What is a Hydrosol and How to Use a Hydrosol
Understanding Hydrosols
In aromatherapy, the principle of "less is more" underscores the importance of gently providing the body with what it needs to rebalance itself without overwhelming it. Hydrosols, also known as hydrolats, embody the principle of gentle care. Any aromatic plant capable of producing an essential oil can also yield a hydrosol through steam distillation. They are the aromatic water portion obtained through the steam distillation of aromatic plant material, distinct from the highly concentrated essential oils that require dilution for safe use. Hydrosols stand out not only for their therapeutic properties but also for their safety and gentleness, making them suitable for use on sensitive skin, including babies and animals.
It's important to note that hydrosols differ from floral waters; floral waters are often created by adding essential oil or fragrance oil to water, whereas hydrosols are therapeutic aromatic waters obtained directly from steam distillation.
Exploring the Versatility of Hydrosols
Hydrosols bring a fragrant touch of nature to your everyday life, offering a wonderful variety of uses that enhance both your skincare routine and household cleaning. In skin care, they are invaluable; incorporate them into water-based cleansers, use them as a gentle toner, as a healing spray for a minor wound, or even in a DIY bug-away spray. Hydrosols like lavender or rose offer soothing relief when feeling overheated, while German chamomile or cornflower hydrosols provide gentle comfort for eyes overwhelmed with allergies.
Hydrosol Spotlight:
Lavender Hydrosol: Relax and Rejuvenate
Lavender hydrosol, with its calming and cooling properties, is ideal as a linen spray. Safe for the entire family, it can be spritzed on bedsheets and pillowcases to help unwind after a hectic day. This sweet floral hydrosol also supports healthy skin, offering soothing relief from occasional redness, bug bites and stings, irritation, diaper rash, and even sunburns.
Peppermint Hydrosol: Refresh and Revitalize
Energizing and refreshing, peppermint hydrosol is excellent for revitalizing the mind and body. Known for its cooling properties, it offers relief from sore, tense, and achy muscles, especially after a strenuous day of yard work. Peppermint hydrosol can be used as a breath-freshening spray, soothing foot spray, or a facial toner to get your day started by feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Eucalyptus Hydrosol: Clarify and Revitalize
Eucalyptus is renowned for its breath-opening properties, the hydrosol can be used as shower spray to both clean the shower and decongest your sinuses. Its crisp, fresh aroma fills the room while purifying and freshening the air.
Helichrysum Hydrosol: Rejuvenate and Soothe
Helichrysum hydrosol is a skincare necessity, soothing skin irritations of all varieties. It serves as a natural toner, purifying and balancing the skin, while supporting the healing of scars, bruises, swelling, acne, and psoriasis.
Rosemary Hydrosol: Clarify and Refresh
Rosemary hydrosol helps maintain focus and clarity, making it the perfect room spray option for students. It brightens skin tone, relieves mild irritations and blemishes, and promotes shiny, healthy hair.
Frankincense Hydrosol: Radiate and Restore
Frankincense hydrosol promotes a radiant, clear complexion, while also bringing an overall sense of peace. Try using frankincense hydrosol as the water portion in your essential oil diffuser or room spray to bring a cleansing, calm clarity to the room.
Calendula Hydrosol: Nourish and Heal
Calendula hydrosol, known for its skincare benefits, rejuvenates and soothes the skin, making it perfect for daily care or as an acute "boo-boo spray". Gentle and calming, it supports healthy, radiant skin and provides quick relief for minor injuries. Try it as a toner, and it to the baths for all of the family members.
Ginger Hydrosol: Energize and Purify
Ginger hydrosol is bold and spicy. Just as a bit of ginger root can calm an upset stomach, a touch of ginger hydrosol mixed in warm honey water is ideal for stomach complaints and digestive relief. Used as a body spray, or added to the bath water, ginger hydrosol stimulates circulation and brings warmth to the body.
Ways to Use Hydrosols
Diffuser - substitute your favorite hydrosol for the water in your essential oil diffuser
Room Spray - substitute your favorite hydrosol, or hydrosol blend for the water portion of a room spray
Skincare products - substitute your favorite hydrosol, or hydrosol blend for the water portion when making soaps, lotions, and creams
Facial Toner - Use a soothing hydrosol in place of a store-bought facial toner, especially for those with irritated or sensitive skin
Body Spray - Cool down with hydrosol body sprays during hot weather or hot flashes
Baths and Footsoaks - add 2 tablespoons of your favorite hydrosol, or hydrosol blend to the water to add soothing relaxation to your soak
Cleaning Products - substitute a cleansing hydrosol for the water portion in your DIY household cleaning product recipe, as many hydrosols have similar antimicrobial actions to their essential oil counterparts
Facial Steams - add 1-2 tablespoons of a refreshing hydrosol, such as lavender or rosemary to your steam
Creating Your Own Hydrosols
Are you interested in crafting your own hydrosols? You don't need fancy equipment or vast amounts of plant matter. Using simple tools like a stockpot in your kitchen, you can create your own hydrosols. Take a look around the internet, there are a variety of options to use household items to makeshift a still, but below is the method I have used. Using a large stock pot, place the aromatic plant material in the bottom of the stockpot and add just enough water to cover it. Place your chosen dividing device (bowl, stone, or steamer) on top of the plant material, this creates space between the plant material and the next layer to come.
Position the collection bowl on top of the dividing device. Then, place the lid on the pot upside down so that the handle directs the condensed steam into the collection bowl.
Optionally, you can add a bag of ice on top of the lid to encourage condensation. This helps to collect the hydrosol more effectively.
Heat the water in the pot to create steam, but avoid boiling. Allow the mixture to steam for around 20 minutes, refreshing the ice as needed to maintain condensation. Allow to cool before removing this lid. Carefully remove the collection bowl from the setup and transfer the hydrosol into a dark glass bottle. Store it in the refrigerator. Be sure to label and date the bottle. Since hydrosols are water-based products, they have a limited shelf life. It's best to use them within a couple of months and refresh the hydrosol periodically.
In the pictures above of a makeshift hydrosol distillation kit, I used dried spearmint leaves to make a spearmint hydrosol which I am now using on my dog. It appears that she is suffering from allergies as she has bright red areas on her stomach that she is frequently licking. With the application of the spearmint hydrosol, her symptoms have significantly reduced and her licking has nearly stopped.
With this simple DIY method, you can create your own hydrosols at home, capturing the essence of your favorite aromatic plants for use in various applications. Enjoy the process and the delightful results of your DIY hydrosols!
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