What are Hydrosols

Hydrosols - The subtle Complement to Essential Oils

Steam distillation of aromatic plants results in two complementary products- the essential
oil and the hydrosol (or hydrolate). During the distillation process the ascending steam
dissolves the essential oil contained in the plant, temporarily associating with it in a highly
aromatic ethereal oneness of opposite values: water and oil, which normally do not
associate. During the following cooling process of this aromatic gas, the oil soluble
components separate out from the water. However, the aromatic molecules pass on a part
of their qualities to the water, now called the hydrosol.

These hydrosols for a long time were considered as waste products of the process of
distilling essential oils (except for a few exceptions like rose water). Only in recent times has
it become more and more evident that the hydrosols are also exceptional carriers of the
intelligent vibrational impulses of plant life. They represent a more subtle almost
homeopathic-like potented ethereal form of the aromatic substances. In addition they
contain the water-soluble component of plant life.

A further advantage of the hydrosols is the fact that they do not contain the tannic acids
and bitter substances contained in the essential oils which can lead to irritations in phyto-
aromatic therapy.

Hydrosols therefore are an ideal complement in phyto-aromatic therapy. They complement
the oil soluble component of plant life, represented by the essential oils with a water soluble
aromatic component. They are extremely welcome wherever a subtle effect is wanted
without the risk of irritation.

In the following areas hydrosols have been extremely useful:

1. Treatment of mucous skin, like eye inflammations, etc.
2. Internal use
3. Skin Care complementing phyto-aromatic oils, creams and masks. In this respect, basic
research and developing work has been done by Jacques G. Paltz, Paris. He is using in his
phyto-aromatic skin care line five different hydrosol blends for specific purposes: for
sensitive, wrinkled or dry skin, for impurities and for rejuvenation. For example he is
using rosemary verbenon and thyme linalol hydrosols for dry skin, chamomile and
artemisa arb. for sensitive skin etc.

Written by : Dr. Christoph Streicher at AMRITA AROMATHERAPY