With most of our room designs and Romance In A Box products, we utilize silk rose petals. These look real and are pliable and reusable. For hotels, they like them because they do not stain and are not crushed and ground in to the carpet!

With our gift items, we utilize real rose petals purchased from a grower in the U.S. They take real rose petals and through a process I don't really understand, they freeze dry them so that they can last for a long time - and still remain beautiful! Please note: If you plan on having us ship your gift item to a hotel, you can not substitute in the real rose petals (the hotels will not like them!)

These rose petals, when shipped to you, should be softened but if they are a little on the rigid, you can soften them back up by following these instructions:

 The easiest way to soften the petals is to place them in a bathroom while taking a shower.  While they will not become as soft as a fresh petal, they will absorb the steam and become softer and more pliable.  This can also brighten the color of darker petals.  The longer the freeze dried rose petals are exposed to the moisture, the softer they will get.  If the humidity in the air is normal or high, this procedure can be done within a few days before the event to achieve your desired effect.  If the air is dry, the petals may not soften or will quickly dry out again.