How I Use Rose to Stay Cool, Soothe the Skin, and Ease a Tender Heart

This year, I’ve fallen deeper in love with roses than ever before.

What began as a handful of David Austin rose bushes (Teasing Georgia, Alnwick, and The Lark Ascending are some favorites) has quickly turned into a full-blown love affair. Every morning, I find myself on the deck, stopping to admire each bloom, cutting a few for a bouquet, and gathering petals for the kitchen.

I think part of my fascination with roses this year has to do with the season of life I’m in. The transition into motherhood has been beautiful, but also far more demanding, humbling, and heartbreaking than I ever imagined. There have been more days than not that felt tender, messy, and overwhelming all at once.

Through it all, the roses have become a steady companion.

Their medicine arrives not only through teas, desserts, and herbal preparations, but through their simple presence. They remind me to slow down, to notice the small moments of beauty, and tend to tender emotions, rather than harden during difficult seasons. In many ways, rose has become one of the herbs I’ve leaned on most this year, both in the kitchen and beyond.

Today, I want to share some of the herbal magic of rose, from its cooling medicinal qualities and heart-centered energetics to the folklore that has made it one of the world’s most beloved plants. Plus, I’ll share three simple recipes so you can bring a little rose medicine into your own home.