What ARE Floral Waters
Most of us have heard of Rose Water, that’s the most well know floral water.
In fact any part of a plant that is aromatic, meaning has a nice smell, can be made into a floral water.
The Process is Distillation. You take the petals, leaves, or sprigs (stems)…whatever has the smell, and boil water through the flowers, the steam captures the scent, up through the stainless steel or copper tubing, down through a cold bath, and out comes the condensed aroma…Floral water. This is steam distillation. What comes out is called the hydrosol…the floral water
Lavender Water is the most rewarding flower to distill, since it has plentiful essential oil, it retains it’s oil even when dry. Fresh, from the freezer or dried can all make good floral water.
Rose Water is the most popular, but you need access to a bountiful and fragrant few rose bushes. I have two superstars, but have to roam the city for access to a few more. You can’t use petals from the florist or market, or we’d be distilling pesticides, they have to come from know family bushes.
Peony is abundant and fragrant, but unfortunately only last about two weeks, and once picked the flowers have to be quickly distilled or frozen. Real Peony floral water is a brief treat.
Hyacinth is almost mystically beautifully fragrant. People would love to have a bunch, but only one flower per stem, and only a few stems per garden. the fragrance fades almost instantly, so even more fleeting.
Lilac floral water will be abundant if I had a gigantic lilac bush, but it will be years. My little lilacs are sweet but tiny, and the fragrance does not easily come through the distillation process. Just a few bottles.
Purple Iris is beautiful, but doesn’t easily distill into a floral water that has the intoxicating aroma of the picked flower. A few people love the purple iris aroma, but plenty of customers don’t appreciate the sharp scent.
Gardenia is a lovely flower with a delicate gorgeous scent that is a beloved fragrance from the Georgia shore to the Louisiana bayou. Since James Garden from Savannah was the originator of the gardenia, the scent makes a great room fragrance or aromatherapy to bring southern sunshine home.
Herbal Waters are from the plant not the petal
We just learned that a floral water is called a hydrosol, and it comes from flower petals.
When you distill the fragrant leaves of a plant like mint, or the aromatic stems of lemongrass you can call them Herbal Hydrosols. Same steam distillation, but of leaves and stems instead if petals and flowers. I make 4 of those. Rosemary, Lemongrass, Lemon Balm and Mint.
What Should I do with my Floral Water Sprays
Floral Waters are the collected aroma of fragrant plants.
The 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. That’s why they were the original healing potions
The Fragrant Floral Waters were the original perfumes in ancient times, and are used like perfume, or as a refreshing body spray, or aromatherapy. At home, spray the pillow or linens. Simple flower aroma and water, so no problem with chemical residue, just the brief floral scent.
The Herbal Waters are the scents of the plant extracted by steam called Hydrosols, so no chemicals involved. They can also work as room spray or aromatherapy, but most use them to refresh the hair, face or skin. Invigorating!
Hair Hero Scalp Sprays use floral waters to soothe and nourish the scalp, often after or in between shampoo or hair care, like a conditioner treatment.
Oil and Water Hair Shines add floral waters to act as a scalp treatment with essential oils to act as a hair sheen. Great for a quick spritz to shine the hair and a those great natural fragrances. Simple Luxury.
Palm and Soul Essential Oil Sprays are a luxury for the hands and feet, and any tired or overworked skin. Spray on the skin and rub vigorously. First the skin will feel moisturized, for a moment the essential oils will feel tacky, but then the skin will feel restored like a rich leather purse. Use as a treat at the end of the day, or great start. The scents are heavenly too…frankincense, myrrh, cocoa, rosewood, ylang ylang…regal!
No Bug Sprays are natural insect repellant sprays taking advantage of the combination of plant extracts and plant essential oils known to repel insects. Citronella and Geranium and Eucalyptus are necessary and combined with a Lemongrass, Mint, or Mediterranean Herb base to keep mosquitoes and gnats away for about 1-2 hours before reapplying, chemical free, all day, and they smell nice. Sock it To Ya has natural insecticides like Neem and Clove oil so I use it at the sock line and shoes