A new look. An upgraded formula. Same amazing, all-natural benefits you know and love! It’s time to welcome back our hydrosols. They took some time out of our inventory but are back to play and here to stay! 

First Things First!

So what is a hydrosol? How do you use them? Why do you need them (because trust us — you do!). These have been on the PT roster since 2014, so we have lots of great information already available! In a nutshell, a hydrosol is the aromatic water that is produced during steam distillation. For instance, when Tea Tree leaves are steam distilled to make Tea Tree Essential Oil, the essential oil is not the only product created — the water that separates from the oil is the hydrosol, and contains many similar characteristics to its oily counterpart. It also is very different though. Notably, it is water that contains a very small (but very impactful!) amount of hydrophilic (water-loving) constituents from the plant that was distilled. It is incredibly gentle, does not need to be diluted, and can be used directly on your skin, hair, and linens to support a wide variety of concerns. It makes a lovely addition to your beauty routine, can add a light fragrance to your linens, and can provide a lot of support to uncomfortable skin (think itchy, red, sensitive, etc.). 

If you want to learn more, check out these blogs. Get the low-down on how hydrosols are created and all of the ways you can incorporate them into your life!

• Hydrosols: The Ultimate Guide
• Hydrosols: Uses, Benefits and Why You Need Them
• Our Top 10 Ways to Use Hydrosols

The Elephant in the Room…

Hydrosols have not been available for quite some time, but rest assured we were hard at work to bring them back! After multiple rounds of microbial testing and months of research and collaboration, Plant Therapy made the decision to ensure our hydrosols are the safest and most effective product they could be. With that came the addition of a preservative system to help improve their stability. Plus, there’s no longer the need to store these in your fridge (unless of course, you loved how refreshingly cool they felt!). These preservatives are completely natural, safe, and effective. Since we know that each hydrosol has different chemical compositions and therefore unique stability needs, certain preservative systems work better with certain hydrosols, which is why we have two. Let’s take a closer look…

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Water 

Used in the hydrosols of Lavender, Melissa, Peppermint, Roman Chamomile, Rose, and Tea Tree, this preservative system (also known as Leucidal) is derived from the fermented roots of the radish (Raphanus sativus). It has natural antimicrobial activity and can be found in natural personal care products to enhance stability and longevity. 

Water, p-Anisic Acid, Polylysine, Glycerin, Lactic Acid 

Used in the hydrosols of Calendula, Helichrysum, and Rosemary. Don’t be fooled by the complicated name! This is a completely natural, plant-derived preservative system (also known as Epsan C) with an antimicrobial effect. p-Anisic Acid is found naturally in anise and has antiseptic properties, while Polylysine is produced by bacterial fermentation, blocking the protein complex responsible for cellular proliferation (the process by which a cell grows and divides). In addition, lactic acid and glycerin support the overall prevention of microbe growth in this preservative system. 

Constant, Consistent Quality

We routinely inspect each of our hydrosols to ensure they are free of microbial contamination. Our amazing Quality Team runs a comprehensive microbial testing process when we receive our hydrosols, test again immediately following each time we bottle them, and continuously test what we keep in cold storage to ensure no funny business is going on! We love being able to bring our customers these amazing products and work hard to ensure they are always nothing less than the best!

Want Your Hydrosols to be Preservative-Free? 

We understand that some people prefer hydrosols that do not include a preservative. It is important to keep in mind that while hydrosols are not 100% water, they are very close to it. Unique constituents within each hydrosol can perform certain activities that may prevent microbe growth, but we have some recommendations for those looking to take this route. Because even if you don’t purchase from us, we still want your aromatherapy experience to be safe!

The most “pure” hydrosols (straight from the still – no preservatives added) should be purchased through a local distillery that specialized in hydrosol production. In that way you can be sure to know where the hydrosol is coming from, when it was created, and know it was not in any sort of long transit period where microbial growth could occur. pH test your hydrosol upon receipt, and retest regularly (every 3-6 months) to see if there is a significant change to the pH level (a .5 difference could indicate microbial growth, as many organisms change the pH level of their substrate by producing byproducts during growth). This is highly dependent on the individual chemical profile of each hydrosol however, and there is simply no one answer that will fit each hydrosol neatly. You can also perform microbial tests on your hydrosols by sending them off to a third-party tester for a definitive answer.

We’ve added preservatives as a result of significant research and internal testing on our hydrosol products over the past couple of years. We have determined that a preservative creates a safer product overall and aligns with our quality and safety standards.

Don’t forget to learn more about hydrosols using the blog links above! They are a simple, beautiful way to incorporate plant-based goodness into your life and we hope you love them as much as we do!