Clean Beauty with Orange Blossom Water
If there’s one thing I always have in my kitchen, bathroom, and purse, it’s orange blossom water (OBM). The lesser-known cousin of rose water, this magical water contains vitamins A, B, C, and E, and has proved itself equally worthy of adoration. OBM was introduced to me as a kid through Lebanese cuisine alongside rose water, required for desserts like baklava & kashta. It adds the floral aroma and taste to Arabic, Middle Eastern, and North African sweets that makes our creations so je ne sais quois. My brand of choice is, naturally, a product of Lebanon, Cortas Orange Blossom Water. It’s inexpensive and can be found at almost any grocery or Arabic store. Here are four ways I use orange blossom water, and I hope you try them out for yourself!
WHITE COFFEE / DIGESTIVE
While I don’t indulge in creating or consuming Arabic sweets often, OBM alone still plays a beloved role in my diet. One of my favorite ways to consume it is known in Arabic as ahwe beida, which lovingly translates to “white coffee.” Containing no real coffee at all, this digestive combines hot water with a few drops of orange blossom water. I generally find that 1 tbs of orange blossom water per 4 oz hot water is great, but feel free to adjust that ratio to suit your taste. I will often drink ahwe beida throughout the day, especially when I’m fasting. When taken internally, it’s known to ease an upset stomach by reducing inflammation. I love to bring my white coffee on the go in my 40 oz Takeya, which always contains flavored water that nourishes my body and curbs cravings. It’s also wonderful for before bed, and unlike tea, can be used after brushing your teeth as it won’t cause stains. Inner beauty activated.
MOUTHWASH
Speaking of teeth, orange blossom water is an excellent candidate for natural mouthwash. Combine with your choice of one drop of clove, peppermint, oregano, tea tree, or myrrh essential oils, and get swishing for at least 30 seconds. The antimicrobial properties of these essential oils in combination with the antioxidants in OBM should give you fresh breath, and healthy teeth and gums. However, it’s important to note that not all essential oils are created equally. A good way to determine if an essential oil is safe for oral or internal is if it has a nutrition label on the side. If it does not, it’s not meant to go in your mouth. My favorite, certified pure essential oil brand is Doterra, obvi!
FACE & BODY SPRAY
I use orange blossom water on my face daily as a part of my skincare routine for the refreshing, hydrating, and toning effects it has on the skin. Its beautiful and relaxing natural scent is known to soothe nerves, stress, and anxiety. This magical water is good for keeping oil at bay, reducing redness in the skin, and can ease sunburn, which makes it great to keep in one’s purse in hot weather. It also leaves me smelling incredible. I typically add 7 drops of essential oil for added scent and benefits. My personal favorite compliment to OBM is Doterra Grapefruit Oil, although any essential oil of your choice will do. I can imagine adding sweet almond or vitamin E oil may also be quite beneficial in this elixir. I contain the magic in an amber glass spray bottle, and voila! a nourishing spray that heals and keeps me smelling sweet like the flower I am. I spray it all over my face and neck every day and night after using a chemical exfoliant toner, and once again on top of my moisturizer and serums to seal it in with opulence. If I’m doing makeup, I use it right after my setting spray. This makes me smell and feel incredibly beautiful.
SCALP RENEWAL
The third way orange blossom water boosts my inner and outer beauty is in keeping my scalp healthy and hydrated. I only wash my 2b hair once or twice a week, which can sometimes cause me to get flakes, especially if I’ve skipped my bi-weekly routine of coconut oiling & clarifying my scalp with apple cider vinegar (ACV). I also use Batiste Dry Shampoo once a week, which can leave my hair and scalp super dry as well. To combat this, I spray the same bottle of OBM and Doterra grapefruit essential oil very close to and all over my scalp every morning, and I use rose water on my scalp at night. I’ve found this routine helps mitigate flakiness, and irritation soothes sunburn, and even boosts hair growth. It’s wonderfully easy, inexpensive, and people will tell you that you smell amazing!
Orange blossom water has been around forever and used in the Arab world since early civilizations for cooking and beauty. I believe most of the beauty and wellness answers we seek are available to us from the grocery store, and at a much smaller cost than we’re used to. Additionally, I believe that one shouldn’t put anything on their skin that they wouldn’t put inside their body. Though I personally have a ways to go in living in full alignment with this belief by transitioning over to clean beauty for all my products or creating all my own products, orange blossom water is a great way to incorporate clean, sustainable beauty into your routine right now for $5 dollars or less!
With love,
MB♡