My Secret Weapon

Rosewater
I come from a long line of ladies who make their own floral and herbal essences and waters. Our family is still in possession of that very old still used solely for those distillations. Since it has never been used to distill alcohol it is in excellent usable condition and is a treasure. We make our own flower essences in small batches to avoid oxidation or the need for any preservatives. It is pure, simple, organic, rosewater and nothing else.
We do this for many flowers: roses, orange blossoms, lavender, but, with the exception of roses, these flowers are only seasonally available, even in the south. So, there are times when I must rely on prepared flower waters.
Prepared Flowerwaters

I am always, always on the hunt floral waters that are pure flower and water, organic, and culinary grade, but I have yet to find one which will straightforwardly and clearly state on its label any of these things. The labels at best seem to suggest certain merits.
My Recommendation
If you do not have access to locally made floral waters, I recommend Heritage Products Rosewater. This southern made rosewater is light and wonderfully scented. It is not perfumy, sweet or powdery. The scent does not linger, nor will it “turn” on the skin.

I do not use it in food, but it does seem to suggest that is culinary grade. It is available in two sizes. The price ranges from three to five dollars for the four ounce size and five to eight dollars for the eight ounce size.