Before we dive into making our very own hydrosol, first let’s get clear on what hydrosol actually is because there is a lot of misinformation around it. I first thought botanical infused waters & hydrosols were just a fancy or scientific name for the same thing but it turned out their properties & extractions methods are different.
Hydrosol: Hydro (water) + Sol (solution)
Hydrosols, hydrolats or hydrolates & distillates generally refer to pure hydrosols. Hydrosols are generally produced as a byproduct of essential oil distillation but it can also be intentionally produced which is fantastic for botanicals that don’t produce essential oils. A few botanicals that don’t yield essential oils are:
- Calendula
- Aloe
- Vanilla
- Jasmine
- Apple
There are 2 types of distillation when making floral water or floral infused waters:
Hydrodistillation:
Plant matter that’s boiled in a covered pot or vessel to form a rich infusion.
Steam Distillation:
Plant matter is boiled in a vessel & the steam or vapour rises into a separate chamber that, when cooled, returns to liquid to form a pure water based solution or hydrosol.
This residual water contains certain compounds like antioxidants & minor elements that are similar to essential oils which is what makes hydrosols a fantastic alternative to essential oils for those with acute allergies or skin sensitivities.
While hydrosols have a delightfully delicate scent, they also have a few beautiful benefits for your skin.
💧 Applying hydrosol before moisturising helps replenish the moisture content to your skin, which is vital to keep your skin fresh, tight & healthy.
💧 Hydrosols contain antioxidant compounds
💧 They can balance the skin’s pH & regulate sebum production, preventing breakouts.
💧 Fresh hydrosols (unpreserved), like the one I made, can be stored in the fridge & kept up to 1.5 months
The leftover infused floral water can be used for food & drink! Add a little sweetener like honey or sugar & drink it. Add it to desserts or other dishes for an herbal or floral delicacy.
How can you use a Fresh (unpreserved) Hydrosol?
💧 Skin Toner: Spray onto clean skin until it’s damp or dewy. Pat in if you need. Follow up with a moisturising cream. It has a delicate scent, so use a plant you like the scent of & are not allergic to!
💧 Hair Rinse: Pour or spray some onto your scalp & massage into damp hair. Follow up with a leave-in conditioner or hair oil.
💧 Mood Boost: Spray a little onto your outfit for the day & carry the subtle scent with you.
💧 Room / Car Fragrance: Spritz onto curtains and / or carpets in your room that need a little livening up or even on the carpet in your car for a subtle freshening up. This isn’t a cleanser! It’s just for a touch of fragrance that can liven up or calm the space!
**PLEASE NOTE, THIS RECIPE IS ONLY FOR PERSONAL USE AS IT’S MAKING AN UNPRESERVED HYDROSOL WHICH LASTS UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME**
Alright, now we’ve gotten some of the basics out of the way, let’s get to cooking!
If you like a visual aid, you can watch me make it!
CLEAN ALL YOUR UTENSILS
You’ll need:
- Strainer & tea strainer
- Bowl to catch water under strainer
- Large Pot with Lid (make sure to clean the top of the lid very well as we’ll be inverting the lid to help the distillation process
- Heat proof bowl
- 1 – 1.5 Liters of boiled water or boiled distilled water
- 1 Water Jug (to let hydrosol cool in before bottling)
- Funnel
- 2 bottles: 1 for hydrosol (with spray top if you have one) & 1 for infused water
- 1 – 3 hours (don’t let the time daunt you! it can be left on it’s own as long as it’s away from kids & animals! It’s a wonderful practice to take part in on a self-care day.)
1. PICK YOUR PLANT
I have pink jasmine in abundance, so that’s my pick. Use herbs or flowers that are safe for you & you have plenty of. You don’t need too much but you’d save a penny if you grab something from your garden that’s overflowing or that’s cheaper to buy from a market.
A few popular plants are:
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Parsley
- Dill
- Citrus flowers & leaves
- Basil
- Calendula
- Rose
2. RINSE
Grab a bowl, a strainer & your herbs. Pop your strainer in your bowl & gently rinse your plant matter with cold water. If you’re using running water, make sure it’s on low pressure to avoid damaging your plants or overflowing your bowl. The bowl will catch any excess dirt or small insects that can be thrown back into your garden bed or compost.
3. HEAT YOUR PLANT MATTER IN A LARGE POT
Heating your plant matter with boiled water or boiled distilled water helps break down the plant walls & build condensation a little faster. Stir it around for a few seconds on low heat.
4. POP YOUR BOWL IN THE POT
If you have a metal stand that fits easily when your bowl is standing on it with your lid turned upside down, use that so it stays still. Make sure no plant matter or boiled water falls in. If it’s not weighted enough to sit comfortably at the bottom or if the water content is overflowing, surround the bowl with the plant matter in a ring to act as a gentle barrier to hold your bowl in place.
5. COVER THE POT WITH AN INVERTED LID
Inverting the lid created a convex where the distilled water can be guided to the center and drip into the bowl. It also makes it easier to pop your frozen block of ice or ices cubes on.
6. PLACE YOUR FROZEN BLOCK OR ICE CUBES
I didn’t have a bunch of ice cubes so I just froze some water in a zip-lock bag overnight. The ice increases the level of condensation so you can get as much out of the distillation process as possible.
7. LEAVE ON TIL YOUR ICE HAS COMPLETELY MELTED & YOUR POT HAS COOLED
This can take between 0.5 – 3 hours depending on how much you’re making. I left mine on low heat for 2 hours and let it cool for 1 hour without removing the lid. Letting it cool allows for more distilled water to drip into the bowl.
8. REMOVE ICE PACK OR CAREFULLY REMOVE WATER FROM LID
If you used loosed ice & have a little pool of water, this water can be thrown into your garden or compost.
9. REMOVE BOWL OF HYDROSOL
It may still be warm so ensure you’re protecting baking gloves or it’s cool enough to touch, if you left it to cool completely before touching it.
10. POUR HYDROSOL INTO JUG OR BOTTLE
If it’s still a bit warm, pour it into the jug to cool. If it’s cool enough, pour it into the bottle. You may need a funnel to avoid spilling.
11. STRAIN INFUSED WATER INTO THE OTHER BOTTLE
If it’s still a bit warm, pour it into the jug to cool. If it’s cool enough, pour it into the bottle. You may need a funnel to avoid spilling.
12. LABEL WITH THE NAME OF THE BOTANICAL, DATE YOU MADE IT & WHEN TO USE IT BY
It lasts 1.5 months from the date of distillation when stored in the fridge. This is an unpreserved product so it will go off faster & must be stored in the fridge. If you’d like it to last longer you can divide it and store small amounts of it in the freezer & take it out when required. Once thawed, please do not refreeze.
I wanted to show the cold hydrosol but my label with my information is on the other side!
