Lavender has long been valued for its soothing, antiseptic and refreshing properties.
Lavender hydrolat, lavender water and lavender hydrosol, between them, there is often confusion due to similar names and various advertisements and often malicious marketing.
To clarify these concepts, we will explore what exactly each of these products represents, how it is made, what the difference in quality is and how to best use them for skin care, hair care, and natural space refreshing.
Table of content
Lavender hydrolat (Lavandin hydrolat)
Lavender hydrosol is 100% natural product, obtained by process steam distillation freshly picked flowers Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) or Lavandula x intermedia (lavandin). During this process, steam passes through the plant and extracts essential oil and aromatic molecules. After cooling, the steam condenses into water, separating the essential oil from water rich in natural active ingredients.
Production process and details
- Flower picking: Fresh lavender flowers are picked at the right time, which is usually at the beginning of flowering when the oil concentration is highest.
- Steam distillation: Steam passes through the flowers, capturing essential oils and water-soluble molecules.
- Separation of essential oil and hydrolat: After the steam cools, the essential oil separates from the hydrolat, while the liquid contains a lower concentration of oil and water-soluble plant components.
Lavandin hydrolat - Quality and usage
- For skin care: Lavender hydrolat is known for its soothing and regenerative properties. It is ideal for sensitive skin prone to irritations, redness or inflammation. It is used as facial toner which hydrates and refreshes the skin.
- For hair care: This hydrolat can be used for hydrating dry hair and soothing the scalp, helping to balance natural oils on the scalp.
- Space refreshing: It acts as a natural air freshener and mild insecticide. You can spray it around the space or use it to refresh bedding and wardrobe, especially due to its antiseptic properties.
Lavandin hydrolat - Benefits for different skin types
Lavender hydrosol is particularly useful for:
- Sensitive skin: Helps soothe redness, irritations and inflammation.
- Oily skin: Hydrolat balances sebum production, helping the skin stay hydrated without feeling greasy.
- Problematic skin: Due to its antiseptic properties, lavender hydrolat is excellent for treating acne and eczema.
Lavandin hydrolat - Application in different situations
- For facial care: Lavender hydrolat can be used as toner or facial refresher. Apply it to clean skin to hydrate and soothe it.
- For hair care: Spray the hydrolat on dry or damp hair to add hydration and soothe irritated scalp.
- DIY recipes: You can combine lavender hydrolat with clay to make a natural face mask or add it to bath water to soothe the skin.
- Burn treatment: Lavender hydrolat is known for soothing sunburns and accelerating skin regeneration.
Lavender floral water
Lavender water - Quality and use
- For skin and hair care: Due to its synthetic origin, lavender floral water does not provide beneficial effects for skin and hair like real hydrolat. It can cause irritations in sensitive individuals and is not recommended for regular care.
- Space refreshing: This product can be used as air freshener, but carefully – artificial fragrances often contain substances that can cause irritations in sensitive individuals, especially in small children or those with allergies.
Lavender hydrosol
Lavender hydrosol sometimes used as a synonym for hydrolat, but in some cases this term refers to mixture of essential oil and water. This mixture is not obtained by natural distillation, but by adding essential oil to water. Although it may look similar to hydrolat, it does not have the same chemical structure nor therapeutic effects.
Lavender hydrosol - Quality and use
- For skin and hair care: A mixture of essential oil and water is not suitable for direct use on skin as it can cause irritations or allergic reactions due to high oil concentration. Caution is needed, especially with sensitive skin.
- Space refreshing: Hydrosol can be good for air freshening, but it is natural lavender hydrolat still a better choice due to its gentle, natural scent and safe ingredients.
Differences in chemical composition
Lavender hydrolat contains water-soluble components plants, such as linalool, linalyl acetate and geraniol, which gently act on skin and hair, helping with hydration, soothing and renewal. In contrast, lavender floral water and artificial hydrosols do not contain these natural components, but only fragrance that does not provide the same benefits.
