What are Hydrosols?

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.  

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 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 deluted 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 Business Plaza provides a wonderful categorical directory of sellers of 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.