Whenever I go to any type of event our customers see a jar with a spray trigger and the labels clearly says: "hydrosol." Some people inevitably ask "What is that?" Simply explained, hydrosol is water-soluble by-product of the distillation process of plant material. As steam passes through the plant material essential oil and hydrosol is created. It's the job of the distillation specialist to separate the oil from the hydrosol. That process is not difficult using a typical separator found in all chemistry labs. The oil is heavier than the hydrosol so it rises to the top of the separator. The hydrosol is then drained off into containers.
There are multiple uses for this product that you may be surprised to hear. First, let's continue with some basic information.
What does it smell like? It depends on which plant material is being distilled. It could be rose, lilac, chamomile or in our case lavender! It's not as strong as the pure lavender oil, but there is a noticeable scent.
Is hydrosol safe? There are no known cautionary guidelines for hydrosol. Being in the same classification as essential oils, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued no regulatory controls for hydrosol. Generally speaking, since it is a water-soluble by-product, it is believed to be a very safe product. But as a precaution, regardless of whether it is lavender or another plant always experiment with small usage amounts. If you want to drill down deeper, The National Library of Medicine has completed an extensive study of the safety of hydrosols HERE.
Is hydrosol expensive? It's a by-product meaning usually hydrosol is relatively inexpensive. The only real variable might be the quality of the plant and the skill of the manufacturer.
Is hydrosol environmentally friendly? It depends if the manufacturer added any additional preservatives. It is easy to find out by checking the label. At Carriage House Lavender, we do not add any preservatives or additional materials. MEANING: it is 100% natural with no additives.
Now we come to the important question. What can it be used for? Hydrosol and especially lavender hydrosol has many, varied uses. Here are a few more common uses:
A fragrance addition to laundry or when ironing clothes to help add fragrance.
A room spray or bathroom deodorizer.
A skin freshener.
All aromatherapy practices.
In the case of lavender - relaxation is a known benefit.
There's one more secret to using lavender hydrosol. Many people use lavender hydrosol to repel ants, spiders, and even box elder bugs. I've seen some successful use of lavender hydrosol for the treatment of unwanted pests. And since it is a natural product with no chemicals it's perfect for the chemical-free home or business. If you're interested in learning more about these situations feel free to contact me HERE.
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