Aromatic Waters

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For fragrances and gentle healing that make cents as well as sense, try the light touch of hydrosols.

Recipes:
Rose Geranium Lotion
Facial Mist
Tootsie Treat Foot Scrub 

Once discarded as mere byproducts of the distillation process, fragrant floral waters, called hydrosols, are now recognized by many aromatherapists for their therapeutic value. These waters are used not only in creating a relaxing and fragrant environment but also in the treatment of minor physical and emotional problems.

Hydrosols are created by the same process used to extract essential oils from plants. They are not simply a mixture of water and a few drops of essential oil. They have found a significant place in the fragrance world.

You may have heard of two well-known aromatic waters but never realized they were hydrosols. Witch hazel has commonly been used as an astringent for years and is still sold in drugstores; rose water is used in several cosmetics and in ethnic recipes.

Hydrosols are gentler than essential oils, making them safer for small children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems

The making of a hydrosol

Hydrosols are one product from the steam distillation of plant material such as leaves, bark, seeds, roots and flowers. The other product, essential oil, is generally the primary reason for distillation. During the process, steam is injected into the body of the still. The steam releases the volatile plant components and then enters into a condenser that is cooled by water. This process converts the steam back into a liquid state, from which the essential oil is then extracted, leaving behind the hydrosol.

Putting the excess to good use

Some hydrosols are used in the flavor, fragrance and chemical industries. But in most distillations, the water is drained and disposed of or allowed to run off into the terrain. The demand for hydrosols used to be low, and distillers were unable to make a significant profit. As awareness and demand for hydrosols increase, they are becoming more readily available.

Why would anyone want to use a hydrosol instead of an essential oil? Hydrosols are gentler products, which make them appropriate for small children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. They do contain small amounts of essential oils (as well as the water-soluble parts of the plant that are not found in the oil), but at a more affordable price. In addition, according to Suzanne Catty in her book Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy (Inner Traditions, 2001), analysis shows that some chemicals are “too lipophilic (oil loving) to stay in the water and others are just too hydrophilic (water loving) to stay in the oil; therefore, [some chemicals] are found only in the hydrosol.”

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