Hydrolates, Hydrosols, Floral Waters

True floral waters or hydrolates / hydrosols are an excellent alternative to essential oils (EO) in situations where it is not safe to use them. Some EOs have limitations for use with young children, pregnant and nursing women, or animals. Some EOs are also not suitable for people taking blood thinners. 

WHAT IS HYDROLATE AND HOW IS IT MADE

Hydrolate, or also hydrosol, is pure flower water that is produced by distilling plants. In the distillation process by which essential oils (EOs) are extracted from plants, the vapor containing the oil is cooled, changing its state to water, on the surface of which the separated EOs are found. This is then removed and used separately. The water that is left over certainly does not deserve to go to waste because, in addition to the EO molecules, it also contains water-soluble substances from the plant that its EO does not contain.

ATTENTION! You will find a large number of sprays, flower waters, etc. in the market, which are often a mixture of pure (!) water and selected EO, or in the worst case, water and synthetic perfume. In this case, however, it is not a hydrolate.

LIFETIME OF (TRUE) HYDROLATES

Genuine hydrolates (i.e. distilled without the addition of preservatives such as alcohol) do not last long and some are extremely sensitive to heat, which can cause the growth of unwanted microorganisms. We therefore recommend buying hydrolates IN DARK BOTTLES and from places where they have not been stored on a shelf in the mid-summer sun. You can rest assured that we store our products in warehouse with all-year-round stable temperature, without sunlight impact.

USE OF HYDROLATES

Thanks to their slightly acidic pH, hydrolates find a wide range of uses in skin care, e.g. as a toner, for cleansing or soothing the skin, as a make-up fixative (rose water) and toning ingredient under make-up, instead of water ingredients in the production of home cosmetics and soaps, in the bath, for irritated skin, as a repellent for babies, as a spray for clothes and linen, etc. 

Hydrolate is an excellent aid for combing and hair care, completely replacing leave-in conditioners, leaving hair smooth, shiny and scented. It can also be used against static electricity in the hair. It can be applied to both wet and dry hair. Hydrosols suitable for hair are especially lavender, rose, for blondes also chamomile.

You can take inspiration from the following tips:

• for bathing (therapeutic, sitting, foot bath);
• as a spray to refresh the skin;
• as a spray to freshen and purify indoor air;
• as a spray to aromatize clothes and linen;
• as a delicate perfume to promote emotional balance and feelings of well-being;
• to moisturize the skin before using a facial or body oil;
• to cleanse and tone the skin;
• to treat irritated or injured skin;
• as an ingredient in the base of creams, gels, lotions and body lotions;
• in clay masks instead of water;
• for compresses and washes;
• in scalp care and hair care;
• as a mouthwash to promote healthy gums and teeth;
• as a gargle;
• for making wet wipes;
• for sprinkling laundry before ironing;
• for ironing (by adding the hydrolat to distilled water directly into the iron);
• in pet care;
• as a plant watering agent;
• as insect repellent;
• in intimate hygiene;
• for therapeutic purposes (hydrolates work in synergy with essential oils and are used by therapists as an adjunct to phytotherapy or aromatherapy).

BENEFITS OF HYDROLATE

The advantage of hydrolate is undoubtedly its safe use. Due to their gentle and harmonious action, hydrolates are safe for use on infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and animals. The great thing about hydrolates is that the most can be used directly on the skin without the need for further dilution.

WHY ARE HYDROLATES USEFUL IN SKIN CARE?

Human skin is naturally slightly acidic and has a pH value of around 5.5. Unfortunately, some products that appear on the market have a high pH and can upset the natural balance of the skin. What about hydrolates? Although distilled water has a pH value of 7, hydrolates are slightly acidic, with most hydrolates having a pH value between 4 and 6, exceptionally outside this range. 

EXAMPLES OF THE USE OF SELECTED HYDROLATES

In our store we offer Floral waters from Alteya, where all roses are 100% organically grown and ethically harvested from their family rose farm in the heart of the Bulgarian Rose Valley.

ROSE (Rosa Damascena): For centuries, rose water has been sought after for its excellent effects on women's skin. Its mystery lies primarily in keeping the skin fresh, it can fight aging, and it gives back a healthy appearance to dull and tired skin. Rose is also used as an ingredient in virtually all products designed to fight wrinkles. It helps to hydrate, revitalize and balance the pH of the skin. However, rose water is also a good sebum corrector and should not be avoided by women with combination or oily skin.

