Sagescript Institute offers herbal waters distilled from plants harvested from our own Gardens. Our new stainless steel stills are able to capture this wonderful product from the plants. Stainless steel is nonreactive and does not interfer with any of the plant components. Herbal waters, sometimes called hydrosols or essential waters are obtained by steam distillation of herbs or flowers. These herbal waters have been produced and used for centuries by many cultures.

Although they go by many other names (floral waters, hydrosols, hydrolates, herbal waters, toilet waters, aqua vitae), I use the word distillate because it represents the process by which these waters are obtained as well as  the alchemy that surrounds it's history. Also, in chemistry, the term hydrosol has other meanings. Much of the process of making and using herbal distillates was documented in Grace Firth's 1983 book entitled ?Secrets of the Still. Currently, herbalist Jeanne Rose is championing the product.

The science of distillation is based on the fact that different substances vaporize at different temperatures.  Unlike other extraction techniques based on solubility of a compound in either water or oil, distillation will separate components regardless of their solubility. The distillate will contain compounds that vaporize at or below the temperature that water boils. The actually chemical components of distillates have not yet been fully identified, but distillate will contain essential oil compounds as well as organic acids. Compounds with a higher vaporization point will remain behind and will include many of the water soluble plant pigments and flavonoids.  

Herbal waters contain the beneficial products of essential oils plus more and in a less concentrated, safer form. Besides aromatic molecules, these distillates contain many of the plant acids making them skin friendly. With a pH between 5-6 they are great to use as facial toners. Cosmetics and toiletries makers are finding many uses for herbal distillates. Use them as part of your aqueous portion of lotions, creams and soaps. They can be used alone as toners or room sprays. Distillates are also used as flavorings and curables.

Because hydrosols are produced at high temperatures and are somewhat acidic, they tend to inhibit bacterial growth. They are not however sterile as many producers claim. They are a fresh product, like milk, and should be refrigerated. Distillates from Sagescript are available either with potassium sorbate as a preservative or without a preservative. It is important thought that this product is handled with care.

Plants used are grown organically at high elevation then distilled at high elevation. High altitude distilling has been said to produce better distillates because the high altitude allows lower boiling temperatures which is more protective to the volatile phytochemicals of the plant. Some studies have also found that  herbs grown at high altitude are more aromatic.