QUICK SUMMARY
Hydrosols are aromatic waters collected during the steam or water distillation of plant material. They contain water-soluble plant compounds and minute amounts of volatile essential oil constituents, so they are much less concentrated than essential oils and often easier to use in facial mists, baths, compresses, room sprays, and other water-based applications.
A true hydrosol is not simply essential oil or fragrance mixed into water. Look for a clearly identified botanical, transparent distillation information, a batch or lot number, storage directions, and an intended route of use. Hydrosols are generally gentle, but they are not automatically sterile, universally safe, or interchangeable with the corresponding essential oil.
For unpreserved hydrosols, refrigeration and clean handling are important. Follow the maker's shelf-life directions and discard the product if you notice cloudiness, strings, sediment, pressure, or changes in odor or color.
What are hydrosols, you may have asked? Good question! You've probably heard of floral waters and aren't aware of how changes in the distillation process between essential oils and hydrosols can impact the product outcome.
Hydrosols are aromatic waters and another tool to add to your home aromatherapy arsenal. They are a lower-concentration option for people with sensitive skin, have useful properties to take advantage of, and are easy for the whole family to work with when the plant, product, and route are appropriate.
As a matter of fact, we can eliminate some of the extra steps for essential oil DIYs and reduce the risk of irritated skin when it comes to these wondrously aromatic waters! You may have been told hydrosols are simply the leftover waters from the essential oil distillation process. But what if we told you this wasn't the whole truth?
Just like with essential oils, there's a bit more to aromatic hydrosols than meets the eye.
Table of Contents
What Are Hydrosols?
Aromatic hydrosols, as touched on above, are the condensate water collected from the steam or water distillation of aromatic plant matter. They contain the water-soluble components of the plant material used and minute amounts of the more water-soluble essential oil constituents. (See Harvest to Hydrosol by Ann Harmon.) Very little essential oil is actually present in these floral waters, and there is still much being discovered today about hydrosols' properties.
A 2020 scientific review reported that many hydrosols contain less than 1 gram per liter, or less than 0.1 percent, of dissolved aromatic compounds. Their exact chemistry varies according to the botanical species, plant part, growing conditions, water quality, distillation method, distillation time, and how the finished product is stored. (1, 2)
When distilled, the hydrosol remains separate from the essential oil because many of its aromatic compounds are hydrophilic, or water-loving, rather than hydrophobic, or water-repelling. While much of the hydrosol on the market is the byproduct of essential oil distillations, you will also find quality products specifically distilled for the sake of the refreshing hydrosol itself.
Hydrosols vs. Floral Waters and Essential Oils
The names hydrosol, hydrolat, distillate water, aromatic water, and floral water are sometimes used interchangeably. That does not mean every bottle labeled “floral water” is a true hydrosol.
A true hydrosol is produced during plant distillation. A manufactured floral water may instead be made by combining water with essential oil, fragrance, a solubilizer, and sometimes a preservative. That can still be a legitimate cosmetic product when it is honestly labeled and properly formulated, but it is not the same thing as a distilled hydrosol.
Hydrosols vs. Essential Oils: One really important thing to note is that hydrosols are not necessarily direct replacements for their essential oil counterparts. Remember that they contain water-soluble plant components and only minute amounts of volatile constituents, while essential oils are concentrated, oil-soluble aromatic extracts. There may be some application crossovers, but you will want to be sure before assuming!
What Does the Research Show About Hydrosols?
Research into hydrosols has expanded in recent years. Laboratory studies and reviews have reported antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activity in certain hydrosols. However, the findings depend on the exact plant, preparation, concentration, and test method. Much of this research has been conducted in laboratory systems rather than controlled human trials, so it helps explain potential properties without proving that every hydrosol treats a health condition. (1, 2, 3)
That does not make hydrosols unhelpful. It simply means we should match the claim to what was actually studied and use these aromatic waters as practical, plant-based tools rather than assuming that every product works the same way.
Are Hydrosols Safe?
Hydrosols generally have fewer concentration-related concerns than their essential oil counterparts. They are mostly water and contain much smaller amounts of volatile constituents. For many people, that makes them a gentle choice for external applications.
It's also worth noting, when exploring what hydrosols are, that their lower concentration and water solubility make them easy to use in children's and adult bath water, hand and foot soaks, sitz baths, and compresses. Unlike essential oils, which require the use of a surfactant to disperse them safely in water, a true hydrosol can be added directly to the water.
That does not mean every hydrosol is safe for every person or every route. Botanical identity, allergies, age, pregnancy, medication use, health status, product quality, storage, and intended use still matter.
What Are Hydrosols Used For?
