Making your own hydrosol spray can be a great way to take care of your skin while saving some cash. A hydrosol is essentially the water left over from the process of distilling plants, where essential oils are extracted. These hydrosols pack the full essence of the plant in every drop, much like a hologram, and offer benefits like anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiseptic, and toning properties.
The term “hydrosol” comes from Latin roots: “hydro” meaning water, and “sol” for solution. They’re also called hydrolats, floral waters, or plant waters. Interestingly, hydrosols aren’t just derived from flowers but also from roots, bark, branches, wood, needles, leaves, fruit, and seeds. This allows you to tap into the various healing powers of nature.
While some aromatherapy guides suggest mixing essential oils and water to create hydrosols, true hydrosols are produced only through the distillation process. They contain both essential oil and water, but these elements are separate, unlike when simply combining oil and water—which, as the saying goes, don’t mix.
Nowadays, home distillation kits are gaining popularity. Many people enjoy the process and are also leaning towards a simpler, cleaner lifestyle.
If you’re curious about making your own hydrosol, there are various methods to try. We’ve outlined a basic guide below, and you can watch the accompanying videos for more detailed instructions. For this method, the collected hydrosol will go into a ceramic bowl, which you’ll let cool and filter before pouring into a spray bottle. For visual learners, there’s a video demonstration to help you see exactly how it’s done.
Hydrosols are excellent alternatives to essential oils. They’re more diluted, making them the light and refreshing aromatic water distilled with essential oils. Because of their lower concentration, hydrosols are considered safer and are wonderfully gentle, making them easy to use for a variety of purposes.
Hydrosols are gaining popularity for a reason! They contain a small amount of volatile compounds, providing a gentle touch of essential oil benefits to the skin. Great for skin care routines, they are cooling, soothing, and restorative without leaving your skin feeling greasy or sticky.
