I have seen rose water in some retail establishments and was wondering what it was used for. So I started seeking out answers and I found the answer on Wisegeek.com:
"Classically, rose water is made using damask roses, many-petaled and fragrant. These were first grown in Iran and Bulgaria, but are now frequently found in Spain, Italy, and France. However, the Middle Eastern countries remain some of the largest producers of rose water because of the availability of damasks. If one is trying a homemade recipe, recommendations for other types of roses include most of the purple shaded varieties, such as Angel Face and Sterling Silver, as they tend to be the most fragrant.
The uses of rose water are as varied and numerous as the petals of a damask rose. Most western countries are familiar with rose water or rose oil as an addition to fragrances and in body and facial creams. More recently it has been introduced as a skin toner, and many people also enjoy its use in varied applications of aromatherapy. In ancient Rome, people enjoyed bathing in rose water, and it was, and still is, considered to have anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties. For this reason, rosewater was frequently used to wash one's hands.
Less familiar to most westerners is rose water's use as an ingredient in food. In the Middle East and Asia, meat can be cooked and infused with it. There are recorded recipes dating back to the 8th century.Rose water also provides the primary flavor for many sweet treats. A teaspoon may be added to mango lassi or marzipan. Turkish delight, a favorite candy in many Arab countries, derives its unique taste from this flavoring. To the untrained palate, the addition of rose water is often described as tasting "soapy," but that is often because many associate the fragrance of roses with skin creams. Once used to this taste, gourmets or gourmands can delight in numerous Middle Eastern and Asian dishes which evoke traditional cuisine at least a millennia old.
Rose water flavors not only many foods of the Middle East, but also holds sacred importance in religious ceremonies of both the Muslim and Hindu religions. In certain Islamic rituals, it cleanses the body before prayer cleanses the spirit. In Hinduism, the fragrant liquid bathes the Shiva lingam, or phallus, during the Mahshirvrati festival, an annual day of devotion to Shiva, also traditionally celebrated as the day Shiva married the goddess Parvati.
Rose water can certainly be made at home with either very simple methods or more complex distillation methods. The easiest method is to combine rose petals and water in a sun tea jar and set the jar in the sun for several days. Keep in mind that care should be taken when concocting these home recipes. They are not long lasting and are subject to growing bacteria, which may be quite dangerous if used in food.
Commercial preparations come in many forms and can safeguard against bacterial formation. In addition, the buyer can choose organic preparations, thus eliminating pesticides from the roses in their food or on their bodies. However used, rose water is certainly almost universally enjoyed, with its sweet and deep aroma, and delightful and unusual taste."
"Classically, rose water is made using damask roses, many-petaled and fragrant. These were first grown in Iran and Bulgaria, but are now frequently found in Spain, Italy, and France. However, the Middle Eastern countries remain some of the largest producers of rose water because of the availability of damasks. If one is trying a homemade recipe, recommendations for other types of roses include most of the purple shaded varieties, such as Angel Face and Sterling Silver, as they tend to be the most fragrant.
The uses of rose water are as varied and numerous as the petals of a damask rose. Most western countries are familiar with rose water or rose oil as an addition to fragrances and in body and facial creams. More recently it has been introduced as a skin toner, and many people also enjoy its use in varied applications of aromatherapy. In ancient Rome, people enjoyed bathing in rose water, and it was, and still is, considered to have anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties. For this reason, rosewater was frequently used to wash one's hands.
Less familiar to most westerners is rose water's use as an ingredient in food. In the Middle East and Asia, meat can be cooked and infused with it. There are recorded recipes dating back to the 8th century.Rose water also provides the primary flavor for many sweet treats. A teaspoon may be added to mango lassi or marzipan. Turkish delight, a favorite candy in many Arab countries, derives its unique taste from this flavoring. To the untrained palate, the addition of rose water is often described as tasting "soapy," but that is often because many associate the fragrance of roses with skin creams. Once used to this taste, gourmets or gourmands can delight in numerous Middle Eastern and Asian dishes which evoke traditional cuisine at least a millennia old.
Rose water flavors not only many foods of the Middle East, but also holds sacred importance in religious ceremonies of both the Muslim and Hindu religions. In certain Islamic rituals, it cleanses the body before prayer cleanses the spirit. In Hinduism, the fragrant liquid bathes the Shiva lingam, or phallus, during the Mahshirvrati festival, an annual day of devotion to Shiva, also traditionally celebrated as the day Shiva married the goddess Parvati.
Rose water can certainly be made at home with either very simple methods or more complex distillation methods. The easiest method is to combine rose petals and water in a sun tea jar and set the jar in the sun for several days. Keep in mind that care should be taken when concocting these home recipes. They are not long lasting and are subject to growing bacteria, which may be quite dangerous if used in food.
Commercial preparations come in many forms and can safeguard against bacterial formation. In addition, the buyer can choose organic preparations, thus eliminating pesticides from the roses in their food or on their bodies. However used, rose water is certainly almost universally enjoyed, with its sweet and deep aroma, and delightful and unusual taste."
Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rose-water.htm
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