What are hydrolates / floral waters / hydrosols?
When we distill an oil form the herb/wood/root etc. through steam distillation and hydro distillation, we extract the oil from the upper layer and left the water as by product which contains some water soluble particles (also called micronized droplets of essential oils) of the essential oils and this water also have the similar therapeutic properties like the particular essential oils. This causes some confusion as ‘floral waters’ may conjure up in the mind something which smells sweet or floral and this is not always the case.
Indeed any true hydrolate not smells exactly like the plant because it only has the micronized articles of that plant. Their smell could be earthy or spicy but not nasty. Some hydrolats are completely devoid of smell due to the microscopic proportions of aromatic compounds present and still others smell quite moldy.
As hydrolates are simply water and they can be used anywhere and even in some cased people suggested to drink it like rose water is useful for appetites and other gastric ailments. As they are water so easily soluble in preparatory beverages and other edible preparations.
Most of the western world is well informed for Rose water and lavender water but there are only few ones who have knowledge above a range of hydrolates.
In the different parts of India where we distill the respective essential oils which belongs to a particular area, the concern hydrolate we produces in bulk of quantity cadre their respective industries. It is hopeful to explore these products into the world market and educate enthusiastic. |
