Hydrosols: Aromatherapy's Best-Kept Secret
- Dr Lucy
- Jun 10
- 7 min read
Ask most people what comes to mind when they think about aromatherapy and they'll almost certainly say essential oils.
Lavender.
Peppermint.
Frankincense.
Lemon.
For good reason too. Essential oils are remarkable botanical extracts and have transformed the way many of us work with plants in our homes and daily lives.
But there's another category of aromatic plant medicine that receives far less attention.
Hydrosols.
In fact, I've lost count of the number of times I've mentioned hydrosols in a workshop or consultation only to be met with a slightly puzzled look and the question:
"What exactly is a hydrosol?"
Which is a shame, because in many situations I reach for a hydrosol before I reach for an essential oil. Not because they're better but because they're different. And sometimes different is exactly what's needed.
Hydrosols occupy a fascinating middle ground between herbal medicine and aromatherapy. They're gentle, versatile, practical and, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked tools in the natural health world.
What Exactly Is a Hydrosol?
A hydrosol is the aromatic water produced during the distillation of a plant.
When rose petals, lavender flowers, peppermint leaves or frankincense resin (to name a few) are distilled, two distinct products are created.
The first is the essential oil.
The second is the hydrosol.
Most of us are familiar with the essential oil. That's the concentrated, oil-soluble fraction that contains many of the plant's aromatic compounds.
The hydrosol is the water-based fraction.
It contains water-soluble plant constituents alongside tiny amounts of aromatic molecules that remain suspended within the water. Whilst essential oils may contain hundreds of aromatic compounds in concentrated form, hydrosols typically contain less than 0.2% volatile aromatic compounds, yet still retain a remarkable affinity with the plant from which they came.
Historically, hydrosols were often viewed as a by-product of essential oil production. The valuable product was considered to be the essential oil and the aromatic water was simply what remained.
Today, many aromatherapists, herbalists and natural skincare practitioners would argue that hydrosols deserve far more recognition than that. Because they aren't simply leftovers, they're a valuable plant preparation in their own right and yet another example of how a plant can offer more than one gift... if we're willing to look closely enough.
How Are Hydrosols Made?
Traditional hydrosols are produced through steam distillation. Plant material is placed inside a still and steam is passed through it. As the steam moves through the plant, it carries aromatic compounds with it. The vapour is then cooled and condensed back into liquid. This liquid naturally separates into two distinct layers:
The essential oil.
And the aromatic water beneath it.
The aromatic water is the hydrosol.
Whilst commercial hydrosols are typically produced using professional distillation equipment, it is possible to create a simple homemade version using fresh rose petals and a saucepan at home. If you'd like to learn how I make my own rose hydrosol each summer, I've put together a separate step-by-step guide which you can find here.
The Biggest Misconception About Hydrosols
The most common misunderstanding I encounter is the belief that hydrosols are simply diluted essential oils.
They're not.
If you add a few drops of rose essential oil to water, you do not create rose hydrosol.
A true hydrosol has its own chemistry.
When a plant is distilled, not every constituent ends up in the essential oil. Some compounds are more water-soluble, whilst others are more oil-soluble. As a result, the hydrosol and the essential oil can end up carrying very different aspects of the same plant. As a result, the chemistry is different. In some cases, hydrosols may contain constituents that are present only in trace amounts within the essential oil itself, whilst lacking many of the compounds that dominate the oil. The result is a product with its own aroma, personality and applications.
Why Would You Use a Hydrosol Instead of an Essential Oil?
This is perhaps the most important question. After all, if you already have essential oils, why would you need hydrosols as well?
The answer is that there are many situations where a hydrosol may actually be the better choice. One of the reasons I love hydrosols is that they allow us to work with aromatic plants in a way that is often gentler, simpler and more accessible.
Sensitive Skin
This is probably the biggest one. Many people love the idea of aromatherapy but struggle with sensitive or reactive skin. Others simply prefer not to apply oils to their face. Hydrosols can be a beautiful alternative and I often look to them when alleviating things like irritated or sunburnt skin as well as daily facial care. Rose hydrosol is one of my favourites for facial skincare. It feels cooling, soothing and refreshing whilst being incredibly easy to use. A quick spritz can instantly make the skin feel calmer and more comfortable, particularly during warmer weather and I can access the emotional connection to the rose through its scent so beautifully.
