Pure Rose Water – Distilled in Kannauj

From India's perfume capital

On the banks of the Ganga, the city of Kannauj has been distilling flowers for centuries. It's known as India's perfume capital: a city where roses picked in the early morning become attar and rose water, and where the craft passes from one generation of distillers to the next. Our rose water comes from Kannauj, distilled by the traditional deg-bhapka method its distillers still practise today.

The deg-bhapka way

Rose petals and water are sealed inside a copper pot called a deg and heated slowly. The fragrant steam travels through a pipe into a copper receiver, the bhapka, which sits in cool water. There the steam condenses into rose water. It's slow, hands-on work that depends on the distiller's skill, which is exactly why it's still done this way.

One ingredient, nothing added

100% pure Rosa damascena (Damask rose) flower water. No added fragrance, no alcohol and no preservatives.

Why it smells different

Pure rose water smells softer and a little earthy, more like fresh petals and green stems than a bouquet. The strong, sweet scent of many commercial rose waters comes from added fragrance. Ours has none, so what you smell is the rose itself.

How to use

• Face: Mist over clean skin, or spray onto a cotton round and sweep on after cleansing.
• Layer it: Press a few drops of argan or jojoba oil into skin while it's still damp with rose water.
• Linen: Mist over pillowcases for a soft rose scent at bedtime.
• Keep it cool: Store it in the fridge once opened. A chilled mist feels wonderfully fresh.

Good to know

Ingredient: Rosa damascena (rose) flower water. Preservative-free, so refrigerate after opening. Shelf life: 12 months unopened. For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Patch test before first use, and stop using it if irritation occurs.

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