Comparative product overview
| Product | Method of obtaining | Use for skin and hair | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender hydrosol | Steam distillation of flowers | Excellent for all skin types, especially sensitive | Natural and safe |
| Lavender floral water | Synthetic product | Unsuitable for skin and hair | Low, synthetic |
| Lavender hydrosol | Mixture of essential oil and water | Potentially irritating | Lower quality than hydrolat |
Ecological aspect
Using natural lavender hydrolat supports ecological sustainability because it is a byproduct of steam distillation of lavender essential oil, making it environmentally friendly. Synthetic floral waters, on the other hand, often contain additives that are not biodegradable and come in packaging that is not ecological.
Myths and misconceptions
In the world of natural cosmetics and aromatherapy, there are a number of misconceptions that can confuse consumers when it comes to lavender-based products. Due to similar names, packaging and marketing tricks, many people do not make a clear distinction between hydrolats, lavender floral waters and hydrosols. Let's uncover some of the most common myths and misconceptions.
Myth 1: All lavender hydrolats are the same.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all products that bear the name hydrolat or floral water the same. That is not true.
- Truth: True lavender hydrolat is obtained exclusively by steam distillation of freshly picked lavender or lavandin flowers. This process naturally extracts the essential and water-soluble components of the plant that bring therapeutic benefits.
- Problem: Synthetic products, such as lavender floral waters, are often presented as hydrolats, but actually contain only added fragrances, not natural active components of lavender. Such products do not provide the same benefits for skin, hair or health.
Myth 2: Lavender floral water is the same as hydrolat.
Another common misconception is that lavender floral water the same as real lavender hydrolat. Many companies call their products "floral waters" to sound natural, but they are actually far from it.
- Truth: Lavender floral water is most often a synthetic product that contains artificial lavender aromas and fragrances, while hydrolat comes directly from the plant distillation process. In floral water there are no beneficial components present in hydrolat.
- Important: Hydrolat has natural anti-inflammatory and soothing effects on the skin, while lavender floral water has no therapeutic properties and can even cause irritation in sensitive skin.
Myth 3: Hydrosol is the same as hydrolat.
People often confuse the terms hydrosol and hydrolat, thinking they are synonyms. Although both products can be found for sale as "lavender water," the difference in quality is enormous.
- Truth: True hydrolat is a byproduct of steam distillation of lavender essential oil. On the other hand, hydrosol, when used as a term in marketing, often refers to a mixture of essential oil and water, which is not a natural byproduct of the distillation process.
- Risk: Hydrosols that are made by adding essential oil to water can be too strong for direct use on skin or hair, while true hydrolat has a balanced concentration of active components that are safe for daily use.
Myth 4: Synthetic floral waters are just as good as natural hydrolats.
Some companies promote synthetic floral waters as an alternative to natural hydrolats, claiming they offer the same quality and benefits. However, this is far from the truth.
- Truth: Natural hydrolats contain aromatic and active substances that have proven benefits for skin and health. Synthetic floral waters contain only fragrances and have no therapeutic effect.
- Conclusion: If you are looking for a product that will improve your skin health, provide hydration or act as a natural antiseptic, synthetic floral waters are not the right option.
Myth 5: Lavender hydrolat can be replaced with any lavender water.
Many believe that any lavender water can have the same effects as lavender hydrolat, but this is a misconception that can result in bad experiences.
- Truth: Only true lavender hydrolat offers the complete benefits of the plant, including hydration, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Synthetic lavender waters are mainly intended for refreshing spaces and do not have the therapeutic properties needed for skin care.
Myth 6: Lavender hydrolat is just a byproduct of distillation and has no great value.
There is a misconception that hydrolat is just a byproduct of the essential oil distillation process and therefore has no great value.
- Truth: Although hydrolat is a byproduct of distillation, it is rich in hydrophilic (water-soluble) components that are not present in essential oil. Lavender hydrolat is very valuable due to its soothing, balancing and moisturizing properties, especially for sensitive skin.
These misconceptions and myths often lead to wrong choices when purchasing. True lavender hydrolat is a natural and safe product for daily use on skin, hair and in the home, while synthetic alternatives provide only fragrance, but not real benefits.
Oils for skincare
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