What are hydrosols used for? Hydrosols are commonly used through topical application and inhalation. Some food-grade hydrosols also have a long history of culinary internal use in foods and beverages. Traditional-use research has documented hydrosol drinks in Persian nutrition culture, while also emphasizing that the chemistry of aromatic waters differs from the corresponding essential oil. (4)
Unlike essential oils, many hydrosols can be applied directly to intact skin without dilution. Hydrosol expert Suzanne Catty recommends diluting hydrosols for small children, such as babies, while noting that some undiluted products may be used cautiously. A patch test is still wise for sensitive skin, and you should avoid spraying hydrosols into the eyes or applying a questionable product to broken or infected skin.
Hydrosols are often stronger and more chemically complex than a typical herbal infusion. If you plan to use one internally, choose a single-botanical product specifically labeled for culinary or internal use. Follow the maker's directions rather than assuming a cosmetic hydrosol is drinkable.
For an appropriate food-grade hydrosol, one-half to one teaspoon diluted into a quart of filtered cool water, sparkling water, or juice has traditionally been used as a conservative starting amount. This is not a universal medicinal dose. The suitable amount depends on the plant, concentration, product, person, and purpose. Do not use a home-distilled or cosmetic hydrosol internally unless its identity, sanitation, and intended use have been verified.
Allergies and Sensitive Skin
If you are allergic to a plant used to create a hydrosol, avoid that hydrosol. It's just not worth the risk. Stop using the product if it causes burning, itching, swelling, hives, coughing, wheezing, nausea, or another unexpected reaction.
Use extra care with babies, very young children, pregnancy, nursing, chronic illness, asthma, seizure disorders, and prescription medications. The fact that hydrosols are dilute does not erase the chemistry of the plant.
Does the Distillation Vessel Matter?
Sometimes hydrosol distillation takes place in copper stills. Stainless steel and glass equipment are also used. The material, condition, cleaning, and maintenance of the equipment can influence the finished product, and studies of commercial herbal distillates show why trace mineral and contaminant testing can matter when a product is intended for regular internal use. (5)
If you have a copper sensitivity, a disorder that affects copper metabolism, or you intend to use hydrosols internally, be sure to ask questions. Find out what equipment the company uses and whether it conducts appropriate batch testing. You may prefer products distilled in glass or stainless steel. (See Aromatic Waters by Amy Kreydin.)
How to Source Quality Hydrosols
You may find many aqueous products on the shelf that look like a cheap, popular choice, but you want to know what you are looking at before purchasing. True hydrosols can be vulnerable to microbial contamination because they are water-based, and research on orange blossom and rose hydrosols found that they can support a diverse spoilage microbiota even in a low-pH, low-nutrient environment. (6)
This is why sourcing and handling matter so much.
Some of what you find labeled as hydrosol or floral water may actually be an emulsion of water and essential oil. These products may contain water, essential oil or fragrance oil, a solubilizer, and preservatives. Read the entire ingredient list. A properly labeled preserved mist is not automatically a bad product, but it should not be represented as a single-ingredient distilled hydrosol.
For simple home topical use, we prefer a true hydrosol made from real plant material with a short ingredient list and clear storage directions. Unpreserved, however, is not a synonym for safe. A reputable shelf-stable product may use a disclosed preservative system, protective packaging, and a validated shelf life. What matters is that the label tells the truth and the product is appropriate for the route you plan to use.
Avoid a product even more carefully if you are considering internal use. A strong perfume-like smell, an undisclosed fragrance, no botanical identity, no lot number, or no intended-use directions are all reasons to keep looking.
Hydrosols can be collected as part of essential oil production or distilled specifically for the hydrosol. Both can be useful when made well. Products distilled specifically for hydrosol production may use different plant-to-water ratios, collection windows, and distillation decisions to emphasize the aromatic water itself.
How the plant is distilled can make or break the quality of what you use with yourself and your family. Just as when you are buying your essential oils, don't be afraid to be picky about where you source from!
What to Look for on a Hydrosol Label
Look for:
- Botanical identity: The common name and Latin name, plus the plant part when it matters.
- Production method: Confirmation that it is a steam-distilled or water-distilled hydrosol rather than fragrance mixed into water.
- Complete ingredients: Any preservative, solubilizer, alcohol, or added essential oil should be disclosed.
- Batch information: A lot number, distillation or bottling date when available, and a best-by or use-by date.
- Storage directions: Clear guidance about refrigeration, room-temperature storage, and what to do after opening.
- Intended route: Cosmetic or topical use is not the same as culinary internal use.
- Clean packaging: A sealed spray top or flip top helps reduce repeated contact with hands, air, and household microbes.
- Responsible sourcing: Fresh plant matter, a quality water source, clean equipment, and transparent testing practices.
