I was interested in Jim asking about hydrosols because they are something I know nothing about.

This morning, I was reading on the train and came across a recipe for rose water which can also be used to produce an elderberry water which was actually something I could contemplate making.

It comes from "Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs" by Gail Faith Edwards. Gail is a herbalist from Maine, who is part of the Susan Weed clan, so her book is full of ceremony and energetics rather than straight materia medica.

This is the recipe.

"Rose water

Pick blossoms on a sunny day when their scent is at its peak. Put into a stainless steel or enamel pot and cover with fresh spring or distilled water. Cover and slowly heat to just below a simmer. Turn the heat as low as it will go and continue heating for about ten minutes tightly covered. Turn off the heat and allow all to sit, covered, overnight. In the morning, strain the beautiful, fragrant rose water off. I add a quarter of the volume in alcohol as a preservatice. Bottle and keep in a cool dark place. I splash this fabulous rose water over my body to tone and refresh myaself. As a wash, it helps heal acne.

Hint: Try rose water in your pound cake recipe. Incredible!"

For elder water she says it is "an astringent, toning lotion and was used to soothe sunburn and clear the compexion during the 18th century. It is recommended as a skin lightener, freckle remover and a soothing and healing wash on boils, tumours and skin irritations".

She also makes elderflower oil as a facial cream or as a salve for baby bottoms!

Definitely something I shall be trying as soon as I can get out in the dry to pick elderflowers.

Sarah

Intriguing idea, and not a still in sight, I wonder how long it lasts? It doesn't say to refrigerate it but I guess it would help it last for longer? Love the idea of an elderflower version, I'll try that when I get the elderflowers when its dry, also want to make some elderflower tincture.

If you want a pink looking rose water use the red range of roses and it goes without saying, the greater the intensity of perfume in the rose, the more aromatic your water will be. Not sure I'll have enough roses to make this though, when my roses appear I want to make rose vinegar, wine and cordial. Mind you the wild roses are out now, nothing stopping me getting a few pints of these when they're dry to try out the rose water.

I often add commercial culinary rose water or orange flower water to cake mixes and I make rose geranium castor sugar, which works wonderfully to transform a plain sponge cake into something out of this world. In her Cooking With Flowers book, Jekka McVicar, has a Rose Sponge with rose water icing and crystallised rose petals recipe, which contains rose water, it looks amazing and will be on the list of things to try this year! I'll give the elderflower water a go, thanks for the tip Sarah

Debs

Oh Debs,

Those cakes sound absolutely wonderful, how can you when I'm on a diet!

Jane

Talking of "not a still in sight", I have noticed some rather attractive, and affordable, Portugese copper stills for sale on ebay!
Up to now I have only managed to extract essential oils by the vodka/freezing method & would really like to have a go at home distillation.
But I have read of two big problems: some say that it is really dangerous & one will eventually have a steam/burnt skin mishap, and I have also read that it is simply illegal in the UK to even own a still - no matter the purpose you own it for.
Does anyone have any better info on this?
I have a LOT of herb material that is really shouting at me to turn it into essential oils at the moment!
Jim

Hi Jim

Maybe you have to have a license to have a still? There are lots of companies in the UK that use a still to make essential oils, may I suggest you contact the chap at Wolds Way Lavender to see if he can help, they have a distillery there and he'll be able to appraise you of the legalities most likely?

Maybe there is a difference between stills used for making essential oils and hydrolates and for those for making whisky, and the illegal aspect is when you try and escape the duty on homemade booze? If anybody has an more definite answer, do let us know?

Debs

LOL Jane, love the new name!

I'm on a diet to, luckily my better half isn't so he can sample all the baked goods and I just get to drool!

Debs