How To Make Hydrosol | Floral Water

Making hydrosol is an excellent way to make the most of the medicinal properties of plants, both in physical and emotional health. The well-being that this activity provides is undeniable. From the contact with nature during the harvesting of the plants, to the wonderful aroma it leaves in the air during distillation, and its various forms of use, making hydrosol is a beautiful way to take care of ourselves and those that are dear to us. 

For this post we have made rosemary hydrosol. We will explain what hydrosols are, how they are made, and how they are preserved. At the end of the post you can also watch our video where we show you how to do it, step-by-step.

What are Hydrosols?

Hydrosols, also known as floral waters, distillates or hydrolates are obtained by steam distillation. They are, in fact, a by-product of the distillation process of essential oils. They are very aromatic and refreshing and have medicinal and therapeutic properties. They are used in personal care, especially for people with sensitive skin. So let's find out what it takes to make hydrosols.

Required Materials

• 1 Stainless steel pan with lid
• 2 heat resistant glass containers (both must be of a suitable size to fit inside the pan)
• Ice cubes and freezer bags
• Funnel
• Amber glass bottle (previously sterilized)
• Label for the bottle

Required Ingredients

• Distilled water
• Fresh or dried plants (we used freshly harvested rosemary)

It is not necessary to have an exact amount of plant and water. Depending on the amount of plant available, you choose the size of the pan and the amount of water. 

How To Do It

The method we will show you is homemade and very simple.

1. In the middle of the pot, place one of the glass containers facing down.
2. Spread the plants around the container (a sufficient amount of plants should be placed to cover the sides of the container).
3. Add distilled water (enough distilled water must be added to cover the plants and sides of the container).
4. Place the other glass recipient on top of the container facing upwards. This is the container that will collect the floral water.
5. Place the lid (inverted) over the pan.
6. Place a bag of ice cubes on top of the lid. It is important to have some ice cube bags prepared in advance, as during the distillation process the ice will melt and it will be necessary to change the bags.
7. Leave on a low heat for about 45 minutes.
8. The heat below and the ice above cause condensation inside the pan and the hydrosol, which also contains small particles of essential oils, will be collected inside the glass recipient.
9. After 45 minutes, turn off the heat and let it cool.
10. With the help of a funnel, pour the hydrosol into an amber glass bottle.
11. Place a label with the name of the hydrosol and the date it was made.

Amount of Hydrosol

The final amount of hydrosol will always vary according to several factors, such as:

• The amount of plant available.
• Whether the plant used is fresh or dry.
• If the plant is fresh, the amount of water in its composition depends on factors such as rain, air humidity, and soil. Even though plants may be removed from the same bush time after time, the end result may not always be the same.

To know the approximate yield, one can weigh the initial amount of plant and the final amount of hydrosol. However, as we said before, the results may always vary.

If, at the end of the 45 minutes, there is little hydrosol, you can continue to add distilled water inside the pan and continue the process for a few more hours. It is important to always be around to change the bags with ice cubes and check whether it is necessary to add more water inside the pan.

How to Store

The best way to preserve hydrosols and prolong their shelf life is in glass bottles, in a dark and cool place. They can be stored in the refrigerator, but never in the freezer. In these conditions they can last up to 2 years. For more information on how to preserve hydrosols, visit our post How To Preserve Hydrosols and Prolong Their Shelf Life.

Ways of Use

As we mentioned, hydrosols contain the properties of plants and, because they are so soft, they are excellent for those with sensitive skin. They can be used in various ways:

• Natural soap
• Facial toner
• Hair care
• Formulation of facial and body moisturizers and lotions when added in the aqueous phase of emulsions
• Aromatherapy

Making hydrosols is very simple and is a way of leading a more natural life. Try it and you will look no further! :)

If you liked this post you may also like our post How To Make Hydrosol with an Alembic.

Check out our video where we show you how to do it in a practical way. If you haven't subscribed to our Youtube channel yet, take the opportunity to do so to receive, first hand, our content about the incredible world of plants!

VIDEO - How To Make Hydrosol | Floral Water