If you love roses  try making rose beads for prayers!  You could even gift them to a dear friend.

You can make rose beads from rose petals. They are a delightful way to enjoy rose fragrance all year round. Try to get scented roses from a nursery or even from a garden. Dark red roses are more scented than light coloured ones. But your nose will be the best friend to help you to choose the most sweetly scented roses.

You must pick up your roses on a dry day, early in the morning. Pull the petals off and crush them finely with a mortar. Then spread the mashed petals on a piece of waxed paper to dry them partially. Now put them under the mortar again and add a little water to make a fine paste. Dip your fingers into rose oil and roll the petal paste into small beads. If you want ebony coloured beads crush the roses in an iron mortar or iron pot. The iron will oxidize the roses and turn them a stunning black.

Now poke a needle through the centres of the beads, when they are still wet. This will make a hole for threading them later. Now let the finished beads dry up on fresh, waxed paper turning them many times so they dry evenly. It will take three or four days for them to dry completely. Then polish them with a soft cloth.

You can string your lovely rose beads on thin nylon cord to make yourself a scented rose necklace! Or you can make a belt with several threaded strands. Or you can add them to a pair of hanging earrings and make them more stylish. If you have the energy to work with hundreds of roses you can even make a dupatta of rose beads or a blouse or a kameez!

Even a room divider or a screen can be made out of many coloured rose beads! If your rose beads begin to lose their scent you can dip them in rose oil again and let them dry.

Make a scented rose soap: You can even try making your very own rose vinegar. You will need one pint of white vinegar, one cup fragrant rose petals and one pinch of lavender or rosemary. Boil the vinegar and pour it over the rose petals. Add the rosemary or lavender. Cover tightly, let stand for ten days. Strain and pour into sterilized bottles.

Rose soap: Make your own rose soap by saving up all bits and pieces of bathing soap or hand soap and grate up nicely. Add seven drops of rose oil and hot water added to it, and cover up the cut soap. Now place over a low flame until the soap dissolves. Now take a pretty clean cream carton or box with a depth of one inch or two, and set aside to harden.