When learning where to buy essential oils, we encourage you to ask hard questions. Do the same with hydrosols. A trustworthy company should be able to tell you what plant it distilled, how it processed the hydrosol, what was added, how it should be stored, and which routes of use it supports.
How to Store Hydrosols
Unpreserved hydrosols belong in the fridge unless the producer gives verified directions for another storage method. Keep them in bottles that have been appropriately cleaned and sanitized, and select tightly closed containers that you open as little as possible to reduce exposure to microbes. Spray-top bottles or flip-top bottles are especially useful because they limit direct contact with the product.
It can also be helpful to keep an unpreserved hydrosol in a clear or lightly colored container when the supplier's packaging permits it. Bloom, strings, sediment, or other visible growth can be easier to notice than it would be through an opaque bottle. Protect the bottle from heat and direct sunlight.
There is no universal one-to-two-year shelf life for every hydrosol. Shelf life depends on the botanical, distillation and bottling hygiene, pH, packaging, preservation, storage temperature, and how often the bottle is opened. A study of lemon balm and Canadian wild ginger hydrosols found that their chemical composition changed during two years of room-temperature storage. That research evaluated chemical stability, not a promise that an opened bottle remains microbiologically safe for two years. (7)
How Can You Tell if a Hydrosol Has Gone Bad?
Discard the hydrosol if you notice:
- Cloudiness that was not present when the bottle was new
- Strings, floating particles, sediment, or visible bloom
- A swollen bottle, leaking cap, fizzing, or unexpected pressure
- A sour, musty, fermented, or otherwise changed odor
- An unexpected color change
- A damaged seal or uncertain storage history
- A product that is past the maker's stated shelf life
A change in pH can be one sign that a hydrosol is changing, but home pH strips cannot prove that a product is free of harmful microbes. The absence of visible growth does not guarantee purity either. When in doubt, throw it out.
Easy Hydrosol DIY Uses
Using organic hydrosols in skin care products and inhalation sprays can increase your ability to reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals you are exposed to on a daily basis. Natural cosmetic ingredients can also shorten the shelf life of DIY products.
Treat any recipe containing hydrosol, distilled water, aloe, tea, or another water-based ingredient as a short-lived product unless it uses a properly calculated broad-spectrum preservative. Hydrosols may demonstrate antimicrobial activity in laboratory testing, but one lavender study found that preservative performance varied in a finished body gel. A hydrosol should not be assumed to preserve a homemade lotion or commercial formula by itself. (8)
Keep unpreserved DIY products in cold storage, work with clean hands and sanitized tools, and make only enough to last about one week.
Skin-Toning Mist
Add ½ ounce frankincense hydrosol, ½ ounce lemon hydrosol, and 1 ounce distilled water to a clean 2-ounce flip-top bottle. Add to a cotton pad and swipe over the face morning and night for a refreshing facial toner that encourages a balanced glow.
Avoid the eyes and discontinue use if irritation develops. Refrigerate and make a fresh batch weekly.
Summer Cooling Mist
Spritz peppermint hydrosol lightly over your arms after a day of working in the yard or as part of your cool-down after exercising. Cucumber hydrosol can also feel refreshing on warm, uncomfortable skin.
Avoid spraying peppermint hydrosol directly into the face or eyes. Do not use a cosmetic mist as a substitute for appropriate care for a blistering sunburn, heat illness, or persistent hot flashes. Cool the skin, hydrate, and seek care when symptoms are severe or unusual.
Relaxing Foot Bath
Add 2-4 tablespoons of lavender hydrosol or neroli hydrosol, or a blend of the two, to a basin of comfortably warm water. Soak your feet after a long day and enjoy the soft aroma without needing to disperse concentrated essential oil in the water.
Hydrosol Compress
Add 1-2 tablespoons of an appropriate hydrosol to a bowl of cool or warm water. Soak a clean washcloth, wring it out, and apply it gently to intact skin for several minutes. Lavender, chamomile, or rose hydrosol can be lovely choices when the botanical is suitable for the person using it.
Air Freshener
Give a quick spritz of neroli hydrosol, lemon balm hydrosol, or another aromatic herb hydrosol. These can blend with rose hydrosol to fill the room with a sweet scent instead of a heavily fragranced conventional air freshener.
Hydrosols have a softer aroma than essential oils, so they may need to be refreshed more often. Store the bottle according to the supplier's directions and do not mist directly toward people, pets, food, or delicate surfaces.
Hydrosols FAQs
What is a hydrosol?
A hydrosol is the aromatic water collected during the steam or water distillation of plant material. It contains water-soluble plant compounds and minute amounts of volatile essential oil constituents.
