What Are Floral Waters

The first step is selecting the flowers from the garden.  

Since we are extracting everything in the flower, leaf, sprig (stem) or petal into the floral water, the flowers have to come from my garden, my friends or a farmer that I know doesn't use pesticides. 

The roses and lavender are easy.  I have a bunch of fragrant plants that bloom prolifically, and Pennsylvania has many organic lavender farms

This is a cottage business.  The back porch is the factory.  Distillation to make lavender water is the same process as using a still to make moonshine.  Except no alcohol!  

Bottom pot is basically a tea kettle...steam goes through the petals, across to the cold water bath, then drop by drop the floral water condenses.   Each batch is a pint or a quart.  A few drops of essential oil and a few drop

The Outdoor still is a lot more work, but necessary for a big batch of lemon balm or rosemary, or when the lemongrass or citronella is ready to distill.

Instead of a hotplate, it uses an induction  plate to allow a half gallon batch.  Steam extraction creates a colorless fragrant water, so some of the recipes add back a little of the "tea" which is from the bottom kettle.  I also make teas from the

The purpose of the floral water, is to cover the cost of teaching science in the garden.  Soil, seeds, water, sun...time...leaves, stems, petals.  Chemistry...distillation, condensation, preservation.  Perfume is as old as the Garden of Eden, Bablylon, or Persia.  Once a child understands science is natural and beautiful, it's harder to be careless and easier to be careful and kind.  Simple as ros

Floral Waters are the collected steam of fragrant plants. 

This steam collects the essential oils, the phytonutrients (plant vitamins) and the antioxidants from the plant.

They are naturally fragrant, nourishing, and soothing.  Some of them also fight inflammation and irritation and repel pests.  Thats why they were the original healing potions