If you looked into my wardrobe, if you spoke to my boyfriend, you’d realize very quickly that I love floral things. Floral dresses, flowery skirts, even rose print shirts, I have them all. They suit me, I feel feminine and classy, and they are so easy to wear. But its not just floral clothes that I love. Having flowers scattered in jars and vases around my room instantly cheers it up (though I have to be careful – my room is so small that it can easily be overpowered both in terms of view and scent!). Floral knick-knacks are a favourite, and one of my favorite summer perfumes is heavily floral scented. A So it must come as no surprised that when I was offered the chance to receive some dried flowers from Sous Chef* to play about with, I jumped at the chance!
I was originally going to bake with these, but my ‘lifestyle changes‘ put a stop to that one. In all honestly, I’m still baking. But if I’m going to break my diet, I want brownies. Instead I’ve found other creative ways to use them, and I have to say I’ll definitely be putting an order in for more!
All the flowers I received were edible, so my original plan of Rosewater & Flower cupcakes wouldn’t have poisoned anyone, but I like to think how I’ve used them is a little better for me.
Just half a teaspoon of jasmine* and a single hibiscus* steeped in hot water (I mean steeped – as in let go cold, fish out the bits and microwave hot again), and you have a amazingly flavoured ‘tea.’ I’ve enjoyed adding a teeny bit of hibiscus to my work water bottle, it adds a subtle flavor that makes drinking water far more enjoyable.
Going one step further, I’ve found the jasmine makes a wonderful addition to my DIY Radiance Facemask, adding a bit of exfoliation that makes the mask work even better. Roughly chop a teaspoon or so of the flowers (or whizz in a processor), and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Add a little more honey to make it all stick together, and buff onto the face. Rinse off and there you have it – glowing skin, naturally. Just be careful with the turmeric, it stains EVERYTHING.
All this being said, my absolute favorite way to enjoy these flowers has been by far the simplest. Just add to a steamy bath. Light some candles. Put on some chilled music. Add a glass of wine, a few chocolates, a good book, and there’s my perfect night in. The flowers add something so special to the bath, a luxurious scent that doesn’t irritate my skin or nose. Just wonderful.
Have you ever tried using flowers in baking or homemade beauty products? Are you a fan of natural ingredients?