I’m not the world’s biggest fan of rose scents but I cannot deny that the delicate scent of fresh rose blooms uplifts the spirit and makes me feel girly and happy. Rose water is also popular for use as a face mist, to hydrate skin, set makeup or just refresh yourself when it’s hot.
I happen to be quite a fan of the Melvita Damask Rose Floral Water of which I’ve already gone through about 2 bottles thus far, from the days when it came in a lovely glass bottle, till it’s current packaging in a plastic bottle. I like how soothing and comfortable it is on my skin and I use it primarily as a post-cleanse facial treat.
But you know what? As lovely as it is, I found it pricey. I recently tried a new brand on a bit of a whim and to my surprise, I like it, and it’s very kind to my wallet. So here we have it – a Save and Splurge post for rose floral waters. I haven’t done one of these for a long time have I? :D
SPLURGE: Melvita Damask Rose Floral Water – RM122/200ml
The splurge option will be the Melvita Rose floral water which I reviewed a while ago. It’s very nice. The scent of roses is not too strong, and is refreshingly of fresh roses. I find it hydrating on skin so you can use it as a hydrating toner after your cleansing and it cools and soothes the skin, while leaving it feeling lovely.
Get this if: You want a certified organic product, You prefer a distilled rose floral water as opposed to one mixed with essential oil
Buy it from: Melvita stores or Melvita online
SAVE: Heritage Store Rose Petals Rosewater – US$6.52 (Approx RM21)/240ml
I was shopping iHerb.com one day when I somehow came upon this brand that received a lot of positive comments and reviews. I do use rose water mists quite a lot in my skincare routine, so I was intrigued, and ordered a bottle to try. I have to say, it’s lovely! The product comes in a pink plastic bottle, and the spray mist is fine and the mist is fine enough to hydrate and refresh the skin without leaving it feeling sopping wet.
I usually use this after cleansing, as a hydrating treat and before I go on to my toners (although I use it after an exfoliating toner – yes, my skincare routine is complex :P ) It seems to cool down my skin on hot days (I like to just mist my face with it for fun sometimes when I’m at home) and it refreshes. The scent of roses is quite strong but it isn’t cloying, just the fresh smell of blooms.
You could use this any way that you’d normally use a face mist – to set makeup, to refresh your skin, to mix with skincare to thin it, as a body mist if you like the scent that much… possibilities are endless. The ingredients are just 2 – Vor-mag water and Rosa Damescena (hydroessential rose) flower oil.
Vor-mag water is supposed to be water that has been vortexed and magnetized to raise the energy to a higher vibration that they believe to be more beneficial. I find it esoteric so I’m discounting all benefits ascribed to it. All in all, as a rosewater facial mist, I’d say this is an excellent value.
Get this if: You are on a budget, You don’t mind that it is a blend of water and essential oil
Buy it from: iHerb.com (If you use my code MPW213 you get 5% off. This item is quite heavy but airmail shipping to Malaysia is $4 up to about 2kg and I’ve shipped it together with some light items for that price. It takes a while to get here, but I’m fine with it. Otherwise, opt for the DHL shipping which is quicker)
My Pick
I will not call them dupes, because the composition of the products are different. Melvita uses a distillation process to obtain their floral waters and that I understand can add to cost. Also, Melvita is certified organic so you know where their products are coming from. If those matter to you then you will pick Melvita’s floral water.
As for Heritage Store Rosewater, I like it because I can be lavish with it without feeling a pinch on my wallet. But I do have to order it online and it can take a while to get here (I’ve seen it sold online locally for double the price. I’d take my chances with iHerb any day) so that’s one of its downsides. In a pinch therefore, I’d pick the Save option and go with the Heritage Store Rosewater because my wallet likes it. But if I were feeling flush (or green), then I’d go for Melvita which is easier to get locally.
Do you use a rose water mist? Have you tried either of these?
I use a floral water mist almost like a face prep for my skincare to follow. It seems to help with hydration and it seems to help products absorb more quickly into my skin thereafter. It also feels and smells nice so that might be the biggest incentive of them all! :D Do you have a brand you like?
Paris B
Product prices and availability are as set out above within the post. This post contains an affiliate link but I never recommend things or websites that I don’t personally like or use!
Save and Splurge is where I show you similar items by different brands that I have tried. They may not work quite the same way, but it’ll offer you options for your wallet for a similar effect/product. Do note however, that it is based on products I have tried, so whilst there are many save and splurge options out there, these are my views and choices. You can find more under the category of Save & Splurge.
not using any facial mist per se, but now I bottle my toner into spray bottle now for easy spray :P
Smart! :) I must say I quite like the whole misting thing. Feels so cool!
I just started using rose hydrosol (rose water) as my hydrating toner and absolutely love it..iherb is fantastic and a life savior when it comes to certain brands ;)
Ooh yes, I love browsing iherb. I could spend hours! HAHA Rosewater is nice isn’t it? Also feels and smells so refreshing!
Have you tried the grape water from caudalie? It’s a pretty affordable substitute which I’ve been inter changing with the melvita rose water. It’s rm60 for a large can. I’m crazy about the melvita rose water, have probably finished no less than 10 bottles over the last 3years but I agree it does get pricey. It’s cheaper in the UK if you can get a friend to haul it back for u.
