Roses are native primarily to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Many roses are cultivated for their beautiful flowers, which range in color from white through various tones of yellow and pink to dark crimson and maroon, and most have a delightful fragrance, which varies according to the variety and to climatic conditions.

Dried rose petals have a good shelf-life and are easy to store. They have a history of being used to bring floral notes to a variety of culinary dishes. An easy way to do this is to grind your dried rose petals into a sweet spice mix or use them to make flavored sugar. They can used in tea blends, usually in combination with other herbs and flowers. Dried rose petals are also added to soups and salads and make exceptional decorations for cakes and pastries. Infused in oil or alcohol, rose petals can be transformed into creams, lotions, colognes and perfumes.