Hydrosols are the water part of the distillation when essential oil is taken. The oil normally sits on top of the water, but there will be a tiny amount of oil remaining in the water. Apart from this oil, in a primary distillation, scientists have found that the water contains most of the same properties as the oil. This makes it a much more versatile way of accessing the intense properties from a distilled plant.

I use hydrosols for many purposes. They have been a great discovery over the past few years. I use them in creams and soaps, cooking and drinks, as a longer lasting and cheaper way to run the diffuser, medicinally when I am unwell, as a moth deterrant, and for many more purposes.

Here are a few examples of how other people who have bought my hydrosols have used them to good effect:

Rosemary - for thinning hair

Peppermint - for hayfever (cools the eyes when sprayed on the face and blinked into the eyes in small amounts)

Spearmint - for itchy warts

Bay - blended with soapwort decoction as soap alternative for psoriasis

Lavender - drunk as an anti-viral when unwell and to aid sleep

Orange - in a gin and tonic to give extra zest

Lemon - to enhance the zest in a lemon drizzle cake

Sage - as an anti-fungal for feet

Rose pelargonium - as a cleanser for the face

Far superior to commercial hydrosols, I only use primary steam distillations, with no chemical additions to increase yield. Normally supplied in a screw top spray bottle. Alternaive tops (pipettes, dropper caps) are available, as well as larger refill bottles.

For more information about some of the specific properties of hydrosols click here and here, and look at the information on the properties of the relevant essential oil or plant.