Hydrosols are the aromatic waters produced via distillation. Suzanne Catty popularized hydrosols years ago with her book “Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy” and for years hydrosols were quite abundant in the market. Then there seemed to be a little bit of a quiet time for hydrosols until now when they are experiencing a kind of renaissance. There are so many incredible hydrosols on the market these days and it is a joy to work with them.
Here are 7 great ways you can begin to utilize hydrosols in your home or in your practice.
1. As a calming, soothing spritzer for infants and children.
My son and I have fond memories of utilizing lavender hydrosol for what we called “Lavender Rain”. I would gently spritz his ‘auric field’ so to speak, while singing a song about lavender rain I made up along the day. He loved it and always found it quite soothing.
2. Great in baths (especially for infants!)
Considering adding lavender or German chamomile hydrosol (or combine the two) to your infants bath or your own bath. They are subtle but remarkably effective. If you are a reflexologist, consider adding in hydrosols into a foot bath for your client.
Here is our dilution guidelines:
- Infants to six months: add 1 teaspoon of chosen hydrosol to an infant bathtub or 2 teaspoons for an adult tub filled to baby depth.
- Children up to twelve years of age: add 1 teaspoon of hydrosol per year of age, up to a maximum of 8 teaspoons.
- Adults: use from 30 to 250 milliliters (or 1 to 8 ounces per tub).10
- Foot baths: add 2-3 tbsp for foot bath.
3. Create your own mouth wash. Here are a few ideas to consider:
Antiseptic Mouthwash
½ cup Spearmint hydrosol
½ cup Calendula hydrosol
1 cup Cinnamon hydrosol
Antiseptic Mouthwash 2
½ cup Peppermint hydrosol
½ cup Calendula hydrosol
1 cup Cistus hydrosol
Cooling Anti-inflammatory Rinse
½ cup Peppermint hydrosol
½ cup German chamomile hydrosol
1 cup Lavender hydrosol
4. Cool yourself during the heat of summer.
Spritz your face, neck and chest with some cooling peppermint and/or spearmint hydrosol.
5. Create an aromatic gel for muscular aches and pains.
- 1 cup Aloe vera gelly
- 1 tbsp. Laurel Hydrosol
- 1 tbsp. St. John’s Wort Herbal Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Arnica Herbal Oil
- 12 drops Birch (Betula lenta) (*Can use Wintergreen)
- 14 drops Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
- 10 drops Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Combine all ingredients in glass bowl. Stir well with stainless steel whisk. Add in more aloe vera gelly to thicken or more hydrosol to thin or get rid of ‘tacky’ feeling to gel. Store in glass or PET jar. Use as needed.
Apply on sore muscles, tight neck and shoulders, and on areas of aches and pains.
6. Spritz your pillow for a good night sleep.
Spritz your pillow with lavender, German chamomile, rose, neroli or other soothing hydrosol to help you get a good nights rest!
7. Calm the coffee jitters!
While being sure your hydrosols are fresh and have been stored properly, you can place 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Neroli (Orange blossom) hydrosol in a cup of water to soothe and calm coffee jitters! And it tastes, great!