Is hydrosol the same as rose water?
Rose hydrosol is a type of rose water, but not every product called rose water is a true hydrosol. Some rose waters are distilled, while others are made from water, flavor, essential oil, fragrance, or other added ingredients. Read the label.
Can I use hydrosol directly on my skin?
Many properly made hydrosols can be used directly on intact adult skin. Patch test first if you have sensitive skin, avoid the eyes, and follow product-specific directions. Babies, young children, and people with allergies or medical conditions may need dilution or individualized guidance.
Are hydrosols safe for babies?
Some hydrosols are gentle enough for carefully diluted use with babies, but “hydrosol” is a product category, not a universal safety guarantee. The exact plant, product quality, route, amount, age, and health status matter. Choose a mild botanical and get qualified guidance when needed.
Do hydrosols need preservatives?
An unpreserved hydrosol can be sold and used safely when it is produced hygienically, packaged well, stored correctly, and used within its validated shelf life. A preserved product may be more practical for room-temperature storage. What is not safe is assuming that every unpreserved water-based product remains clean indefinitely.
Can I drink hydrosols?
Only use a hydrosol internally when the exact product is labeled and produced for culinary or internal use. Follow the maker's directions. Do not drink a cosmetic spray, a fragranced floral water, or a home-distilled product with uncertain sanitation or identity.
Can I ingest essential oils?
Do not casually ingest essential oils in water or neat (undiluted). Internal use of essential oils requires proper dilution, product quality, dosing knowledge, and safety guidance. Learn more about how to ingest essential oils here.
Do hydrosols expire?
Yes. Hydrosols are water-based and have a shorter, more product-specific shelf life than essential oils. Follow the best-by date and storage directions, refrigerate unpreserved products when directed, and discard anything that looks, smells, or behaves differently.
Can hydrosols replace essential oils?
Not automatically. Hydrosols and essential oils contain different concentrations and proportions of plant compounds. A hydrosol may be the better choice for a water-based mist, facial toner, bath, or gentle compress, while a properly diluted essential oil may be preferred for other applications.
Final Thoughts on Hydrosols
Consider organic hydrosols a beneficial, more subtle form of aromatherapy that allows you to enjoy the softer scents of floral waters when concentrated essential oils would need more dilution to use.
They are practical, family-friendly tools when you choose the right botanical, buy from a responsible producer, follow the intended route, and respect the realities of a water-based product. God has filled creation with remarkable plants, and wise stewardship includes both enjoying their benefits and handling them with care.
References
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- Almeida HHS, Fernandes IP, Amaral JS, Rodrigues AE, Barreiro MF. “Unlocking the Potential of Hydrosols: Transforming Essential Oil Byproducts into Valuable Resources.” Molecules. 2024;29(19):4660. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194660.
- Šilha D, Švarcová K, Bajer T, Královec K, Tesařová E, Moučková K, Pejchalová M, Bajerová P. “Chemical Composition of Natural Hydrolates and Their Antimicrobial Activity on Arcobacter-Like Cells in Comparison with Other Microorganisms.” Molecules. 2020;25(23):5654. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235654.
- Hamedi A, Afifi M, Etemadfard H. “Investigating Chemical Composition and Indications of Hydrosol Soft Drinks (Aromatic Waters) Used in Persian Folk Medicine for Women's Hormonal and Reproductive Health Conditions.” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2017;22(4):824-839. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587217717413.
- Keshtkar M, Dobaradaran S, Soleimani F, Noroozi Karbasdehi V, Mohammadi MJ, Mirahmadi R, Faraji Ghasemi F. “Data on Heavy Metals and Selected Anions in the Persian Popular Herbal Distillates.” Data in Brief. 2016;8:21-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2016.05.005.
- Labadie C, Ginies C, Guinebretiere MH, Renard CMGC, Cerutti C, Carlin F. “Hydrosols of Orange Blossom (Citrus aurantium), and Rose Flower (Rosa damascena and Rosa centifolia) Support the Growth of a Heterogeneous Spoilage Microbiota.” Food Research International. 2015;76(Pt 3):576-586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2015.07.014.
- Garneau FX, Collin G, Gagnon H. “Chemical Composition and Stability of the Hydrosols Obtained During Essential Oil Production. I. The Case of Melissa officinalis L. and Asarum canadense L.” American Journal of Essential Oils and Natural Products. 2014;2(1):54-62. Source.
- Kunicka-Styczyńska A, Śmigielski K, Prusinowska R, Rajkowska K, Kuśmider B, Sikora M. “Preservative Activity of Lavender Hydrosols in Moisturizing Body Gels.” Letters in Applied Microbiology. 2015;60(1):27-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.12346.
