How to make hydrosol

Yes!You can make a hydrosol with dried herbs or fresh herbs. You can even combine herbs and flowers for a unique blend. A good rule of thumb is to double the amount needed to make a hydrosol when using dried herbs.

Simmer the water on medium heat until have enough hydrosol.

You can let the hydrosol simmer for a few minutes or until the water is completely gone, depending on how much hydrosol you want to make. As you wait, the vapor condenses onto the lid and drip into the bowl. This can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours.

DIY Hydrosol

Place a brick in the center of a large stockpot and fill with water to the height of the brick. Add your chosen plant matter to the water. There should be a generous amount of plant material in the water, but not so much as not move about freely as the water simmers.

Freshly distilled hydrosols have a pH between 4,5-5,0. The pH is slightly lower for hydrosols from a cupper still compared to glass and stainless steel. This pH is not low enough for a self-preserving status. This means, your hydrosol needs a preservative if you’re going to store it for more than a few days.

Making a hydrosol (or herbal distillate) may sound complicated, but the process simply requires simmering some fresh herbs or flowers in a pot of water. … As you craft your own hydrosol, you can capture the fragrance of any herbs, flowers or fruit peels that suit you. It’s the same process as making your own rosewater.

A water distiller can be used to distill some essential oils. Not all oils are extracted the same way. You will have to do considerable research and learn the method that is best for the plants you can grow or get in your area.

While a witch hazel hydrosol will still have some of the soothing and toning qualities, an extract that has been double-distilled will provide a more complete spectrum of beneficial compounds. This is why we favor our witch hazel extract for a wide variety of topical uses.

Witch hazel extract is a wonderful ingredient for use in your cosmetic and medicinal preparations. It is gentle enough to be used alone, or it may be combined with other ingredients or herbs. Commercial witch hazel extracts usually contain more alcohol than actual witch hazel, and have only been distilled once.

Harvesting Witch Hazel

Both can be gathered by cutting small, leaf-bearing branches from mature trees. … For thicker twigs or branches, you can strip the outer bark using a small knife. All parts can be used fresh or dried in baskets or on screens for later use.

Water-Based Witch Hazel Extraction or “Decoction”

Completely cover the witch hazel with water (use distilled water if your tap water is heavily treated). Bring the contents to a boil. Then cover the pot, and reduce heat and simmer for at least half an hour. Keep the twigs covered with water.

Astringent is when herbs suck, shrink, and dry tissues. The classic astringents are witch hazel for the face, and cranberry juice to drink. … The classic astringent herb for smoking is tobacco, as it is extremely astringent. Astringent herbs have more tannins than other plants, responsible for this effect.

Yes!You can absolutely infuse herbs into witch hazel and they will infuse to create a richly tonifying product. I love using other naturally astringent herbs to add even more herbal properties to the blend.

Why Is it Called Witch Hazel? The plant’s name does not refer to witchcraft, but comes from the Middle English word wych or wyche, meaning pliant or flexible, which is a reference to the plant’s very flexible branches. The “hazel” in the name comes from the plant’s similarity to the common hazelnut.