Hydrosols vs Essential oils: What is a difference and When to Use Each

In the process of distillation water is heated to high temperature until it becomes steam. Then steam goes through plant material with different pressure. It breaks the plant membrane and reaches the secretory cells with essential oils in them. Steam with the essential oils and other water soluble plant material goes through the condenser where it is cool down by circulating cold water. The condenses liquid flows into separatory funnel.(picture 1). Since essential oils are mostly oil soluble they do not mix with water. Most of them are lighter than water and float on top of it. The aromatic water is called hydrosol. The bottom hydrosol is drained via a stopcock or valve. The essentail oil is drained with different valve.

Hydrosol contains water soluble plant material. We can relate hydrosols as very concentrated herbal tea. Hydrosols have water soluble plant material such as organic acids, tannins, flavonoids, cumarins, and also contain 0.01 to 0.05 % of essential oils (part that is water soluble).

When to use hydrosols and when to use essential oils.

Since hydrosols are less concentrated than essential oils we can use them undiluted for facial mists, toners, or as part of masks and other skin care products. In the formulation of creams or lotions they could be used as water components of formulation. Because hydrosols contain a large percentage of water they are more sensitive than essential oils and have shorter shelf life. 

When we are dealing with hydrosols we should take extra care of their storage, exposure to the air and handling. Hydrosols should be store in low temperature 10-15OC, no light exposure and no air exposure. Also very important is minimum handling and smelling of product prior to packaging. Smelling hydrosols directly from container risks contaminating the whole shipment. It is preferable to decant small amount into a clean glass to judge flavour, aroma, colour and to reseal the large container immediately.

When we are repackaging hydrosols in smaller containers we should use clean bottles, sprayers. We should always wear gloves. Bottling for resale requires cleaning the bottles with ethyl alcohol and dry them on hot temperature. The sprayers should be immerge in alcohol before we put them in bottles with hydrosols.

Also Read: Bulk Essential Oils Canada: The Complete Buyer's Guide

When to use Essential oils

Essential oils are very concentrated, lipid-soluble aromatic components from distillation of aromatic plants. They should always be diluted in some fatty material before apply on the skin. They could be used in creams, lotions, body wash, soaps, massage oils in the concentrations from 0.05 % to 2% depending on the product. 

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Production process Comparison