Bimpa

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.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between an essential oil, an absolute and a hydrosol? If you are interested in aromatherapy you have encountered this question.

Aromatherapy, sometimes known as essential oil therapy is the practice of using essential oils to enhance psychological and physical health.  Usually the definition of an essential oil includes all natural, aromatic and volatile plant oils in the different forms that they can come including absolutes, C02s and Hydrosols.

Essential oils is a general name for oils that are referred to as botanical extracts or essences. These are volatile oils that evaporate when exposed to air. They are not like olive oil, which does not evaporate if the stopper is let off the bottle.

Essential oils is liquid that is extracted from all parts of a plant including the stems, bark, roots, leaves and flowers. Although they are very fragrant they are not the same as a fragrance, which is manufactured in a way that dispenses with the healing constituents in an extracted botanical.

Absolute oils are premium oils that are extracted from the plants or solvents. This method is used to get the oil out of very fragile plant matter such as rose petals. The result of extracting oils with solvents is a very powerful fragrance that is more potent than those extracted with steam. Hot steam is used to extract the essential oil from most plant matter.  Some aromatherapists consider absolute oils to be inferior because it can be “polluted” with the solvent.

C02 oils are those that have been extracted using carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide becomes pressurized until it is liquid and then applied to plant matter. The oils in the plants seep into the Co2 liquid. When the solution is depressurized and the carbon dioxide evaporates the liquid that remains is the desired high quality oil.

C02 extracted essential oils are preferable because the oils I purer and thicker and retains more of the healing molecules that are naturally in them.  The smell of these oils also tends to be stronger and more layered so thy also tend to be more expensive.

Hydrosols are gentler versions of the essential oils.  Hydrosols are the pleasantly scented left-over waters that are left behind when essential oil is extracted using a steam process. These are gentler on the skin and have a milder scent. Although the smell of a hydrosol can be quite strong the scent does not linger as long. In stores you will find these labeled as hydrolats, distillate waters and floral waters.