So what is a flower water? A flower water is similar to a hydrosol, they both are distilled waters that contain essential oils. With a hydrosol, the water collected in the bottom of the still during the distillation of plants (this is how most essential oils are made) is collected and sold as a hydrosol. This water contains some of the oil that is distilled from the plant or petals and the oil is all through the water. You don't have to shake the hydrosol to mix the oil in every time you use it.
With a flower water, essential oil is added to distilled water. Commercial flower waters often contain other ingredients to emulsify the oil and water but we're taking home made today so the only other ingredient will be muscle power.
I generally like to buy a 4 litre jug of distilled water and pour a little bit out of the jug to create some empty space, you need about 3 or 4 inches of empty space at the top of the jug. Add 3 teaspoons (15ml) of essential oil, put the cap on the jug, and shake really hard for a minute or two. Once it settles, the oil is going to float back up to the top, so you need to shake it again every day for a month. If you use an essential oil that has a colour, you'll see less and less oil floating on top of the water as time goes by. Once your flower water is ready, you can use it the way you would a hydrosol. Some ideas are as a toner, a natural linen spray or in a handmade cream or lotion. Of course not all flower waters are floral. Peppermint, Grapefruit, Orange and Rosemary also make great Flower Waters - its just a common name and will mean not a hydrosol. If you want to keep if floral, Lavender, Geranium and Ylang Ylang are good economical choices and, Rose is really nice but pricey. You can bottle your water up in little spray bottles for a great gift, you'll have lots, or make a few different kinds with friends and trade. I hope you try it!
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