All you need to know about hydrolats and hydrolatherapy

Hydrolats are also called hydrosols, or floral waters if distilled from flowers. Although they have valuable therapeutic, cosmetic and culinary properties, they are much less well known and used than essential oils. Yet they have been used by man for over 3,000 to 4,000 years. Written records by the Egyptians, Hippocrates and many others bear witness to this. In the past, plants were first distilled to produce hydrolats, not essential oils!

In the 18th century, there were almost 200 hydrolats before essential oils took over. With the growing popularity of alternative medicine, interest in hydrolats is beginning to revive.

How is a hydrolat made?

The process of distilling a plant or one of its parts leads to the production of two different products.
As it leaves the still in the essencier, two superimposed phases can be distinguished, corresponding to:

- The essential oil, made up of the plant's volatile aromatic molecules. This is the liposoluble phase, lighter than water, and often light yellow in color.

- The aromatic hydrolat: this is the aqueous phase on which the essential oil generally floats in the essencier, and is milky in color when it leaves the still.

The word hydrolat comes from the Latin "hydro" meaning water and "lat" meaning "milk". This undoubtedly recalls the milky appearance in the essencier immediately after distillation, before decanting.

Why do we distinguish between food hydrolats and cosmetic hydrolats?

As with all natural substances (essential oils, vegetable oils), European regulations impose a "food" or "cosmetic" classification and corresponding labeling. The same product, however suitable for both uses, must be sold under one of the two categories:

- Food: manufactured according to "food" specifications.
- Cosmetics: manufactured according to GMP, the "cosmetics" specification.

Using hydrolats

Aromatic hydrolats have a wide range of uses. They can be used pure, diluted, in synergy with each other or with essential oils. Although hydrolats are derived from the distillation of essential oils, their biochemical composition differs. Hydrosols contain the plant's water-soluble molecular fraction, plus up to 1% of the water-soluble molecules of its essential oil. This is referred to as a "trace" of essential oil. Strictly speaking, a hydrolat does not contain essential oil, as essential oils are by definition insoluble in water. Hydrolats are in fact impregnated with the same aromatic molecules as essential oils, in a highly diluted form.

Hydrolats and essential oils are therefore two different products, butmentaires.Comme they work in perfect synergy: for example, an essential oil can be used externally and a hydrolat internally. Hydrolats and essential oils are also often used in cosmetics.

Using hydrolats for beauty

- In the preparation of homemade cosmetics, e.g. in the aqueous phase of emulsions (cream, milk, hair mask, conditioner)
- The preparation of clay masks
- Tonic lotion
- Steam bath to purify facial skin
- Face and body spray (e.g. in summer to cool down)
- Cold compresses for tired eyes
- Aromatic baths

Which hydrolat should I use for my skin?

Dry and sensitive skin
Hydrolat Chamomile
Hydrolat Cistus
Hydrolat Orange blossom
Hydrolat Lavender
Hydrolat Rosemary
Hydrolat Rose
Hydrolat Sage

Oily skin
Hydrolat Eucalyptus
Hydrolat Cypress
Hydrolat Juniper
Hydrolat Savory
Hydrolat Thyme

Problem skin (acneic type, impure)
Hydrolat Genévrier
Hydrolat Romarin
Hydrolat Laurier noble
Hydrolat Lavande

Skin with redness (couperose type)
Hydrolat Hélichryse
Hydrolat Rose

After-shave
Hydrolat Ciste
Hydrolat Lavande
Hydrolat Verveine
Hydrolat Menthe poivrée

Irritated skin, after sun
Hydrolat Camomile
Hydrolat Helichrysum
Hydrolat Lavender

Congested skin, orange peel skin
Hydrolat Juniper
Hydrolat Cypress

Which hydrosol should I use for my hair?

Brittle, brittle hair
Hydrolat Camomile
Hydrolat Geranium
Hydrolat Myrtle
Hydrolat Clary sage

Oily hair
Hydrolat Cypress
Hydrolat Juniper
Hydrolat Noble laurel
Hydrolat Thyme

Using hydrolats for well-being

- Apply hot or cold compresses to the area to be treated. These compresses can also be enriched with essential oils.
- For sore, swollen and tired footbaths.
- Sitz baths for urogenital ailments and hemorrhoids.
- Spray directly on the area to be treated.
- Spray on to perfume and moisturize room air.

