Flower Water- How to make your own with Grape Hyacinths

Journal entry from April 5th 2013-


My Mama says, "You know it's Spring when you see the Wild Grape Hyacinths in the yard."


It's definitely getting warmer where we are and these little lovelies have popped up all over our yard.

Muscari flowers...better known as Grape Hyacinths in the South. 

I don't remember seeing them as much last year, possibly due to how frequently we cut our grass. Or maybe my eyes just weren't as open to them.

Before the first mow of the season, I gathered nearly all of the Wild Grape Hyacinths from the front yard. They smell absolutely amazing. I separated them by stem length (to fit in various containers) and then chose the healthiest buds for making flower water. Now, the smell of purple floral heaven is floating through the house!

I stored the flower water in a majestic decanter that belonged to my Grandmother. Floral waters are infused with flower essence to be used for body misting, pouring into a bath, mixing with lotions and shampoos and aromatherapy.

Creating this particular flower water was easy as pie. The recipe is wonderful as a light body mist, combining the sweet essence of grape hyacinth and essential oil of clary sage. Since this method only has a shelf life of about a week, I plan to use up the rest in a nice warm bath for a healing aromatherapy session.


This is what you'll need:

• about one cup of fresh flower buds, free of stems and leaves
• two cups of spring water
• funnel
• coffee filter
• vessel to store flower water
• 3 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)

How to create flower water:

1. begin by gathering your pretty flowers! collecting floral buds is a very delicate part of the harvest process. an ideal time to harvest is during the middle of a dry day. search through the flowers for the healthiest, brightest buds, free from decay or damage, and collect them until you have about one cups worth.

About one cup of grape hyacinth flower buds.

2.  gently place the flower buds into a small sauce pot and cover with two cups of water.

Flower buds in a pot with spring water.

3. bring flowers and water to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on low for about 5-8 minutes. add essential oil (optional), give a quick, gentle stir, and remove from heat. allow to cool

4. put coffee filter into funnel and place both in a tall glass cup (as below) or whatever glass container you have available

5. pour the cooled contents from the pot into the funnel and allow to drain until all water has been filtered. this will produce about 1 1/4 cups of sweet smelling floral water.

About 1 1/4 cups floral water

I am so grateful to have inherited my Grandma's china cabinet. It's full of beautiful pieces that she worked very hard to collect. Makes me feel sooo super special.

Wishing all of you a happy season that brings positive growth and renewal.

Cheers! :)

Geranium Essential Oil- Harmonizing, sweet + balanced

Geranium

Pelargonium graveolens

Image © Björn Larsson

Plant part:

Essential oil is extracted from the leaves.

Therapeutic Properties:

• cleansing for entire body + uplifting for the mind
• alleviates depression + anxiety
• use for cold + flu
• helps with pre-menstrual + menopausal symptoms
• antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory (cooling), antispasmodic + antifungal
• assists in elimination of waste products via circulatory system

Applications:

• abdominal oil
• 3-5 drops in bath during anytime of day
• massage oil

Aroma:

Sweet, round + harmonizing fragrance.

Blending:

Blends well with Lavender, Orange + Bergamont. Ideal oil to blend with other to create balanced synergy.

Safety/Cautions:

Non-toxic, non-irritating for most people, may irritate some.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil- Calming, sweet + fruity

Roman Chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile

photo: www.aromatherapylibrary.com

Plant part:
Essential oil is extracted by steam distillation of the flowering tops.



Therapeutic Properties:

• antiseptic + anti-infectious
• very strong antispasmodic, relieves spasms + cramps
• anti-inflammatory
• assists digestion, relieves flatulence, constipation, colitis and stomach pains
• nervous, respiratory + digestive systems sedative
• calming to mind + emotions

Applications:

• perfect for hot bath, especially at night (3-5 drops)
• excellent in therapeutic massage oil for muscle spasms
• use in steam blends to calm nasal irritation and sneezing

Aroma:

Sweet + fruity.

Blending:

Blends well with Lavender, Lemon + Orange.

Safety/Cautions:

Non-toxic, non-irritating

Intro to Essential Oils

History: 
Aromatic oils have an ancient history. The early use of essential oils in China, India, Persia and Egypt has been recorded dating back 5,000 years. Knowledge and use of essential oils has been maintained and advanced for over 3,000 years through the Indian practice of Ayurvedic medicine. The earliest scriptures of the Hindu religion, the Vedas, mention hundreds of essential oils.

Origins:
Essential oils may be found in virtually any part of the plant: seeds, flowers, fruit, leaves, stems, roots, bark, wood, needles and resins.

Basic Properties: 
Essential oils are primaril lipid (fat) soluble rather than water-soluble. This allows for effective and easy penetration into the skin and blood. Oils are absorbed through cappillaries, lymph ducts or the lungs. The body takes about 30-90 minutes to absorb essential oils entirely.

Storage:
Should be stored in dark, airtight, glass bottles. Exposure to light, oxygen and heat will begin to break down the oils...possibly causing them to be a skin irritant. If stored correctly, essential oils can last 7-10 years, possibly longer! Some oils improve with age (except citrus oils- keep 1-2 years). Ideal storage temp is between 45 and 65 degrees F.

Concentration:
It takes a huge amount of plant material to make a small amount of oil. Por ejemplo, 25-30 roses are required to make just ONE drop of essential oil! A half-ounce of essential oil can last a good long while.

Cautions:
Most essential oils need to be diluted with a "carrier" such as vegetable or nut oils (almond oil, grapeseed, avocado oil, jojoba oil) before being applied directly to the skin.

Labratory Tests:
Essential oils kill infectious germs while promoting useful, beneficial microorganisms. They do not indescriminately attack the body like most pharmeceuticals, rather they support the body's own immune system. They do not attack or weaken the organism while busy destroying disease. In the late 19th century, tests were run in response to an observation that tuberculosis cases in the flower-growing districts of France were almost nonexistent. French workers who processed fragrant floewers nad herbs remained free from illness. Studies proved that microorganisms of several illnesses like tuberculosis, yellow fever, cholera, and diptheria, were killed by essential oils. Since then, a century of experiments have supported the antimicrobial and antiseptic powers of essential oils.


Special thanks to my Mama for sharing her wonderful oils and to Liz of AromaticWisdomInstitute.com for sharing this beautiful information.