Hi Verona, no I haven’t tried the Caudalie Grape Water but thanks for letting me know that it’s a nice alternative to the Melvita one! I have to agree that the Melvita rose water is so lovely and so addictive but the price really hurts the wallet :( Gotta learn to find substitutes now ;)
A friend told me in confidence that her stewardess friend said that rose water is their secret weapon to looking fresh and radiant even on long flights! I personally feel that rose scent is invigorating. We’ve been using a cheap alternative (a rose toner from Avon Naturals) but I’d love to try out your suggestions. :)
Ooh that’s such a nice thing to know Aisyah! Now, we can all bring in little spritzer bottles of rosewater and look as refreshed as them as well :D I think rose water works, so just work within your budget. I’m glad I found a really affordable alternative! ;)
Oh Paris, you’ve now made me add yet another item to my ever-expanding list of things to get from IHerb! But I’m not complaining. Am quite happy with my purchases so far (prays hard I meet the weight requirement for airmail shipping. hee hee)
LOL!! iherb is my downfall as well :D I often use the $4 airmail shipping even if it takes a long time whenever I can, but I have to say that when I choose to splurge and use DHL, the speed at which the items arrive is amazing!
I love using pure 100% organic rose water. It does marvels for the skin, I am a bit fan. I often use a frecnh brand ..but will now give a try to a bulgarian brand.
These are, I think very popular in Europe so you’re lucky to have easy access to them! :)
Can’t live without rosewater mists! I use the mario badescu,about $7 at ulta. I’ll try these two if i can find them on amazon (fingers crossed). Now that fall is here i need to stock up on anything that’s hydrating. Thanks paris!
If you’re in the US, you can just get the Heritage one from iherb! :) It’s affordable and shipping is low or even free depending on how much you buy :) As for Melvita, I don’t think they’re in the US yet but the online site ships from Europe if I’m not mistaken :)
I looooove that Heritage Store rosewater. It smells better than other rosewater sprays (to my nose, anyway). They also make a version with glycerin added – was on iHerb too the last time I checked!
Yes, I saw the one with glycerin too! Glad to finally meet someone who’s also tried this one before haha! I like that the scent isn’t too strong – I don’t mind the smell of roses but not if they’re overpowering!
For rose mist, I’ve only try out the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, which is SUPERBB LOVELY!!! I guess it is much more better than Melvita but the price is really steep.
Hmm I don’t remember if I’ve tried it but I’m intrigued! :) But I have noticed that prices for Jurlique items tend to be quite pricey as well sigh….
I also bought a bought of Heritage Rosewater which I use as a toner. I think I actually love the bottle more than the product itself because the spray dispenses the finest mist :) Would keep the bottle and refill it with other toners.
Haha you’re right about the mist, I didn’t notice! I like how it doesn’t leave my face sopping wet :P
Seriously loving these save and splurge series! Maybe it’s just me but I love to hear about dupes about products that are in the ‘middle/upper’- price ranged market.. or maybe I’m just a cheapskate ha!
Anyways, I myself love floral scents (yes, I’m a guy -don’t judge me D:), hence yes, rosewater smells divine for me. Have anyone tried the damask rose range from crabtree and evelyn? I didn’t know they did skincare until recently when I popped into one of their stores when I was back in Malaysia, curious to hear anyone’s thoughts on it ~
Thanks Robert, I try haha! It’s not easy finding dupes/similar products coz I’ve been so slack about trying new things LOL I don’t think there’s anything wrong with liking floral scents. I was told that there are guys who buy floral perfumes simply because it works for them and they like it so really, who cares eh? ;) I haven’t tried anything from the C&E Damask Rose range though I spotted the collection in store recently too. Since I’m not crazy about rose scents, and since the scent in the products are quite strong, I’m not sure if I’d give them a go, but you know what they say. Never say never!
I have immediately headed to iherb to check out the Heritage Store rose water. :) I love the Melvita one (ordered from hqhair.com i think), sprayed on children and sent them running giggling away. Very fond memories on that one. :) A friend of mine from India also used rose water (smells quite strongly, in a glass bottle) and she would put some glycerin (don’t know where she got it from) and mix with the rose water, rub together and apply all over her face. That was the first time I had heard of rose water, waaaay before reading about the Melvita version on your blog. I didn’t want to try my friend’s version as the smell was too strong for my liking. :p
Anyway, I recall that my ar-ma used some sort of clear water that smells like rose as well. You know those times they have little white pills contained in glass bottle? They dissolve a pill with some of the rose scented water and put on their face. I don’t have any memories of smelling my ar-ma’s face with that, but certainly remembered seeing my aunts with white face… hehehe
Haha love that you spray your rosewater on your kids! I’m sure they love it :D The Heritage Store has the regular rose water and one with added glycerin which is supposed to be more hydrating but I haven’t tried it. I know a lot of Indian ladies use rose water and apparently you can buy them from the grocery stores, but you’re right about the scent. It’s usually very strong and I can’t get used to it. I think the pills you mentioned is “bedak sejuk” or “rice powder” :D I remember using them too but the unscented ones!
I’ve had that Melvita mist on my wish list or months, if not years now. I LOVE Omorovicza Quuen of Hungary. It is amazing, just very expensive.
Ooh anything Omorovicza is so expensive :( Which reminds me that I have the Cleansing Balm and I should give it a go soon! :D
I came across this blogpost and my thought was “this is what ive been looking for!” Which is a well-experienced Malaysian beauty blogger. It is soo much easier for me to do my research whenever I want to buy a new product. I’ve discovered a rose face mist from a brand named Adania. And I’m in my second bottle now! It’s really refreshing but I think it’s quite on the pricey side. It’s RM50 for 100ml. Thank you for this review. I’ve been eyeing the Heritage Store Rosemist at iHerb for quite some time. Now I feel confident enough to purchase it and maybe if I have extra money I would try the Melvita’s. Thank you again!