Rose Petals
Roses are a mainstay of many gardens, and many homes. They are beautiful, adaptable and come in a multitude of forms, something that make them essential landscaping tools to a good many professional gardeners. However, roses also have their uses outside of the garden. They can be used in the kitchen, in the bath, and even as an essential part of gifts for special occasions.
Romance
Let’s look at that last one first. Roses and romance have long been linked in popular culture, so it’s no surprise that they play an important part in modern courtship rituals and seduction techniques. Rose petals can be used to good effect in several ways, if you have love in mind. For instance, scattering rose petals in a trail from the door to the bedroom is quiet a romantic way to invite your loved one in. Even better, scattering rose petals across the bed, or even across the table during a romantic, candlelite dinner, can make your intentions clear. You can also include rose petals as packing material in gifts and cards. Imagine the look on your loved one’s face as they open a Valentine’s Day card and a shower of rose petals dipped in glitter falls out. Damp rose petals inside a clear balloon can lend a decorative air to any affair, and can make wonderful confetti if you pop them.
Fragrance
Besides romance, roses are used for their scent. Like many flowers, roses have an alluring, pleasing scent that can soothe the soul and ease the mind, and they are frequently used in one form or another for aromatherapy. Take a crock pot, fill it with water, heat it up and pour two handfuls of rose petals inside and let it simmer, and fill your home with a pleasing scent. You can also let rose petals float in a bowl of water, with or without a candle, for a fainter, more subtle scent. Throwing petals in a fire achieves much the same effect, especially if you put them in early, before the fire heats up, or very late, as the fire is burning down. You can also use them in a warm bath, much like bath salts, where their subtle scent will seep into your skin and give you a pleasing odor all day.
Cooking
We’ve covered scents and romance. Now it’s cooking’s turn. Roses have a unique place in the kitchen. Roses are one of the strongest sources of Vitamin C on the planet, and the rose hips are used in a variety of vitamins and foods. Cooking with rose hips will lend an interesting flavor and scent to your meal. You can also use rose petal in home-made ice cream.
Rose petals have many uses, once separated from the plant. They have romantic uses, aromatic uses, and cooking uses, as well as a number of uses not mentioned here. They provide an element of class to go with their beautiful fragrance, and can enliven even the dullest meal or bath. Using rose petals can also provide plenty of opportunities for creativity in your home.