Is Water Based Essential Oil a Real Deal? Many customers ask this question recently. These ‘Water soluble essential oils’ are called by some suppliers are ‘extracts from plants’. They’re usually selling at lower prices big bottle and looks very attractive. However instinct let them doubt why oil can be water soluble.
Essential Oil are hydrophobic in nature and does not mix with water they are only soluble in Alcohol. As essential oils are lighter than water, and hence float on water. No matter how hard we try to mix things, it will float on top finally. If the science says so, how are ‘water soluble essential oils’ possible? It is still possible because of clever chemistry to alter the mixing properties of essential oils by additives. These additives can reduce viscosity of the oil and surface tension of the oil and make it mixable with water. Most of them use alcohol to improve the water solubility of essential oils while some use other synthesized emulsifiers. As essential oils content inside usually will be very low due to solubility up-limit created from additives with majority water content, most ‘water soluble essential oils’ usually need to add synthetic essence enhance the scent. This is reason they’re selling in big bottles with very low price. These ‘water soluble essential oils’ are called ‘extracts from plants’ in the market.
However there is one real natural water soluble type called hydrosols. Hydrosols are simply the aromatic water that remains after steam-distilling botanical matter. When we distill essential oils, pressurised steam passes through the plants to extract the oils. When the steam and oil are condensed, the essential oil is separated from the water mixture and the water-based product left is hydrosol. Hydrosols are quite often referred to as “floral waters” and carry many of the same therapeutic properties as the essential oil produced from the same plant. They are very milder than their oil counterparts, can generally be applied directly to the skin use but not used for aromatherapy purpose ( scent is too mild and dilute).
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