Have you ever been at a loss when browsing the many natural skincare products available on the market? Have you ever wondered what the difference is betweenaromatic hydrolat andfloral water? These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually have subtle but important differences.
When it comes to natural beauty and wellness products, you may have heard of aromatic hydrolat and floral water. Both are used evasively in a variety of skin care recipes and remedies, but what really sets them apart? This article sets out to demystify the two terms.
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An aromatic hydrolat, also known as distilled water, is a product derived from the steam distillation of plants. It is a diluted form of essential oil, containing the same beneficial compounds but in much smaller quantities.
When a plant is distilled to produce an essential oil, the distillation water becomes loaded with aromatic molecules. It is this water, loaded with aromatic molecules, that we call aromatic hydrolat.
Hydrolats are therefore waters impregnated with the volatile active principles of plants by steam distillation. The classic apparatus used is a still. Fresh plants sometimes undergo division and maceration before being distilled. Volatile principles, soluble in the water of the plants used, may pre-exist in the plant or arise during preparation (rose water).
Aromatic hydrosols are highly versatile, and can be used for skin care, general well-being and cooking.
Floral water, often called hydrolat, is the aqueous residue left after the distillation of flowers to obtain an essential oil. It is water charged with active plant ingredients.
The production process for floral water is similar to that for aromatic hydrosols. However, as the name suggests, floral water is produced exclusively from flowers.
For example, helichrysum floral water is obtained by steam distillation of immortelle flowers. The flowers are placed in a still, where the water is heated to become steam. This steam extracts the aromatic compounds from the flowers, then cools to become water again, carrying with it the flowers' precious aromatic compounds.
Floral water is generally used as a skin toner, but it can also be used to flavor foods or as a component in beauty products.
Although both are produced by distillation, the main difference lies in the raw material used. Aromatic hydrosols can be derived from any part of the plant, while floral waters are produced solely from flowers.
Floral aromatic waters are obtained by dissolvingaromas inpurified water, followed by decantation and filtration. As this process is less expensive than distillation, floral eaux aromatisées are much more readily available than hydrolats, and are easily confused. Yet one has therapeutic properties(hydrolat), the other cosmetic (floral flavored water).
A hydrolat is a water of distillation obtained during the steam distillation of an aromatic or medicinal plant, to obtain an essential oil. During the distillation process in thealembic, the aromatic molecules of the distilled raw materials are entrained with the steam, condensed and recovered in a decanter. The resulting distillate is composed of supernatantessential oil andwater of distillation, in which a tiny fraction of theessential oil has been solubilized.
Aromatic hydrosols have a wider range of uses than floral waters, due to the diversity of plants from which they can be produced.
Hydrolats can be used :
Precautions for use :
Both products have similar benefits, although the aromatic hydrolat may offer a greater variety of properties due to the diversity of plants used.
A hydrolat is not as powerful as an organic essential oil online, but being made up of water(floral water), it retains water-soluble odorant molecules and remains lightly scented, possessing certain properties in therapeutics; such asorange blossom water used to regulate children's sleep.
Hydrolats are preferable to essential oils for use in cooked dishes, and hydrolats are also preferable to essential oils for treating babies, children, pregnant women, animals or sensitive people.
Soin-et-Nature offers a wide selection of aromatherapy products to enjoy the benefits of essential oils and aromatic plants. Here are the categories available:
The aromatherapy products available on Soin-et-Nature meet your needs in terms of well-being and natural care, while benefiting from the soothing, energizing or purifying properties of aromatic plants.
