They are a very under valued product here in New Zealand largely because no one is aware of them and their properties.
When plants are steam distilled to produce essential oils some very valuable compounds of the plant that are not found in the essence become dissolved in the distillation water. This condensed fragrant steam is known as hydrosols. They contain some drops of the essential oil as well as water soluble plant properties which provide anti-inflammatory, calming plant components without the irritants. The micro drops of essential oil provide the scent and taste. The plant components give the hydrosol its herbal or floral therapy.
Hydrosols are gentle yet powerful therapeutic agents in their own right. They can be applied directly to the skin and are excellent for babies and children. They soften, hydrate, heal, and stimulate immune cells to clean up harmful bacteria and dead cells.
There are many uses for hydrosol: as a superb toner for acned skin; a mouthwash for infection or for thrush, a baby wipe, a deodorant spray, a foot spray, washing out wounds or cuts, treating hotspots on dogs or cats…the list goes on.
True Hydrosols are antiseptic, astringent, cooling – the ultimate facial skin toner, after shave, deodorant. During summer or when travelling they can be used as a facial spray to revitalise and hydrate the skin, freshen and purify the air.
Ideal for room sprays, particularly for the toilet and for adding to bath or laundry water. They can also be added as an ingredient to replace water in the manufacturing process.
When freshly distilled, hydrosols are pure and free of bacteria and as they contain no preservatives they should be kept in a cool, dark place. Refrigeration is the preferred method in order to inhibit bacteria growth that can naturally occur over time.
Although the amount of hydrosol produced in each batch varies, for various reasons not readily identified, it works out at between 15 to 20 litres per 50kg of plant material.
According to the laboratory scientists that I send oil samples to in Australia, Tea Tree hydrosols usually contain 500 to 2000 ppm of oil in solution with an average 1000 ppm. Of this oil, terpinen-4-ol is usually about 60-75%, cineole1- 5% and alpha-terpineol 5-20%.
Jill, a Lincoln College student, is blocking the hydrosol from flowing into the collection bucket at the end of the condenser. This forces the essential oil to rise to the top of the collecting flask and overflow into the pyrex container.
Tea Tree Oil has 40 to 50% oxygenated constituents in it.
The hydrosol is collected at the end of the condenser into a stainless steel bucket and the essential oil rises to the top of the collecting flask and overflow into the pyrex container.
Products
True Blue Organics products that use hydrosol; our Mystique Skin Toner is 100% Melaleuca hydrosol; Formula 1 Tea Tree spray and cleaner is 99.9% hydrosol with added essential oil; the TLC Balm and the Calendula soap both contain hydrosol instead of water.
In September 2011 our hydrosol featured as an ingredient in an internationally acclaimed product Dr. Wendy’s 100% Botanical Skin Care Balance Toner
Tea Tree Hydrosols Certificate of Analysis
Hydrosol from Melaleuca alternifolia| Organic Certification: | BioGro New Zealand |
| Common Herb Name: | Tea Tree |
| Botanical Name: | Melaleuca alternifolia |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Harvest Date: | September 3 2011 |
| Parts Used: | Leaf and twig |
| Harvest Method: | Manual |
| Post Harvesting: | Stored in distillation shed |
| Drying: | Atmospheric drying only |
| Distillation: | Steam from wood fired boiler for 1 hour |
| Hydrosol: | Decanted into stainless steel buckets until cool. Transferred into new 20 litre containers. |
| Storage: | In cool dark covered shed |
| Batch Number: | 9311 |
See Tea Tree Hydrosols Technical Analysis page for more details.
UPLIFTING POST-LIQUEFACTION CLEAN-UP!
‘After the Canterbury September 2010 earthquake, our warehouse experienced substantial liquefaction and structure damage. About 30 of us shovelled silt and water from throughout the building The initial clean-out took about 2 weeks and had infiltrated the entire 850 square metre building including staff kitchen and toilet areas. To avoid the use of any chemical products for a final clean, we contacted Margaret at True Blue Organics who generously offered tea tree hydrosol for the job. We also used tea tree essential oil for a hand spray and bench spray. Worked a treat – every-one remained healthy, and the entire building had a most pleasing and generally uplifting aroma which no artificial chemical product could possibly have given!
Many thanks Margaret.’
– John, LightNZ, Christchurch