Children and Families
One of the reasons hydrosols have become so popular amongst many aromatherapists and herbalists is their gentle nature. Whilst they still deserve respect and appropriate use, they often provide a softer introduction to aromatic plants than essential oils. They can be incorporated into family life in surprisingly simple ways, whether that's a calming bedtime mist, an aromatic bath, a room spray or a refreshing spritz during hot weather.
Frequent Everyday Use
One of the things I love about hydrosols is how easily they fit into daily life.
You can keep them on your desk, in your handbag, by your bed or in the fridge.
They don't require carrier oils, roller bottles or dilution calculations. They are immediately useful, and sometimes that's exactly what we need.
Summer Support
If there is one season that truly belongs to hydrosols, it's summer. Rose hydrosol lives in our fridge throughout the warmer months. I reach for it after gardening, after time in the sun, during travel and whenever I want something cooling and refreshing. Hydrosols seem perfectly suited to hot weather in a way that many essential oils aren't. They're refreshing, hydrating, cooling and incredibly easy to use. Lavender hydrosol is one of my favourites for tired children with sun-kissed skin.
When You Want the Plant Without the Intensity
This is perhaps my favourite way of describing hydrosols. Sometimes we want the plant, but we don't necessarily want the intensity. Hydrosols allow us to experience the aromatic qualities of a plant in a softer and often more approachable way. And that's a wonderful thing.
How I Actually Use Hydrosols
One thing that often surprises people is just how versatile hydrosols can be.
They're not simply facial mists or skincare products.
Depending on the hydrosol, they can be used in all sorts of ways.
Some of my favourites include:
Facial mists and toners
Cooling summer sprays
Clay face masks
Eye compresses
Facial steams
Linen and pillow sprays
Aromatic baths
Foot baths
Hair rinses
Room sprays
Humidifiers
Post-sun skincare
Travel companions during flights and long journeys
One of the things I find most fascinating about hydrosols is that they don't fit neatly into a single category. They're not quite herbal medicine or aromatherapy or just skincare. Yet they can be all three at once.
A rose hydrosol might be used as a facial mist, a cooling spray, a compress for tired eyes or simply a moment of emotional support during a difficult day.
Few preparations move so comfortably between physical, emotional and practical applications.
My Favourite Hydrosols
There are many hydrosols worth exploring, but here are two of my favourites:
Rose Hydrosol
If there is one hydrosol that perfectly captures summer, it's rose. I use it as a facial mist, a cooling spray, a compress, a linen mist and an addition to clay masks or when making (foot)bath bombs.
It's particularly lovely for sensitive skin and feels wonderfully refreshing during warm weather. Most importantly, it captures something of the rose that essential oil alone cannot - the freshness, softness and feeling of the living flower itself.
Traditionally, rose has long been associated with comfort, nurture and emotional support. Whether or not you subscribe to the language of energetic herbalism, there is something undeniably soothing about the aroma of rose - it truly speaks to the heart.
This is one of the reasons I make my own homemade rose hydrosol when the roses are in bloom. I've created a separate article explaining how to do that here.
Frankincense Hydrosol
When I first smelt frankincense hydrosol, it surprised me. Most people know Frankincense essential oil, but very few have experienced Frankincense as a hydrosol. The aroma is softer and more subtle than the essential oil, yet no less beautiful. It feels somehow deeper. I particularly enjoy using it as part of an evening skincare ritual, as a facial mist and during moments when I want to create a sense of calm and focus.
Where rose feels cooling and uplifting, Frankincense feels grounding, contemplative, centring and restorative. It's one of the few aromatic products I find myself reaching for equally for skin, mind and ritual.
The Most Underrated Bottle in Aromatherapy
The longer I work with aromatic plants, the more I appreciate that stronger isn't always better. Sometimes the most useful preparation isn't the most concentrated.
Hydrosols are a wonderful reminder of that.
They're practical, versatile and surprisingly easy to incorporate into everyday life. They can cool the skin on a hot summer's day, elevate a simple skincare routine or provide a gentle introduction to the world of aromatic plants.
Most importantly, they remind us that there is often more to a plant than we first realise.
The essential oil may get most of the attention, but it isn't the whole story.
And perhaps that's exactly why hydrosols deserve a little more of ours.
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