Peppermint Hydrosol
Mentha piperita
Peppermint Hydrosol is invigorating, refreshing and cooling. I love keeping a mister of Peppermint Hydrosol in my refrigerator for helping to cool off on hot summery days.
Peppermint Hydrosol is lovely to use within both skincare and emotional applications. As with Peppermint Essential Oil, I tend to avoid using it before bedtime since it is rather stimulating.
Look to the citations from hydrosol experts Suzanne Catty, Jeanne Rose and Len and Shirley Price in the Uses and Applications section below for information on the potential benefits of Peppermint Hydrosol.
Peppermint Hydrosol is aromatically delightful. It is much lighter in aroma than is the essential oil. As would be expected, Peppermint Hydrosol smells more like an infusion made from fresh peppermint leaves than it does Peppermint Essential Oil.
Botanical Name
Mentha piperita
Aromatic Strength
Medium
Shelf Life
Up to 2 years if stored properly (refrigeration is recommended).
Reported Properties, Uses and Applications
Suzanne Catty reports that Peppermint Hydrosol is a stimulant, and I couldn't agree more. Peppermint Hydrosol can help stay alert and maintain focus. it is cooling and helpful in hot climates, after working out or when dealing with hot flashes. It is anti-inflammatory and can be helpful when used in hot or cold compresses. [Suzanne Catty, Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2001), 112-113.]
Len and Shirley Price report that the Peppermint Hydrosol that they analyzed consists of 23-64% ketones and 31-48% alcohols (these ranges do not include the water present in the hydrosol) and possesses the following properties: "analgesic, anticoagulant, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, bactericidal, calming, cicatrizant, digestive, expectorant, lipolytic, mucolytic, sedative, stimulant." [Len Price and Shirley Price, Understanding Hydrolats: The Specific Hydrosols for Aromatherapy: A Guide for Health Professionals (London: Churchill Livingstone, 2004), 126.]
Jeanne Rose adds that Peppermint Hydrosol "relieves itching, redness, inflammation and acne" and that it's "cooling... uplifting, energizing" and helpful for hot flashes. [Jeanne Rose, 375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols (Berkeley, CA: Frog, Ltd, 1999), 174.]
Safety Information
Read AromaWeb's Hydrosol Safety Guidelines.
The hydrosol information and safety precautions provided within this area are intended for educational purposes only. Neither AromaWeb, LLC nor its founder take responsibility for how you use the information provided.
Suzanne Catty advises against the use of Peppermint Hydrosol with children under age 3. Read AromaWeb's Hydrosol Safety Guidelines.
Helpful Sources of Information About Peppermint Hydrosol
Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy
Author: Suzanne Catty
Understanding Hydrolats: The Specific Hydrosols for Aromatherapy
Authors: Len Price and Shirley Price
375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols
Author: Jeanne Rose
Essential Waters: Hydrosols, Hydrolats & Aromatic Waters
Author: Marge Clark
Aromatic Waters: Therapeutic, Cosmetic, and Culinary Hydrosol Applications
Author: Amy Kreydin