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Essential oils have been used for centuries. They serve as healing substances in aromatherapy or simply as fragrant additions to our bodies and homes. Though we may all be familiar with essential oils, we may be unaware that an integral part of the process that creates an essential oil produces another very useful substance—namely Hydrosol or floral water.

What is Hydrosol?

When plants are steam distilled to release their essential oils another substance also occurs the hydrosol. This is the water from the steam — or water distillation that comes into the receiver. In a regular production, the essential oil will eventually rise to the surface and be skimmed off and the hydrosol discarded as waste. But the hydrosol contains the water soluble or hydrophilic (water-loving) Components of the plant and is a powerful therapeutic agent in its own right.

Briefly, the steam distillation process is as follows: The plant material (called the charge) and water are placed in a still. Heat is applied to the still or alembic. The heat and warming water gradually breaks down the cell structure that holds the essential oil. The water turns to steam, carrying along with it the now-released essential oil which is in a vapor form. The steam and vapor collects in the head of the still, slowly flows down a pipe which is connected to a condensing spiral tube that is immersed in cold water. The steam slowly cools as it goes down the condenser turning to water, the vapor cools reverting to essential oil. This then drips into the container called the receiver.

I prefer to think of the hydrosols as a form of plant and aroma therapy that can be used by children, babies, the sick or the infirm.

Essential oils themselves are powerful forces for health but they are extremely concentrated and powerful. One drop of an essential oil is all that is needed in one treatment— but the hydrosol can be used extensively and without fear of over dosage.

Hydrosols are nearly free of irritating Components such as the terpene hydrocarbons and are particularly suited to utilize the beneficial properties of alcohols without the irritation potential that is part of some essential oils. Certain hydrosols are so gentle that they are used in the eyes as treatments for allergies or as antiseptics.

General Uses of Hydrosols:

Lemon Verbena Hydrosol - (Aloysia triphylla) is unavailable on the open market but is being privately produced in California from organically grown leaves and distilled in an ancient alchemist copper alembic in the Mendocino hills. This hydrosol is lovely and useful for the most sensitive skin, to degrease teenager acneic skin, to heal minor skin imperfections, to take internally as a sleep aid or to soothe an upset stomach. It also has much use as a spritz to soothe the psyche.

Melissa (Lemon-Mint) Hydrosol is not available in its true form. The essential oil is one of the most adulterated on the market and when available at all, costs $450/ounce.

But the hydrosol is being produced from organically grown plants in California. This wonderful, fresh, lemon-scented water is used for sensitive aging skin, or sprayed down the throat for many kinds of throat infections. It has therapeutic and anti-microbial action. Wonderful as a facial spritz, for hot flashes or in the summer to cool the skin.

Yarrow Flower Hydrosol is wonderful as an astringent and anti-inflammatory for reactive skin. It is a wonderful non-sweet scent that is acceptable to the most discriminatory scent-conscious.

Other hydrosols that are available are: Myrtle hydrosol for infected or irritated eyes; Rosemary Verbenon and Thyme linalol hydrosol for dry skin; Chamomile or A. arborescens for sensitive skin and abnormal growth; Lavender hydrosol for soothing and easing mental tensions; Marjoram hydrosol for soothing the stomach; Rose hydrosol (commonly called Rosewater) for cooking, as a spritzfor all facial types, with glycerin as a hand lotion, in alcohol beverages; Orange flower water in beverages and for mature skin.

There is a way to mimic a true hydrosol. Add 2 - 3 drops of essential oil to 1 quart of pure or distilled water. Shake daily for two weeks and bottle into small containers. Be aware that in no way does a water based essence such as this truly duplicate the qualities of a true hydrosol.

This article was excerpted from 

"Aromatherapy Book: Inhalations and Applications" by Jeanne Rose.

Info/order this book

More books by Jeanne Rose.

About The Author

The above was reprinted with permission from Jeanne Rose, @1992. She is a well known herbalist and aromatherapist. For more information about hydrosols and where to obtain them, contact Jeanne at 219 Carl St., San Francisco, CA 94117. 

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