Rose water is also recommended for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effects. It suppresses unwanted redness of the skin, reduces unpleasant manifestations of sensitive skin such as roughness, scaling and redness.

Rose water is antibacterial, so it is also useful in treating inflammation, swelling and infections on the skin and helps minimize problems with inflamed pores.
It can be successfully used not only as an anti-aging tonic, but as a supportive therapeutic if you are troubled by, for example:

• headaches, depression, insomnia
• scars, burns, injuries
• protection of cells from damage (antioxidant effect)
• revitalises the hair and improves combing (leave-in conditioner and scalp growth tonic)
• treatment of infections (antiseptic effect, soothes sore throats and even used for eye infections)

Tip: Rose water is extremely suitable for fixing make-up.

WHITE ROSE (Rosa Alba): can be used the same as Rosa Damascena, but compared to that pink rose water, this one has a lighter and more delicate floral aroma. It carries all the fragrance complexity of the white Rose Alba. 

White rose is a good helper in the fight against skin ageing, it is a real antioxidant of the skin, as it can stimulate cells to renew. Its anti-inflammatory effects are also not negligible.White rose is excellent in balancing the pH of the skin, it can tighten the pores and it also helps in cleansing the skin. It is perfect for after shaving and sunbathing as it soothes the skin without the slightest irritation and reduces redness.

On an aromatherapeutic level, the scent induces a feeling of relaxation, stimulates the female reproductive system, boosts female fertility and also helps prevent problems during the menopause. During motherhood, it supports the nurturing instinct.

CHAMOMILE: Chamomile flower water in organic quality is a helper for the whole family. Chamomile has a strong healing ability and its use should not be avoided even by pregnant women, it is also suitable for small children and eczematous people, unless they suffer from an allergy to chamomile. The very delicate aroma is pleasant even for babies, induces a feeling of calm, promotes good sleep.

So for whom it is suitable? Primarily appreciated by people with very sensitive, dry or even eczematous skin. It is also widely used in the care of babies and children.

Chamomile hydrolate tones and brightens the skin and can be helpful for people with sensitive and dry and tired skin. It helps the skin to maintain its colour tone and effectively combats unwanted pigment spots. It can be used for eye compresses, for eye inflammation or puffiness, and is also great for cleaning the eyes and under-eye area of pets.

It significantly helps to soothe irritations, diaper rash and diaper rash and is therefore extremely suitable for baby skin, especially in the care of the diaper area, but also for soothing and inducing a good night's sleep.

Chamomile hydrolate is useful in hair care, especially light hair. It promotes their colour and shine. Use it as a leave-in conditioner or add it to your favourite shampoo.

Chamomile hydrolate soothes the skin very well after shaving.

LAVENDER: Lavender is very well tolerated by sensitive and allergic skin. Its soothing effects are widely used in the skin care of even the smallest children.
People with oily but also sensitive or drier skin can indulge in lavender water. Its antibacterial effects are also appreciated by people with inflamed skin, seborrhea or acne.

If you're just starting out with hydrolates and don't know which type is right for you, you'll never go wrong with lavender. It is suitable for virtually all skin types and for all ages.

Lavender water soothes the skin, is antiseptic, and helps heal burns and minor wounds. It is refreshing and moisturising. It can be used as a tonic to balance the pH and soothe, for example, after cleansing or after sunbathing. It also helps as a supportive therapeutic for inflammation in the oral cavity, heals aphthae.

Lavender hydrolate has wide uses not only for the skin but also for the hair. It helps detangle hair, balances the pH of the scalp well after washing, soothes irritated skin and can help with dandruff.

Lavender is wonderfully suitable for relaxation and inducing sleep not only in children. Use the hydrolate as a room fragrance in the bedroom, spray it on the pillow.

Lavender also helps with headaches and migraines, but beware, it can lower blood pressure, people with very low blood pressure should not overdo it, but the warning here is for more concentrated, essential oils.

Tip: If your hydrolate is nearing its expiry date and you're not sure if you want to use it directly on your face, you can use it instead of distilled water in your iron. The lavender-scented steam will leave your laundry wonderfully fragrant and soft. Ironing at that moment becomes a literally relaxing experience! Lavender is also ideal for scenting laundry in the wardrobe as it repels moths.