How to make lavender hydrosol: 12 steps (with pictures)

2023 Author: Jeremiah Simon | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 07:08

Lavender hydrosol is often used to perfume clothes or linens. A light application before ironing will impart a subtle, fresh lavender scent to most fabrics. You can also use it to deodorize a room or scent furniture. If you're having trouble sleeping, spray some on your pillow before bed to help you relax and sleep.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Use lavender flowers

Step 1. Prepare the materials

Lavender hydrosol made from flowers will have a less pronounced smell than that made with essential oil. Essential oil is the concentrated essence of lavender distilled from the flowers. By using the flowers directly, you will obtain a very light hydrosol, but still quite fragrant. You need:

a bunch of fresh or dried lavender (enough for 2 tablespoons of flowers);
half a glass of water;
a glass bowl;
a vaporizer;
a funnel;
a fine strainer.

Step 2. Collect the flowers

They grow on top of straight stems, forming small spikes. To make lavender hydrosol, you don't need the leaves, only the flowers, because they contain the flowery scent. To collect them, hold each stem over the glass bowl, gently pinch it at the bottom of the inflorescence and slide your fingers towards the tip so that the small flowers come off and fall into the container.

You can also buy dried lavender flowers that have already been separated from the stems. Look for it in a herbalist's shop.
If you have lavender plants growing in your garden, this is a great way to use them.

Step 3. Heat the water

Pour it into a small saucepan and heat it over high heat. Bring it to a boil. Do not leave it heating unattended for too long, as it will start to evaporate.

Step 4. Submerge the lavender

When the water boils at a full boil, pour it carefully over the flowers in the bowl so as to infuse them. The heat will extract the essential oils so that they perfume the water.

Step 5. Let the flowers infuse

Cover the bowl and let its contents steep for a few hours or even overnight. The process is similar to that of preparing tea. Let the lavender steep until the water cools.

Step 6. Filter the liquid

Place the fine strainer over a bowl and pour in the water to separate it from the flowers. Discard these, because once their essence is extracted, they will no longer smell.

Step 7. Fill the vaporizer

Insert the funnel into its opening and pour the lavender hydrosol inside. You can now use it to perfume your linens, deodorize rooms or do aromatherapy.

To increase the shelf life of the hydrosol, you can mix it with two tablespoons of witch hazel or vodka extract.
You can also store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.

Method 2 of 2: Use lavender essential oil

Step 1. Gather your materials

Lavender hydrosol is very easy to make with just a few simple products. You will find most of these at a hobby or organic store. If you're having trouble finding a product, search for it online and order it. You need:

lavender essential oil;
distilled water;
witch hazel extract or vodka;
a glass jar with a lid;
a vaporizer;
a funnel.

Step 2. Mix the ingredients

Pour them into the jar. To make lavender hydrosol, the most important thing is to respect the right proportions of products. You need to use exactly the right amount of essential oil so that the water smells sublime, but not too strong. Combine the following ingredients in the glass jar:

100 ml of distilled water (if you don't have any, tap water will do);
30 ml of witch hazel or vodka extract (to preserve the hydrosol and facilitate the dispersion of the essential oil in water);
10 drops of lavender essential oil.

Step 3. Shake the container

Screw the lid on tightly and shake the jar to mix the essential oil and water. The witch hazel extract or vodka will help the oil to disperse in the liquid.

Step 4. Fill the vaporizer

Insert the funnel into the opening of the bottle and carefully pour the lavender hydrosol inside. If you have too much and the container can't hold everything, keep the excess in the glass jar while you wait to empty the vaporizer.

Step 5. Use the hydrosol

Spray it on your linens, clothes, furniture and pillow. Lavender hydrosol has a calming effect and is perfect for cooling the air in a room or for relieving stress.