How to Make a Hydrosol With Herbs
Hydrosols are also called floral waters. They are a byproduct of making essential oils. They are water based, but they do retain some properties of the plant, although they are milder than essential oils. You can make your own on the stove top with no special equipment.
I used calendula to make my hydrosol. Calendula is a gentle herb that's good for minor skin irritations and dry skin. It's also good for your hair. You could also use lavender, peppermint, chamomile, rose petals, or eucalyptus.
You will need:
- A large pot with a curved lid
- A small bowl and a medium bowl
- 4 cups of herbs
- water
- ice
We're going to be making a crude still. You want to have one heat proof bowl upside down in the middle of the pot and then set a bigger bowl on top of it. This keeps the bowl off of the bottom of the pan. I didn't have two bowls, so I used 3 canning rings with one in the center for some extra height. Then place dried or fresh herbs around the bowl and add water to cover. I used 4 cups of dried herbs and 2 cups of water to start. I added more water as it got dry.
Place the lid on top upside down so the curve is on the inside. Then add ice in a zipper bag on top of the lid. This rapidly cools the steam so it condenses and falls down into the bowl. If you don't use ice, this can take all day to collect the hydrosol. You will need to replenish the ice often. The bag will be hot, so use tongs to remove it.
Now you have a homemade hydrosol that's a lot cheaper than what you can buy in the store!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Can you use an Insta pot for this same type of thing but with the lid sealed in the water with condensate on top and I would go into the bowl