WHAT ARE HYDROSOLS OR FLORAL WATERS?

Floral water, also known as a Hydrolat or Hydrolsol, is the water that is collected when plants are distilled to make essential oil. Hydrosols are valuable therapeutic materials in their own right and can be used alongside essential oils or in place of them, especially in cosmetic applications and for treating skin disorders. They can be applied to the skin directly, without further dilution and are particularly useful where a non-oily or water-soluable treatment medium is needed.   It is also possible to use them as bath additives and in inhalations and sprays.  Hydrosols make wonderful skin toners, and are the perfect answer to pet care, especially cats and tiny dogs.

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About Hydrosols

Aromatherapy through the use of totally natural, pure, unaltered plant oils and waters stimulates the body's own defense mechanisms and immune system. The anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-infectious properties of aromatics work physically through a scientifically proven process, the scent and life force of the essences work on the mind, again via documented chemical processes and receptor site interaction but also on a subtle level through emotions and memories in the limbic system.

Just as homeopathics and flower essences work vibrationally on the etheric fields of the body, so do aromatherapy products, reaching out, touching, soothing, healing the imbalances that are so often the cause of 'dis-ease'.

Hydrosols can also be considered the homeopathy of aromatherapy; as herbs are to homeopathy, so are essential oils to hydrosols.

Hydrosols are the pure natural water that is produced during the distillation process. When plants or flowers are put into the still or distillation tank, they are subjected to either boiling water, or steam or both. The steam hits the plant, softens the scent cells and the essential oil that is contained within is released as a vapor. This essential oil vapor mixes with the steam and is only separated again as the steam cools in the condensing tank. As the steam cools, the essential oil molecules separate from the steam (now as cooled water) and float to the surface because of the specific gravity difference between the essential oil and water, leaving two separate layers in the collecting receiver. The upper layer is the essential oil which floats on the water (except for the very few of them which sink) and the water now is called the hydrosol, or sometimes, the hydrolat. Hydrosols from flowers are called flower waters or flower hydrosols and hydrosols from herbs are called herbal hydrosols, but they are not usually distinguished this way to the lay person.

Flutterbye hydrosols are not simply misters, nor are they water to which droplets of essential oil have been added. They are a separate and natural product of the distillation process and can be termed 100% distilled non-alcoholic distillates. Hydrosols are 100% distilled and used at full strength exactly as they are. They can also be diluted with water or in tea and used as a therapeutic drink (1 tablespoon/liter or 1-3)

A Multitude of Uses:

Fresh hydrosol, that has been cleanly distilled, is pure and free of bacteria. It should be stored in the refrigerator and used within the year it is distilled. Old hydrosol can be used in the bath. Avoid contamination by using clean bottles and keeping fingers out J …

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