Using hydrolats for children and babies

- In bathwater to promote relaxation and sleep.
- They can be applied as compresses, such as Roman chamomile and basil (compresses on the stomach) to soothe colic.
- Mothers who are breastfeeding can spray their nipples with the corresponding hydrosols to benefit their babies.
- Chamomile, rose or lavender hydrosols can be sprayed locally on irritated buttocks.
- Baby's room can be sprayed to create a soothing atmosphere or to promote respiratory well-being.

Using hydrosols as gargles or mouthwashes

- Laryngitis or mouth infection: spray the back of the throat with savory or thyme hydrosol, then gargle with the same hydrosols.
- Mouth affections (such as canker sores): mouthwash with bay laurel hydrosol.

Using hydrolats in cooking

To preserve their benefits and aromas, add them only at the end of cooking or on cold foods.
For example, you can spray hot dishes just before serving.

- Hydrosols add a refined touch to smoothies, fruit juices, fresh vegetable juices and cocktails.
- Hydrosols of orange blossom, peppermint and lavender are ideal for ice creams and sorbets.
- Sweet, flowery hydrosols such as rose, lavender and orange blossom flavour fruit salads, ice creams and sorbets.
- Spicy hydrosols such as thyme, savory and basil can lighten vinaigrettes.
- Cinnamon or orange blossom hydrosols give a refined note to chocolate.
- Dishes in sauce become easier to digest with the addition of basil, savory, thyme or rosemary hydrosols at the end of cooking.
- Hydrosols can also be used to make ice cubes.
- They can be used as herbal teas (1 teaspoon on a cup of water).

Using hydrolats in hydrolatherapy

Hydrolats can also be taken orally for therapeutic purposes. Like essential oils, they are good for draining the ground. Absorbed orally, they have a direct effect on the entire digestive system, whose proper functioning is essential for stimulating the immune system. For example, they can be taken in cures spread over several weeks, according to the indications of a specialized therapist: for example, a cure to stimulate metabolism, or to strengthen the immune system during epidemics. Hydrolats are generally taken diluted with a teaspoon of hydrolat in a glass of cold or hot (not boiling) water. Drink 1 to 3 times a day, or 5 to 15 ml of hydrolat per day. For a cure, therapists recommend diluting 2 tablespoons of hydrolat with 1 liter of water, and drinking throughout the day over a period of around 40 days. Roughly speaking, a 200 ml bottle is sufficient for a 20-day cure.

Examples of use:
- One teaspoon in a cup of hot (not boiling) water after meals three times a day to activate the metabolism and support the detox process.
- One tablespoon in 1 l of hot or warm water to drink during the day for metabolic disorders, menopause, emotional imbalance.
- Inhalations (respiratory ailments): steam baths with thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary or myrtle hydrosols.
- Sprays (respiratory ailments): spray thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary or myrtle hydrosols directly into the nose or throat.
- Washings : Vaginal infections or candidiasis.
- Eye care in the form of compresses.

Using hydrolats on animals

Compared to essential oils, hydrolats are relatively easy to use on animals. Certain essential oils, which have no contraindications for humans, can be toxic to animals. The equivalent hydrolat can then be used.

Examples of use:
- Wound cleansing.
- Fur rinsing in the case of ailments such as mycosis, inflammation, dermatitis, parasites.
- Spraying the coat with lavender hydrosol to repel insects or ticks (in addition to or alternating with the essential oil).
- Spray on inflamed eyes (gentle hydrosol such as chamomile matricaria).
- Compress painful joints or wounds.
- Restlessness, stress, fear: spray orange blossom, marjoram or lavender hydrosol.

How to store hydrosols

Hydrosols can be kept for an average of 12 to 24 months from the date of manufacture. As production depends on the season, some hydrolats are only available at the time of distillation. It is important to note that hydrolats are fragile and must be kept refrigerated (between 15°C and 18°C). Some cosmetic hydrolats contain a preservative that enables them to be stored at room temperature below 25°C, or transported when traveling. Unpreserved hydrolats do not withstand air travel, which can impair their quality.
Hydrolats are best stored in glass containers. However, for economic and transport reasons, most manufacturers supply hydrolats in plastic bottles.

As a general rule, we recommend that you consume a hydrolat within 2 to 3 months of opening and before the stated expiry date. But depending on the type of hydrolat and its quality, your hydrolat may still be in perfect condition afterwards. You can recognize an out-of-date hydrolat by its sour or acid smell, reminiscent of vinegar.
The white filaments that may appear in the hydrolat are harmless and do not impair its quality. You can remove them by filtering the hydrolat through a coffee filter.