The Many Gifts of the Rose
- Rachel Howarth
- Jun 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 4
June arrives like a soft sigh — hedgerows humming, bees in a lazy daze, and the first flush of roses opening like secrets. Here in Yorkshire, I always know summer has truly begun when the garden starts to smell faintly of petals warmed by sun. The rose is everywhere — tumbling, giving, blooming.
But she is more than a bloom.
She’s balm for chapped lips and tired hearts.
She’s tea for tense minds.
She’s an oil for the skin, spirit and soul.
Dry her petals and she’ll give you a dozen more gifts long after her flowers fade.
This post is a love letter to the rose — a simple, sacred guide to gathering, drying and using her in everyday magic.
Why Dry Rose Petals?
Drying petals is one of the oldest ways to preserve beauty and wellbeing in one go. It’s slow, simple, and deeply satisfying — a way to press pause in a fast world. Once dried, rose petals can be used in teas, infused oils, balms, salts, sugars, and more. They hold not just scent and colour, but energy: calm, loving, gently powerful.
Roses have been used for centuries in folk healing, spiritual ritual, and natural skincare — and for good reason. They’re naturally anti-inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, and they hold that unmistakable scent that feels like both home and heaven.
How to Dry Rose Petals
1. Harvest mindfully.
Pick your blooms in the morning, after the dew has lifted but before the sun gets too strong. Choose unsprayed, fresh roses — ideally garden-grown or wild. If you choose wild, please only pick a few. (Avoid florists’ roses, which are often chemically treated.)
2. Gently pull the petals away.
Lay them flat on a clean tea towel or mesh rack. Keep them in a dry, shaded space with good airflow.
3. Leave them to dry.
This usually takes 3–5 days. You’ll know they’re ready when they feel papery and rustle softly.
4. Store with care.
Keep them in a clean, airtight jar out of direct light. Label with the date and variety if you like — it makes your apothecary feel that much more special.
I’ve just worked out I can use an air fryer!
🌹 Apothecary Roses to Grow and Use
If you’re thinking of growing or using apothecary-style roses in your remedies, rituals, or recipes, here are some beautiful varieties to consider—each one steeped in history, fragrance, and botanical beauty.
🌿 Classic Apothecary Rose
Rosa gallica officinalis – Also known as the Red Damask or the Apothecary’s Rose.
Why it’s loved: Deep pink-red petals, rich traditional fragrance, and revered in herbal medicine for centuries.
Uses: Perfect for drying—ideal in teas, salves, potpourri, bath soaks, or distilled into rosewater.
✨ Other Beautiful Heirloom Varieties
Rosa damascena – Known for its essential oil and rosewater, often used in Turkish delight and fine perfumery.
Rosa centifolia – The “Cabbage Rose,” deeply fragrant and excellent for infusions, toners, and homemade skincare.
Rosa rugosa – Hardy and reliable, with useful petals and vitamin C-rich hips—brilliant for UK gardens.
Rosa alba – Elegant, soft-scented, and historically used in herbal vinegar and calming remedies.
Romantic Modern Heirlooms from David Austin
For a touch of poetic beauty and rich perfume in your garden, consider these modern classics:
Gertrude Jekyll – A deeply pink, intensely fragrant rose named after the iconic garden designer. A perfect blend of structure and old-world charm.
Emily Brontë – A soft, blush-apricot rose with a tea and myrrh fragrance—delicate yet robust, ideal for cutting and drying.
The Generous Gardener or Queen of Sweden – Also beautiful additions if you’re building a garden that balances visual beauty with herbal use.
Five Beautiful Uses for Dried Rose Petals
1. 🌸 Rose Petal Tea
Soothing and gentle, this tea is perfect before bed or during tender times.
You’ll need:
1 tsp dried rose petals
2 tsp Assam loose leaf tea
Hot (but not boiling) water
Optional: a little honey or dried lemon balm
Steep for 5–7 minutes, then sip slowly. Let the petals soften you from within.
2. 🌹Rose-Infused Oil
Perfect as a face oil, bath oil, or the base for a lip balm.
To make:
Fill a clean jar ¾ full with dried petals
Cover with a carrier oil (jojoba, almond or olive are lovely)
Let it steep in a warm spot for 2–4 weeks, shaking gently every few days
Strain and store in an amber glass bottle
3. 🛁 Rose Petal Bath Soak
A bath that feels like a love note.
You’ll need:
½ cup Epsom salts
¼ cup oats (ground to a powder)
¼ cup pink Himalayan salt
A small handful of dried rose petals
Add a little Lavender dried if you have some
Optional: a few drops of rose or lavender essential oil
Mix together and store in a jar. Add a handful to a warm bath and soak your tiredness away.
4. 🍓 Rose Sugar
For stirring into tea or dusting over cakes — this is joy in a jar.
To make:
Layer 1 cup granulated sugar with 2 tbsp dried petals in a sealed jar
Leave for 3–5 days
Sieve out the petals if desired
(Also beautiful sprinkled on shortbread.)
5. 💋 Homemade Rose Petal Lip Balm
You’ll need:
2 tbsp rose-infused oil (see above)
1 tbsp beeswax pellets
Optional: ½ tsp shea butter
A few drops of rose or sweet orange essential oil
Ground rose petals
To make:
Melt the beeswax and oil gently in a double boiler. Once melted, add your essential oil and ground petals, stir well, and pour into tins. Let set. That’s it. Rosey lips, no nasties.
The Spiritual Message of the Rose
The rose reminds us that softness is not weakness.
That beauty and usefulness can exist side by side.
That even with thorns, we are worthy of love.
If you find yourself in a season of doubt, grief, burnout or simply needing to remember who you are — let the rose be your guide.
“Let the rose be a gentle reminder that, amidst life’s complexities, we have the innate ability to bloom, radiating love and beauty to all who cross our path.”
She teaches us to open slowly.
To hold fragrance long after the moment has passed.
To offer comfort in simple, sacred ways.
💌 Final Thoughts
I hope this blog leaves you inspired to gather, dry, and use the petals growing just outside your door. You don’t need much — just a quiet moment and a handful of blooms. A balm tin. A teacup. A breath.
Roses have been healing hearts and skin for centuries.
Let them work their magic on you, too.
If you try any of these recipes, tag me over on Instagram @the__cottage__on__cow__lane — I’d love to see what you’re making.
And remember: you are blooming, even on the days you feel the thorns.
Love,
Rach x
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