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If you are new to essential oils, hydrosols may not be something you’ve heard about. But they are a great resource to include in your essential oil stash.
In this guide you will learn everything you need to know about hydrosols from what they are, how to use them, how to store them, and where to buy them.
What are hydrosols?
Let’s start by looking the definition of a hydrosol. What are they anyway?
Hydrosols (also known as hydrolats or floral waters) are the waters that remain after an essential oil has been distilled.
The water contains some of the water-soluble plant oils, creating a product that is more diluted and gentler than an essential oil.
How to use Hydrosols
The major benefit of hydrosols is their gentle nature.
These gentle materials can be used in many ways – especially in those instances when essential oils would not be a good choice:
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Gentle for babies and children
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Safe for pets and animals
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Perfect for skin care
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Safe for ingestion
While you can use essential oils in many ways:
- diffusing
- applying for particular health concerns
- adding them to home care products
- using them in diffuser jewelry or inhalers
They are a great resource for those times when you may not want to use an essential oil. Hydrosols are the perfect tool for those times you want something a little more gentle!
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Using Hydrosols with Children
Hydrosols are a great choice for those everyday cuts and scrapes that children experience. They are gentle enough to use undiluted.
Just swab them directly on the location of cuts and scrapes or use them in other ways (listed below).
A few more ways to use hydrosols with children:
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Add them to your children’s bath water for a calming bath.
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Add them to a bowl of hot water to relieve congestion with steam inhalation.
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Use them to soothe diaper rash.
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Swab on itchy skin patches (like chicken pox).
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Spray on the scalp as a lice deterrent.
Using Hydrosols with Animals
Like children, hydrosols are a great choice for cuts and scrapes on animals. Animals can ingest hydrosols as well (add a small amount to their water bowl) for internal issues like digestive problems. They are also a great choice applied topically for a pest deterrent.
But, like essential oils, hydrosols should be diluted before using them on animals as they are much more sensitive than humans.
If you want a resource to address all your needs for animal care take a look at Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell.
Using Hydrosols for Skin Care
It’s easy to learn how to use hydrosols for the skin. Since hydrosols are so gentle they can be used undiluted directly on the skin. You can use a hydrosol as a facial toner or serum – using a cotton ball to wipe the hydrosol across the face.
Here are a few more ways to use hydrosols for skin care:
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Use as a makeup remover.
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Add to bath water.
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Use as perfume.
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Apply to acne blemishes.
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Use on burns and sunburns.
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Soothe eczema or itchy skin.
Ingesting Hydrosols
Unlike the controversy surrounding ingesting essential oils, hydrosols can be safely ingested. You can use them for:
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Urinary tract infections
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Headaches
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Upset stomach
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Heartburn or acid reflux
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Diarrhea or constipation
They can also be used to flavor foods and beverages.
For adults, ingesting up to 3 tablespoons is fine (for therapeutic use). For children younger than 10, a teaspoon diluted in one cup of water is fine (for babies, a ½ teaspoon in a cup of water)
Storing Hydrosols
Hydrosols have a shorter shelf life than essential oils since they contain no preservative properties. The shelf life varies from one hydrosol to another – between 6 months to 2 years. They need to be stored in a cool, dark place and checked for cloudiness or mold. But, they are less expensive than essential oils – so that’s a plus!
Where to Buy Hydrosols
Just like your favorite essential oils, look for a trusted source for your hydrosols. I love the hydrosols available from Plant Therapy. They have a wide range of hydrosols and adding just a few to your collection can give you more (and safer) options for your babies, pets, and skin care needs.
If you want to dive deeper into your understanding of hydrosols and how to use them these resources are a great place to start:
The Hydrosols Quick Start Guide – covers all the information about hydrosols in more depth.
The Hydrosols APP – if you’re ready to use hydrosols but need a reference guide for particular issues and how to use hydrosols, the Hydrols APP is the perfect resource.
Looking for more information?
Here are some articles for further research about hydrosols:
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More about hydrosols from Aroma Web
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Learn how to make your own with Mama Rosemary
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More ways to use hydrosols at Aromahead