Known since Ancient Egypt, it is also called “vegetable distillate”. Hydrosol is obtained by distilling a plant, a flower, a bark with steam. During this same distillation, we also obtain the essential oil which we do not use in our fruity waters. There is no trace of alcohol in this distillation. We will speak of floral water when a flower is distilled in this way (for example, rose water is floral water or a hydrosol).
The vapor carries the aromatic molecules into the still. This vapor cools and becomes liquid again, separating from the essential oil. The essential oil floats on top of this hydrosol.
If essential oils must be handled with care, hydrosols are completely harmless. Rather, they act on an energy level, much like homeopathy. This does not detract from their virtues which are only beginning to be discovered.