses in the morning after the dew has evaporated, and gently wash them to remove any dirt or bugs. You will need about 1-3 roses, depending on their size, to get 3/4 cup of petals.

Once you have your roses, remove the petals from the stems, being careful of the thorns. You can use any type or colour of rose petal for your oil. After removing the petals, give them a gentle rinse in cold water to remove any remaining dirt or insects. Do not worry about drying the petals after washing.

The next step is to shred or "bruise" the petals. This process helps to release the fragrant oils from the petals. You can use a spoon, a mortar and pestle, or your hands to shred the petals. Once the petals are shredded, they are ready to be added to the oil.

Place the shredded petals into a glass jar or bowl with a lid. You will need enough petals to fill the jar, as you want to avoid leaving any space for air. Pour your chosen carrier oil, such as almond, jojoba, grapeseed, or apricot oil, into the jar until the petals are fully covered. It is important to use an oil with little to no scent so that it does not overpower the delicate fragrance of the roses.

And that's it! Your petals are now ready to be infused in the oil and transformed into a beautiful, fragrant rose oil.

Infusing oil: Place oil with petals in hot water, then leave in a warm area

To make rose-scented oil, you'll need to start by selecting the right roses. Pick roses that are strongly scented and free of chemicals or pesticides, especially if you plan to use the oil on your skin. If you're growing your own roses, it's best to harvest the flowers when they're dry and have opened to their fullest. This way, you can enjoy them for as long as possible before they start to wither.

Once you've picked your roses, remove the petals and lay them out to dry. Avoid putting them in direct sunlight, as this can affect the quality of your oil. You'll want to remove any moisture from the petals as this can cause the oil to become rancid. An air dryer or a tray in an airing cupboard should do the trick.

Now, it's time to infuse the oil. For this method, you'll need a glass jar with an airtight lid, your chosen carrier oil, and of course, your dried rose petals. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Fill the jar with the dried rose petals. You want to fill it to the top, leaving no space for air.
• Pour in your chosen carrier oil. The type of oil is up to you, but something with little to no scent is best to avoid overpowering the delicate smell of the roses. Good options include almond oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil, grapeseed oil, or olive oil.
• Cover the jar tightly with its lid.
• Place the jar in a pot of water and bring the water to a boil. Then, remove the pot from the heat.
• Warming the oil in this way helps release the scent from the rose petals. Leave the jar in the hot water until the water cools down.
• Once the water has cooled, remove the jar and place it in a warm area, such as a sunny windowsill or a warm cupboard.
• Leave the jar undisturbed in the warm area for at least 24 hours. For a stronger scent, you can leave it for up to a week.
• After the infusion period, strain the oil through a muslin cloth or a fine sieve to separate the rose petals from the scented oil.
• Squeeze as much oil as you can from the petals, and you're left with a beautifully scented rose oil!

You can use this rose-infused oil as a moisturiser for your body, hair, nails, and face. You can also add it to your homemade beauty products, such as soap, perfume, or massage oil. Enjoy your homemade rose fragrance!

Straining oil: Use a cheesecloth to strain oil, pressing petals to extract

Once you have left the rose petals to infuse in oil for 24 hours or longer, it's time to strain the oil. For this step, you will need a cheesecloth and a container such as a bowl, jug, or perfume bottle.

Place the cheesecloth over your chosen container. Carefully pour the oil and rose petal mixture into the cheesecloth. Gather the edges of the cheesecloth around the mixture and gently squeeze and press the petals to extract as much oil as possible. You can also use a fine sieve for this step if you don't have a cheesecloth.

After straining, you should be left with a beautiful, delicately scented rose oil. You can transfer this oil to a dark glass bottle with a lid to block out sunlight and help keep the oil stable and fresh.

If you want a stronger-smelling oil, you can repeat the process using the same oil with fresh petals. You may need to repeat the process 5-6 times to achieve your desired level of scent.

Frequently asked questions