What is floral water, hydrosol or hydrolate?
Floral water, hydrosol or hydrolate is a 100% pure natural product created in the process of steam distillation, which transforms flowers or leaves of herbs into aromatic floral water. These treasures do not contain any preservatives or additives. After distillation, they are cooled, filtered and then undergo a process of microbiological analysis, which checks the purity, residual percentage of essential oil and PH. Hydrosol is a word of foreign origin referring to the technology of its creation, i.e. steam distillation or hydrodistillation. It is derived from the Latin expression "hydro" water and "Sol" solution. The name hydrolate comes from the French "hydro" water and “lait” milk. Both the terms hydrosols and hydrolates are synonymous with floral water. Sometimes you may also encounter the term floral water.
Floral water in history
Flower waters, or hydrosols, have been known to mankind for more than 5000 years. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, used them in his healing treatments. The beauty of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra was allegedly due to the daily application of rose water. Michelangelo then added rose water to his tea, supposedly to calm his temper. In the Middle Ages, rose waters appeared in pharmacies. In the 18th century, they were widely used in royal courts as perfumes to mask unpleasant body odor. Housewives commonly added flower waters to dishes. In the 20th century, they were pushed out of the spotlight by essential oils. Today, however, they are successfully returning to their privileged place. Not only the most famous pink a lavender floral water, but also jasmine, neroli, lemon balm, chamomile, yarrow, sage, drmkova, bergamot, lilac and other.
What is the difference between rose flower water and rose hydrolate?
Both of these names are often confusing. We come across them and wonder whether they are the same or different things. Don't worry. They are simply different names for the same thing. They hide amazing aromatic treasures created during steam distillation of herbs. They are hydrophilic, i.e. soluble in water. They contain organic acids that are valued for their anti-inflammatory effects and, above all, the monitored residual essential oil (approximately 0,1%). And they smell so wonderful. Fresh above-ground parts of plants, their leaves or flowers, go into large distillation vessels (columns) and are mixed with pure spring water. This is where the Czech name "flower water" comes from. Read about the traditional production of our pink flower water here.
Why so many names?
Floral waters and floral waters simply refer to the part of the plant from which they were distilled, i.e. the flowers. Where we use another aromatic part of the plant that contains ethereal components, we refer to the resulting product as a hydrolate. This is the case for example bergamot hydrolate, which is distilled from the peel of this fruit. Or perhaps pine hydrolate distilled from pine needles. Let us recall that hydrolates are 100% pure natural products with no added preservatives or chemicals. Please be careful when purchasing and read the label carefully. A product that is sold as a mixture of water or alcohol and essential oil (which is not soluble in water!), is not the same and does not have the same qualities as 100% floral water or hydrolate, hydrosol.
Why read the INCI composition?
That's why I always recommend reading the ingredients of these products. If you find the INCI under the name, or in Czech, the ingredients, 100% Flower Water, you know that you are buying a 100% natural product from steam distillation. Before the word “Flower Water” the relevant herb is always listed in Latin. In the case of Damask Rose it is Rosa Damascena Flower Water, at Lavender Medicinal Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, near Slaměnka Helichrysum Itallicum Flower Water, at Jasmine's Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Water etc.
Hydrolates or floral waters and their wide use
- Skin care – cleansing, toning and moisturizing, makeup setting
- Home baths and spa relaxation – 1-3 tablespoons of flower water for the bath
- Hair care – combing, soothing irritated scalp (swarm of hairy), hair refresh, styling, hair rinses (Chamomile, lavender, nettle, roses,…), hair growth stimulation (rosemary a nettle)
- In cooking – in desserts, homemade lemonades – about 1 tablespoon per liter of water (popular is pink, lavender, lemon balm, neroli, rosemary, elderflower…
- Aromatherapy for the little ones – hydrolates or flower waters are much gentler and safer than essential oils. Spray with a spray bottle or put them in a diffuser water tank. They are suitable pink a chamomile flower water whether lavender a pine.
- Aromatherapy – use a diffuser to apply aroma mist whenever you need it. Choose hydrosols according to your mood. To reduce nervousness ylang ylangFor better sleep lavender whether Roman chamomile. To promote creativity jasmineFor overall harmonisation damask rose. If necessary, concentration rosemary whether peppermint.
All our floral waters they have undergone chemical analysis, which includes microbiological analysis, pH value and percentage of residual essential oil. Floral waters SoZoLe Roses are the primary product of herbal distillation, therefore they have a distinctive aroma and high aromatherapeutic potential.
Choose from the widest range of floral waters in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Information taken from:
S. Catty - Hydrosols The Next Aromatherapy, Healing Art Press, 2001
L. Bosson - Hydrosol Therapy, Singing Dragon, 2019
