About Orange and Rose Floral Waters
If you love perfume and aromatherapy then you might be very interested in trying out hydrosols. Hydrosols are simply the pleasantly scented wastewaters that are left behind after essential oils are extracted from plant matter using steam. Many hydrosols are quite fragrant and do contain some of the healing properties that were in the original essential oils. They are particularly useful for very delicate skin that has an allergic reaction to essential oils or frangrances. Floral oils are also sometimes called hydrolats, essential waters herbal waters or distillate waters.
Hydrosols are much gentler on the skin and do not need to be applied with a carrier oil. They can also be added to the bath directly or used as a cologne or body spray without any danger of sensitization to the skin.The two most popular floral waters on the market are rose water and orange flower water.
Rose water is the by-product of the production of rose oil. It is so pure that it can be used flavor food. This is often the case in India and Asia where rose oil is used to flavor salads, rices, curries and esserts. It is a common ingredient in Turkish Delight and is also added to rice pudding and cocktail. In Europe it is used to flavor marzipan and as a substitute for wine in cooking. Gourmands love to eat scones and marshmallows flavored with delicate rose oil. In both the east and west it is found in lemonades and cocktails.
Orange flower water, also known as orange blossom water is the distillation of fresh bitter-orange blossom. It turns up in a great deal of gourmet cooking. In Morroco it is used to flavor traditional sweets and it is also given to guests to wash their hands in between the course of a meal. In Europe it is used to flavor madelaines and in the United States it flavors cocktails such as the Ramos Gin Fizz.
However aside from being edible these floral waters are also very good for the skin. They retain some of the qulities of orange and rose essential oils which are used to calm and soothe irritated skin as well as help it attract water so that it looks more youthful.
Another use for rose and orange floral waters is blessing yourself or a space and to attract good vibes in general. Some people add it to their laundry so their clothing smells nice.
