Blue fluorescent carbon dots are synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method using rosemary leaves as a carbon source. The obtained carbon dots are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Vis, FTIR, and fluorescence spectrometry. The results show that carbon dots gave a maximum emission peak at 422 nm when excited at 332 nm. The average particle diameter of the synthesized spherical carbon dots is found to be 16.13 nm with a 4.6-nm standard deviation. The diameters of the produced carbon dots vary, as is evident from standard deviation heights, resulting in multicolor emission spectra. The fruit storage experiment is carried out by investigating the qualitative antioxidant ability of the produced carbon dots. The results obtained for polyvinyl alcohol–carbon dot–coated samples differ remarkably compared to polyvinyl alcohol–coated samples only. The polyvinyl alcohol–carbon dot composition is used in latent fingerprint detection applications. In analyses made on a glass surface, fingerprints cannot be monitored on the glass surface with the polyvinyl alcohol layer under ultraviolet light, while they are observed on the surface covered with the polyvinyl alcohol–carbon dot composition. Moreover, biological activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and yeast strains are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]