If you’re not using aromatic waters called “hydrosols”, I strongly suggest you begin. They are affordable, easy to use, versatile and their therapeutic applications are a safe choice, especially for children and animals. I wrote an earlier blog post called What is a Hydrosol that will give you th basics.
Hydrosol Storage Guidelines
Because hydrosols are water based, they are more fragile than essential oils. Anything made of water is subject to contamination and deterioration when improperly stored. Their shelf life is also rather short, but can be extended with care. Never add preservatives or buy them with preservatives added!
Don’t let the delicate nature of hydrosols put you off using them. They offer enormous pleasure and therapeutic benefits; especially you follow the simple guidelines for their storage and handling listed below.
1. Keep Hydrosols in a Dark, Dry, Cool Location.
Direct light, especially sunlight, is damaging to hydrosols. Ideally, they should be stored in a refrigerator. Do not freeze them! You might consider investing in a small apartment-sized fridge just for your hydrosols. If the refrigerator is not an option, then store them in a cool, dark location with consistent temperature like a dry basement. In this case, keep your bottles in a cabinet or box, away from the light.
2. Store in Glass
Glass bottles are ideal for storing hydrosols. Whether you choose colored or clear is a personal choice since many hydrosol users prefer clear because contamination can often be seen with the naked eye (read “Watch for the Bloom” below). However, dark glass will be more protective against light. I, personally, prefer clear. Many companies ship hydrosols in plastic bottles to keep breakage and shipping to a minimum. If you receive them in plastic, transfer them into sterilized glass bottles as soon as you can.
3. Beware of Headspace
When a bottle of hydrosol is partially full, the empty space above the liquid is called the “headspace”. This headspace contains oxygen that, over time, will react with the hydrosol and cause deterioration. To prolong the shelf life of your hydrosol, reduce this headspace. For example, if you have a 16 oz. bottle of Lavender Hydrosol with only 8 oz. left in the bottle. Transfer the hydrosol into an 8 oz. bottle or two 4 oz. bottles. You get the idea.
4. Keep Everything Sterile
It is easy to contaminate your hydrosol with unseen bacteria from fingers, pipettes, a funnel, an unsterilized bottle during transfer and even your nose. Don’t let anything come in direct contact with the hydrosol or its bottle. Pour the amount of hydrosol you need into a sterilize container then work with that, rather than risk contaminating the entire bottle. Sterilize everything that comes in contact with your hydrosol sterile with Everclear Grain Alcohol or Vodka. I like to spray the container with Everclear, then let it air dry.
5. Watch out for the “Bloom”
Sometimes when hydrosols are contaminated they grow a “bloom” (such a lovely word for something so nasty). The bloom can look like a bit of white material or ghostly blob floating around the bottom. It can also be dark. I mentioned above in “Store in Glass”, although dark bottles are nice for storing your hydrosol, they make it hard to see a hydrosol bloom. You can sometimes hold a colored glass bottle up to the light
6. Record the Purchase Date
The date of the distillation should be on your bottle of hydrosol, or a least the supplier should be able to tell you. Write the date of distillation and the date you received the hydrosol on the label. You can add this to the side of the bottle and on a sticker placed on the cap of the bottle for easy reference.
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Great info; obviously an old post as you are referencing an event to occur in 2014.
Hi Lynne! Thanks for stopping by and for your feedback on the blog post. Yep, this one was written in 2014 and I’ve updated the Hydrosol Workshop information to the current dates! Liz
Good article! I’m just getting into hydrosols, they are lovely. I purchased a bottle not too long ago and it had a boom in it. I contacted the company and they sent a new bottle. Is it ok to continue using the hydrosol with the bloom as a room and linen freshener? Thank you!
Hi Cindy, I’m so glad you’re exploring hydrosols – they will add so much to your life! No, please don’t continue to use a hydrosol once you find a bloom in it. Even if you remove the bloom, there is still toxicity in the water. You can water your plants with it, but that’s all. Best to toss and buy fresh. Thanks for writing, Liz
Thank you so much!
Hi there- thanks for this helpful info. I recently made a lavender hydrosol for the first time and after about a month I just noticed a bloom in my spray bottle. It was a 2oz clear glass bottle that has been about half used up. I stored the rest of what I made in a clear glass jar and there is no bloom there. I haven’t put them in the refrigerator. I’m hoping to start producing these for sale, so I obviously need to solve this issue first. Any tips? Thanks! Julia
Hi Julia, I’m so excited for you and your first hydrosol distillation! Beware: It’s addicting 🙂 Good for you that you not only understand what a bloom is, but noticed it in the bottle. That’s why we use clear glass. And never just remove the bloom and keep using the hydrosol. Better to water your plants with it.
The only tips I can offer beyond what you read in this blog post are to keep your supplies, bottles, hands everything SCRUPULOUSLY clean. Remember to sterilize your bottles with 70% Everclear (or Vodka) and 30% water. This slows down the drying time so any bacteria will be killed. You don’t need to refrigerator your hydrosols if you have a room that is dark, cool and constant, like a dry basement or garage.
You’re doing great, Julia. This is all part of the learning process and with time and experience you’ll become an expert distiller and hydrosol artisan! Liz
Hi Liz- Thanks so much for your prompt and thorough reply. I will definitely try again and be much more attentive about sterilization. I really appreciate your help and enthusiastic encouragement. -Julia
Will distilled water cut down on possible blooming?
Hi Kristen, no the type of water used won’t make a difference in the formation of blooms, it is all about keeping everything free of contamination. Liz
I’ve seen blooms in my hydrosols around the plastic tube of the atomizer cap, where as the master bottle has no bloom at all. My only thought is, these caps need to be sterilized before use. Better safe than sorry!
Hi Erica, You’re right, it could be that the caps need to be sterilized with alcohol before closing the bottles, but the contamination could also have come from a pipette that you used to transfer the product or even if you sniffed the bottle and got your nose too close! But you’re probably right about it being the caps. Liz