Rose water is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals. Rose water, itself a by-product of the production of rose oil for use in perfume, is used to flavour food, as a component in some cosmetic and medical preparations, and for religious purposes throughout Europe and Asia. Rose syrup is made from rose water, with sugar added.

Since ancient times, the rose has been highly prized for its source of perfume, medicinal use and nutritional properties. In fact so much so that, ancient Greeks, Romans and Phoenecians placed as much importance on large public rose gardens as they did on wheat fields and fruit orchards.

Rose perfumes are made from rose oil, also called attar of roses, which is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by steam-distilling the crushed petals of roses, a process first developed in Persia and Bulgaria.^{[citation needed]} Rose water is a by-product of this process.

Rose water has a very distinctive flavour and is used heavily in Iranian cuisine—especially in sweets such as nougat, raahat and baklava. For example, rose water is used to give gulab jamuns and some types of loukoum (or "Turkish Delight") their distinctive flavours. Beside food usage, they used it as perfume especially in religious ceremonies (both Muslims and Zoroastrians).

Mark Rosewater is a Magic: The Gathering card designer. He is currently Magic's head designer.

Rosewater grew up in Pepper Pike, Ohio, where he attended the Orange High School. Rosewater has a Jewish background. Rosewater has described himself in his youth as a "social outcast", who did not have many friends. He was particularly small, smart and was bullied by other children. In his youth, he worked as a professional magician.

Rosewater attended Boston University, where he got a Bachelor of Science in Communication.

After graduating, Rosewater started his career in television as a runner. He then found work as a writer. Before 1994 he was on the writing staff of Roseanne. He is credited for two Roseanne episodes: "Vegas, Vegas" and "Take My Bike, Please", both aired in 1991. He considered his time in Hollywood a "roller coaster ride." While working as a free lance writer he took a job at a game store in order to have some social contacts. Working there he first found out about Magic: The Gathering from a customer.