I
allowed my rosewater to cool and transferred it to a mister bottle.  To
avoid spoilage, floral waters are best kept in the refridgerator.

Do you make floral waters?  What is your favorite way to use them?

If you’ve ever used rose water or any other form of ‘floral water’ you will understand the excitement I had when I discovered I could make my own using simple kitchen tools, and for much less! I’ve known people whom have made their own {hydrosols}, but never really thought about how “easy” it might actually be –

until now.

 

 

So many flowers and herbs can be used to make all kinds of hydrosols! Really the sky is the limit when it comes to any distillate.

 

“Hydrosols: also known as floral waters, hydroflorates, flower waters or distillates are products from steam distilling plant materials. Hydrosols are like essential oils but in far less of a concentration. When a distiller brews plant material with water in a large cooker the steam fills the pot and, as it rises, it causes the glands of the plants to burst and release the oils and essence of the plant into the steam. The oil rises through a condenser and collects in a separate vessel. This is what we know as essential oil, but what about all that fragrant water that was steamed with the original plant material? That is our hydrosol, or floral water.

Hydrosols are usually the result of essential oil production as a by-product but the highest quality hydrosols come from the devoted distillers who, with artist like precision steam the floral and plant material strictly to produce a hydrosol. Hydrosols contain all of the essence of the plant in every drop, just like essential oils but in a milder form; making them suitable for all manner ofapplications where essential oils would be too strong and need dilution.” – Mountain Rose Herbs

 

Hydrosols are amazingly refreshing when spritzed straight onto the body, and also many of them have a vast array of culinary uses, as do they have medicinal uses as well! They are a lovely ingredient when added to any body care product too!

 

 


To make Rose Water {or any other hydrosol}

You will need:

  • A large stock pot {I used a double broiler}
  • The stock pot lid, {introverted} 
  • A glass bowl  {heat resistant/oven safe}
  • Ice cubes 
  • Big handfuls of
    fresh {pesticide free organic} rose petals, {I easily distilled a quart of rosewater, with 4-5 handfuls of petals.}


Directions:

 

1. Rinse rose petals, {or whatever you wish to distill} eliminating dirt
and bugs from your plant material or you may end up with “spider-dirt infused water” ::wink::
2. Place glass bowl in the center of your stock pot {if you don’t have a double broiler be sure that your bowl is sitting on a pie pan, ceramic ramekin or any heat resistant item that can be placed in the bottom of the pan to keep your bowl on top and from burning your distilled hydrosol.} 
 
3. With the glass bowl in the center of the pot,
situate rose petals {or your herb or flower of choice.} around the outer rim of the pot. Fill the bottom of your double boiler with water – or if you do not have a double boiler,  cover your petals {or other herb or flower} with water. Do not add water to your glass bowl!

 

4. Place lid upside down
over the pot, so it is inverted.  Turn on the burner low to medium. {it
is important not to boil.}


5. Place Ice cubes on top of the inverted lid.


 6. Then watch it all start to happen! The water will steam the plant material carrying all the good stuff from the plant into the air. The steam will collect on the lid of the pan and condense due to the ice cubes. And because the lid is upside down, the steam that hits the top of the lid will return to a liquid that is directed straight into the glass bowl! And the liquid in the glass bowl… that there is your distilled hydrosol!7. Steam petals until they are pale and rose water {or other distilled water} has filled the glass bowl. The
whole steaming process takes aproximaetly about 30 minutes.

 

 8. Allow hydrosol to cool before placing it into a glass jar or spray bottles of your choice. And enjoy!
Helpful Tips:
  • Rose water will
    last about a week to 10 days if stored in the refrigerator. To help
    extend the shelf life of your water add 1tbsp of witch hazel, {which I use.} or either rubbing alcohol, or grain alcohol per 2 cups of water. Doing this can extend the shelf life up to 1-2 months.
  • Placed ice in baggies because
    once it melts you can just grab the baggies of water and quickly dump
    the water and replace it with more ice.  Otherwise, you are lifting the
    lid off of your “still” and potentially losing some of your steam, {meaning hydrosol}.
  •  

Do you make distilled waters hydrosols?  What is your favorite way to use them?

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