The fragrant, sometimes strangely scented water that remains after distilling aromatic plants is called hydrosols. They have long been regarded as residual products from the manufacture of essential oils and have even been thrown away. Not so long ago, little value was attached to this “waste product” created during the distillation of essential oils. The term “flower water”, which was often used as a name, can lead to confusion because it is certainly not only flowers that are used for distillation.As the use and research into herbal remedies advances, it was to be expected that interest would not stop at essential oils.

Definition of hydrolate

Aromatic hydrosols are the product of the steam distillation process and contain water-soluble, volatile plant compounds that often give them the scent of the essential oil. Their composition is different from that of an essential oil: richer in water-soluble components and practically – free of lipophilic substances such as terpene hydrocarbons. This means that they are very well tolerated and often have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect (Schnaubelt: 1999).

Hydrolats were also used in the past

Despite the lack of interest, hydrosols have a very old tradition, as you can read in old medical books ­. They were already used as a healing agent by the Greeks, Egyptians and Persians.Although the hydrolates contain only very small amounts of the essential oil, a maximum of 0.5 grams per liter of water, they do contain other substances from the plant. They may also contain the energetic vibrations of the plant in question, comparable to the homeopathic dilutions. So they have the energies and effects of the essential oil, but in a weaker form.

Advantage of hydrosols

The advantage of hydrolates lies in their caring, soothing and healing effect without the possible irritating effect of essential oil. The hydrolates also do not have the toxic properties of some essential oils, making them more suitable for ingestion.As a result, this gentle preparation method is also suitable for longer-term use during a treatment. However, do not expect the strong effect that is sometimes observed with essential oils.

Research

In recent years it has been realized that essential oils, extracted through water vapor distillation, are only half the story. This becomes clear, among other things, through the work of the German Professor Dr. Dietrich Wabner, who explains the differences between extraction ­and water vapor distillation based on the different ingredients with their different therapeutic properties.For example, in the case of rose, the extracts or absolutes are particularly suitable for psychoaromatherapy, while the numerous other valuable properties are found in the oil from water vapor distillation. This effect is even stronger with hydrosols (also called hydrosols) with their high content of carboxylic acids.Hardly anything has been written about this compound in the aromatherapy literature because it ­is almost exclusively found in the distillation water. Carboxylic acids have a sedative effect.Another group is that of the carboxyl acids, which can be formed by the oxidation (reaction with oxygen) of alcohols. Their function group is carboxyl (COOH). Many carboxylic acids are quite smelly. However, if you react them with alcohols, you get substances that often smell nice: the esters. This type of compound gives many fruits and flowers a characteristic scent.The aromatic hydrolates are particularly suitable for utilizing the valuable properties of the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Due to their hydroxyl function, these terpene alcohols have good polarity and also dissolve in water and not only in the essential oil. By dissolving these alcohols in distillation water, the skin-irritating terpene hydrocarbons are no longer present, making them more skin-friendly. The hydrolates have a cooling, astringent and antiphlogistic effect and are very suitable for compresses. They can also be used as a mild tonic with good antiseptic properties. They are also important for skin care and as a component of creams and lotions. In fact, a hydrosol is a lotion in itself.