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During distillation, the fraction not soluble in water, theessential oil, is separated from the soluble fraction, the hydrosol (or hydrosol). “Even if their properties are often similar, it is impossible to replace an essential oil with its hydrosol,” emphasizes pharmacist Danièle Festy. First, because their concentration of active ingredients is in no way comparable. Then because, unlike essential oils, hydrosols are aqueous and therefore fragile: microbes can develop there in the event of misuse or improper storage. However, hydrosols (HA) also have interesting properties, and their great softness generally makes them much easier to use.
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