7 Benefits of Drinking Rose Water, According to Experts

Reviewed by C. Nicole Swiner, MD

Roses aren't only symbols of love or a note in a perfume. And we're sure you're familiar with rose water, you know it's good for your skin too. "Topically, rose water balances the pH of the skin, hydrates dry skin, and fights injury due to aging and sun exposure," explains Natasha Sandy, MD.

But did you know that there are benefits to drinking rose water? Yup—the gorgeous scented water can be added to your smoothies, or even to flavor iced tea and coffee. "The tradition of edible or oral consumption of rose water goes back thousands of years, though it was primarily for flavor," Sandy explains. "Rose water, which is a by-product from the distillation of rose oil, was initially most popular in Persia [Iran], and then India and Europe."

Today, people all over the world consume rose water for its beauty benefits. "I have seen people drinking rose water for health and beauty on travels to Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, and India," says Francis. "In Lebanon, where I am from, we have something called white tea, which is hot water with rose water—yum!"Keep scrolling to learn more about the intriguing benefits and rituals of drinking rose water, straight from Sandy, naturopathic doctor Gabrielle Francis, ND, and celebrity facialist Ildi Pekar.

Meet the Experts

• Natasha Sandy, MD, is a board-certified physician with specialist training in dermatology, especially for those with darker skin tones. Dr. Sandy currently practices in New York and Maryland.

• Ildi Pekar is a celebrity facialist based in New York City.

• Gabrielle Francis, ND, is a naturopathic doctor based in New York City.

Is It Safe to Drink Rose Water?

"Nutritionally, rose water contains vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as flavonoids and other antioxidants," Sandy explains. And though there are few studies demonstrating definitive proof of rose water's benefits as a beauty beverage, people throughout history have depended on it to help with stress, digestion, mood, and inflammation, as well as gorgeous skin. "Since the side effects of drinking rose water are negligible, there may be no harm drinking until the evidence evolves to support current rose water theories," adds Sandy.

It Can Help Reduce Acne, Rosacea, and Eczema

If inflammation is your problem, sipping on rose water can help. "Rose water is a great anti-inflammatory, which is good for reducing acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, skin redness, and psoriasis," explains Pekar. The active inflammation-blasting ingredients in rose water are its terpenes and glycosides, says Francis. For acne, in particular, rose water offers double the healing effects, as "the essential oils in the rose have antimicrobial activity," Francis adds. It also contains "geraniol and eugenol, which have antibacterial properties," notes Sandy.

It's important to note, however, that dermatologists caution that there is no evidence to support the improvement of these skin diseases by drinking rose water.

It Helps Skin Look Glowy and Hydrated

If nothing else, nursing rose water all day will deeply hydrate your skin from the inside out. "Rose water plumps up the skin because is it hydrating and helps to restore water and fluids in dry skin," says Francis. To reap the hydrating benefits, Sandy and Pekar suggest infusing one of your eight recommended daily cups of water with rose.

It Can Help Minimize Wrinkles and Pores

Francis says rose water can help "reduce wrinkles and age spots due to its antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E and flavonoids." In fact, women have been turning to rose water as a source of youth for centuries. "In ancient Egypt, women used rose water to help reduce wrinkles and tighten the pores," says Pekar.

It's Easy to Make Yourself

You can purchase rose water at many health-food stores and juice bars; we recommend Sakara's Beauty Water ($39). "Just be on the lookout for added sugar and how much is added," says Sandy.

Better yet, you can easily make your own rose water at home, which our experts highly recommend. "If you make it yourself, you can refrigerate it and use it for up to one week," says Pekar.

Here is Francis's recipe for making your own drinkable rose water:

1. Remove the petals from a fresh rose. Be sure to clean the rose petals with a fruit or vegetable wash to be sure the pesticides and insects are gone.

2. Put several rose petals in a glass jar of water and let them steep for six hours in the sun. This makes a gentle rose water that is good to drink.

3. Drink one glass per day for maximum benefits, which can be noticed in one week.

Soothe Sore Throats

Rose water might not be the first thing you think of when you're feeling under the weather, but it's been used traditionally for medicinal purposes for centuries .

While there aren't studies that show quantitative proof that rose water helps soothe sore throats, there's strong enough anecdotal evidence out there that proves this is a remedy to have in your cold and flu toolkit.

Helps Relieve Digestion Problems

Not only rose rose water taste delicious, it can also be used to treat stomachaches and other digestion issues. And in case you're raising your brows—studies have shown there is some evidence that rose essence can indeed help in digestion. Remember, to get the full benefits, you have to use real rose essence and oils, not the artificial stuff.

May Treat Tension Headaches

Been staring at your screens too long and now you have a raging headache? We've all been there—and thankfully, it's another ailment that rose water can treat. It can be used as aromatherapy in your diffuser, or soaked into a cold compress. Breathe in the aroma, and relieve the tension of your day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can drinking rose water benefit your hair?

More scientific studies are needed to validate the claim that drinking rose water can benefit your hair. However, some anecdotal evidence supports that applying rose water topically may benefit both the hair and scalp. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, rose water is believed to alleviate certain skin conditions (dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, etc.) if gently massaged into the scalp. When used as a hair rinse, it may help to reduce frizz and improve shine. Still, further investigation is needed to prove any of these claimed benefits.

Can you be allergic to rose water?

Allergies to rose water are rare but may cause skin irritation on certain individuals when applied topically. Perform a patch test before using. If drinking rose water, stick to all-natural versus synthetic since the latter may contain chemicals. Also, do not drink more than the daily recommended glass.

What kind of roses should I use to make rose water?

Opt for organic roses to avoid any irritating chemicals. And note that taste will vary depending on which rose you choose. Damask roses, Gallic roses (French roses), and Rugosa roses (beach roses), are popular varieties.

Related: The 13 Best Rose Water Sprays of 2023

Read the original article on Byrdie.