The Aromatic Plant Project ~ Aromatic Article Archives

WHAT IS IN THE HYDROSOL?
Hyrdosol Information

Recently a friend faxed me a page of questions regarding hydrosols. The questions were regarding hydrosols and seemed very thoughtful. Some of the questions that you should think to ask your supplier of hydrosols are:

Analysis:
Is each hydrosols analyzed to know its chemical composition?
Do you pass on the analysis if a customer requests it?

Bottling:
     Where and how is the hydrosol bottled?
     Does the distiller or someone else bottle it?
     Is it repackaged from larger containers?

Consumption:
If you are taking the hydrosol internally, do you think that the distillation premises should be certified just like a restaurant?

Contamination:
     Is the hydrosol tested regularly for bacterial or fungal growth?
     Are the bottles or bulk containers that are used to collect the hydrosol cleaned carefully with Clorox and then rinsed clear to make sure that they are free of contamination?
     Are the test results available to the one who purchases the hydrosol?

Distillation:
     Are you the distiller and if so, do you know how to care for the hydrosol so that it will not be contaminated?
     Do you know the distiller?
     How is the hydrosol stored at the distillation site?
     Are your hydrosols produced for the hydrosol or for the essential oil?
     Is the plant fresh or dried when distilled?
     Were the plants picked at the height of their season?
     Was the distillation stopped at the peak time for the hydrosol or was it allowed to continue until the hydrosol became weak (higher pH)?
     What kind of equipment was used for the distillation? (Using Copper improves the quality of the hydrosol)

pH:
Was the hydrosol tested for pH during all phases of the distillation and a record kept?
Is it about 5.5 or lower? (If it is near 7, it is just water.)

Preservative:
Are preservatives added to the hydrosol and in what quantity?

Smell & Taste:
It should have both in quantity!.

Storage:
How do the distiller, the producer, the manufacturer, and you store the hydrosols?

Testing:
Are the hydrosols continually being tested throughout their life for bacteria, mold, mildew and pH?

For this and other answers you will have to ask your hydrosol seller. For information about the hydrosol, join the Aromatic Plant Project for a quarterly newsletter that addresses these questions.

	Hydrosols
	New Information
1.	Know your soil!
2.	Location, location, location.
3.	Water source and type.
4.	Choose the correct plant that will match the terrior.
5.	Know what your plant is. The Latin binomial, the variety and the chemotype.
6.	Harvest at the correct time in the correct season.
7.	Harvest the correct part and only the first flowering if it is a flowering plant.
8.	Choose a method of distillation and the type of equipment. Use copper at least in the gooseneck or the condenser for a sweet-smelling hydrosol.
9.	Choose whether you are distilling for an essential oil or a hydrosol.
10.	Distill with the art and craft of 500 years experience using only pure water. Collect only up to 50% of the water or steam used in the distillation process. (EX: If you start with 100 pounds. plant material you will only get about 100 quarts of hydrosol.)
11.	Bottle or collect in clean containers. The containers should be rinsed for 3 minutes with 10% Clorox solution, then rinsed with boiling water or steam to remove the Clorox smell.
12.	Measure the pH. It should be about 4.5-5.5. If its is higher or close to 7, then you have water and not hydrosol.
13.	Bottle and label your sterile hyrdrosol.
14.	Market the product.

Bibliography:

Aromatic News, a quarterly from the Aromatic Plant Project.
Spring 2002, Aromatic News of the Aromatic Plant Project.


	Hyrdrosols & Aromatic Waters

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