What is a hydrosol!?
Hydrosols are the healing plant water that comes from the distillation process of plants. A hydrosol is the aromatic water that remains after steam-distilling or hydro-distilling botanical material. Hydrosols are real aromatic therapy Hydrosols represent the true synergy of herbalism and aromatherapy.
Hydrosols are different in their healing properties than aromatherapy spritzers, where essential oils are simply added to water. This is because in addition to small amounts of essential oil, hydrosols also contain water soluble healing compounds. Among these compounds are plant acids which lend themselves beautiful as toners for the skin. Hydrosols are generally considered to be gentler and safer to use than their essential oils counter parts. According to Sagescript, hydrosols "contain the beneficial products of essential oils plus more and in a less concentrated, safer form."
How to Make Hydrosols
The process to make essential oil and hydrosols is the same. It's the steam distillation process of plants.
As you can see above in the diagram, the process starts by adding fresh plant material and water over a heated source.
-The water will start to boil and creates the steam and essential oil that flows through the top, down through the condenser (part with coils), and then out into a jar or cup.
-In the cup, the essential oil sits onto of the water (hydrosol).
-You can separate the essential oil or you can leave it all there, depending on the yield of oil you may receive.
-Bottle and enjoy!
The process is much simpler than expected. The hydrosol comes steamed directly from the plant and again, has the aromatherapy aspects of the essential oil but the healing powers of the plant! So basically self diluted without adding anything else to it!
It's a great alternative to essential oils because they can be safer to put directly on the skin!
Thanks for reading!
A&O