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What are Hydrosols?
What are Hydrosols?
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| Hydrosols
in 4 ounce and 8 ounce bottles. The hydrosols are surrounded
by varieties of fresh cut herbs and flowers that are frequently
distilled for their essential oil and hydrosol. |
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Briefly stated, a hydrosol
is the aromatic water that remains after producing an essential
oil via steam or water distillation.
Hydrosols are sometimes also referred
to as a floral water or a distillate water.
Suzanne Catty, author of Hydrosols:
The Next Aromatherapy proposes the following definition:
"Hydrosols are the condensate water coproduced during the steam-
or hydro-distillation of plant material for aromatherapeutic purposes."
[Suzanne Catty, Hydrosols:
The Next Aromatherapy (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press,
2001), 10.]
The plant matter used in essential oil distillation
imparts a wonderful aroma to the water. This hydrosol offers therapeutic
benefit, and some plants are specifically distilled for the resulting
hydrosol instead of the hydrosol being simply a byproduct of the
distillation.
Unlike essential oils that should be diluted prior
to application to the skin, hydrosols are water soluble, are much
more gentle than their essential oil counterparts and can be used
directly on the skin without further dilution.
Hydrosols can be used in place of water in creating
natural fragrances, lotions, creams, facial toners and other skin
care products. They can also be added to the bath, and used on their
own as a light cologne or body spray. Hydrosol can be added to finger
bowls for elegant, romantic dinners. Examples of commonly available
hydrosols are rose, roman chamomile, neroli and lavender.
Hydrosols are available through some, but not
all sellers or essential oil and natural skin care ingredients.
AromaWeb's Global Business Directory
provides a wonderful categorical directory of artisans and companies
that sell Hydrosols
and other aromatherapy products.
Important Note: Sometimes water simply
blended with essential oils are sometimes sold as floral waters
or as hydrosols. It is always wise to ask vendors for
details about the hydrosols that they sell to ensure that what you
are purchasing is a true hydrosol as defined here.
For more information about Hydrosols, take
a look at the book review for Hydrosols:
The Next Aromatherapy by Suzanne Catty.
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