How to Make Hydrosols in an Alembic Still

One small disadvantage of living on the rugged Cornish coast, is the lack of trees to provide shade during the Summer. As last month saw temperatures soar well above average for this time of year, I thought it was high time to dig out the copper still and make some cooling floral waters.

Hydrosols (also known as hydrolats,) are so versatile, and really easy to make.

In this post I’ll be sharing a detailed breakdown of how to set up, and use a copper, alembic still. I hope this will be helpful for anyone considering investing in specialist equipment, or for readers who are already manufacturing their own products and looking for new ideas to experiment with.

If there’s interest in this topic, I’ll follow up with a “MacGyver” style hack that absolutely anyone with a saucepan and gas stove can have a go at. This is my preferred method for making floral waters for drinking….

Let’s get going with our Midsummer project…

What are Hydrosols?

Back in the 80’s, our family would take an annual holiday in Spain. One of the first things on our agenda would be to pop into the local farmacia and purchase a small bottle of lemon and lavender “perfume” to keep the mosquitos at bay, and help cool us down in the heat. I’m certain this ritual is how my obsession with perfume first began.

These delicate eau de toilettes or “colonias” were basically herbal hydrosols; a by-product of the essential oil distillation process.

Floral waters contain a very low percentage of aromatic oils, making them an ideal light, refreshing fragrance for day wear. As the home-made versions are alcohol and preservative free, they’re excellent for the elderly, small children, those with sensitivities, or as a gentle pick me up for people with long term debilitating illnesses. I often use them in my anxiety workshops, as a way of introducing folks to the calming properties of herbs.

Hydrosols can be used in all manner of inventive ways, for example;

• Cooling mists for babies and lady’s hot flushes.

• Energetic space cleansers.

• Linen sprays for freshening clothes and bedsheets.

• A fragrant hair wash.

• Scented ingredients for herbal creams and beauty products.