Hydrolates

Water soluble VS fat soluble


Hydrolate is the official pharmaceutical name given to the water containing the aromatic volatile components issued from the distillation of the vegetal.
During steam distillation, the water vapor removes the aromatic volatile components of the vegetal. When the vapor condenses back to water, the water soluble components are dissolved in the water, forming the hydrolate, and the lipid soluble components that cannot be dissolved, the essential oils, float on the top, where they can be separated using physical methods.
This is assimilable to the same chemical differences between water soluble and fat soluble vitamins.
Essential oils are fat soluble, Hydrolates are the water soluble components in solution.

Dilution Vs concentration


The second major difference between essential oils and hydrolates lies in their concentration form. Essential oils are pure fat soluble extracts of the aromatic components of the vegetal. They are not diluted and their concentration may reach extremely high levels as in rose, melissa etc.
On the other hand, Hydrolates are the water soluble extracts of the aromatic components of the vegetal, but extremely diluted in the water used during the distillation process. Hydrolates are therefore assimilable to mineral waters where minerals are in fact replaced by the water soluble aromatic components of the vegetal. Hydrolates are therefore much easier and much safer to use than essential oils. Due to this huge concentration difference, Hydrolates can be used directly on the skin, on the mucosal membranes and even be ingested.
Another analogy can be made in regards to medicine. Essential oils can be assimilated to allopathic remedies where strength and concentration are primal importance, whereas Hydrolates can be assimilated to Homeopathy where dilution and safety are primordial.
Essential oils will therefore be used in situation where fast action is needed for a short period of time (ex: acute conditions & infections), whereas Hydrolates will be used regularly as ground work for long periods of time (chronic conditions).

Application


EXTERNAL
Hydrolates are easily used directly on the skin and hair for continuous gentle care.

INTERNAL
Hydrolates can be ingested in a 10% dilution with a drinking water. BATHS Preparations Hydrolates can be added to bath water or rinsing water. CLAY Preparations Hydrolates are most suited to prepare clay remedies where they can be easily reunited with essential oils.