Floral water (hydrosols) are easy to make, but also feel like an intersection of science and magic.
The science being the process where the steam in the large pot of skin safe herbs rises to the top of the pot and hits the cold lid. When steam hits a cold surface it creates condensation. So the condensation drips back down in a bowl within the large pot that catches the hydrosol.
There are instructions below on how to set up a home still on your stove top to create hydrosols.
The magic is that the condensation that drips down from the steam is filled with plant aromatics. They smell lovely and can be used as face mists, gentle face toners, body sprays, or as a way to use plant aromas to calm, reduce anxiety, uplift, offer clarity, or ground oneself.
The floral hydrosol recipe below is hydrating, calming and cooling for skin. But the possibilities are endless. Just make sure to use skin friendly herbs, like calendula and pesticide free roses.
I love them because they are gentle and not as potent as essential oils and are so good at hydrating skin, a great step before face oils or face butters, and we can make them ourselves right in our own cozy kitchens.
Building a Stove Top Still
You need a large pot with a well fitting lid that has a handle.
In the pot you will place a heatproof glass bowl that sits on top of something heatproof to keep it from touching the bottom of the large pot.
I like to use the metal lid of a mason jar (but other things can work, as long as they can sit directly on the pot’s hot surface) and then find a bowl that sits nicely on that. But you need the lid of the large to still be able to fully sit on the pot upside down.
Look around your kitchen and figure out which collection of items are going to work to put together your mini stove diy still.
You will also need a lot of ice, so if you don’t have an ice maker, stock up on some ice. As the water creates steam it melts the ice in the top of the lid and this needs to be replaced as it melts.
Floral Hydrosol
4 cups total of lemon balm, calendula, chamomile, and lavender
4 or 5 cups distilled or filtered water
Metal mason jar lid
Heat proof glass bowl
Large pot and well fitting lid with a handle (it’s helpful if the lid has a lip to contain the ice, if not use a plastic bag filled with ice, set on top of the lid)
Directions for Floral Hydrosol
*Before starting sanitize all your tools to make sure everything is squeaky clean.
Place a metal lid in the bottom of a large pot that another heat proof bowl can sit on top of.
Place the chopped up lemon balm, lavender, chamomile, and calendula into the pot around the metal lid. And enough water that the herbs are floating and not touching the bottom of the pot.
Place the second bowl on the metal lid.
Flip the pot's lid upside down and place it on the pot. And fill the lid with ice.
Turn the heat on low and as the herbal water steams upward it will condensate when it hits the cold lid and drip back down into the bowl. This is why a lid with a handle is needed, the condensation drips down the handle into the catch bowl.
You will have to dump the melted ice water off as it melts and replace with new ice, just be careful not to spill the water back into the pot. A turkey baster is nice for this, but I just lift the lid off and drain it and hope I’m not feeling clumsy at that moment.
Once it’s done (probably a couple hours) remove from the heat and let it cool. Once cool, transfer to spray bottles or jars.
Store in the fridge and use within a month.
Enjoy!
