Have you ever wondered why most recipes and instructions for using essential oils always recommend using distilled water? In this article, we will explore the importance of using distilled water with essential oils and how it can impact your overall aromatherapy experience.
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What is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is water that has gone through a purification process called distillation. In this process, water is boiled and the resulting steam is collected and cooled back into liquid form. By doing this, impurities and contaminants present in the starting water are left behind, resulting in pure distilled water.
Why Use Distilled Water with Essential Oils?
There are several reasons to use distilled water with essential oils. These include the following:
1. Purity:
Distilled water is free from impurities and contaminants that can be found in tap water, such as minerals, bacteria, and chemicals. Using distilled water ensures that these impurities do not interfere with the therapeutic properties of the essential oils.
2. Consistency:
Since distilled water is pure, using it with essential oils ensures a consistent dilution each time you use them. This helps to maintain the effectiveness and potency of your essential oil blends.
3. Longer shelf life:
When using essential oils with water, distilled water can help extend the shelf life of your mixtures. This is because distilled water doesn’t introduce any bacteria or microorganisms that can cause your blend to spoil over time.
4. Avoiding unwanted reactions:
Some essential oils can react with the minerals present in tap water, which can alter their chemical composition and reduce their effectiveness. By using distilled water, you can avoid these unwanted reactions and ensure that your essential oils maintain their therapeutic properties.
Where to Use Distilled Water in Aromatherapy?
Distilled water is commonly used in various aromatherapy applications, including:
1. Diffusers:
Using distilled water in your diffuser helps provide a consistent aroma and reduces the buildup of mineral deposits inside the diffuser. This extends the life of your diffuser and ensures a smoother operation.
2. DIY products:
When creating homemade products like sprays, lotions, and balms, using distilled water helps keep the final product fresh, pure, and bacteria-free.
3. Hydrosols:
Hydrosols, or floral waters, are made by steam-distilling plant materials. To avoid contamination and impurities, it is crucial to use distilled water in the process of making hydrosols.
Why Use Distilled Water With Essential Oils Example:
Imagine you are creating a relaxing room spray using lavender essential oil to help promote a good night’s sleep. You use tap water to create the spray and store it in a bottle. Over time, you notice that the spray’s aroma has changed, and the effectiveness of the lavender essential oil has diminished.
By using distilled water instead of tap water, the consistency and effectiveness of your lavender room spray would be maintained, and you would have a longer-lasting product free from impurities.
In conclusion, using distilled water with essential oils not only maintains the purity and potency of your blends but also helps to extend their shelf life. Now that you understand the importance of distilled water in aromatherapy, make sure to incorporate this knowledge into your essential oil practices. Share this article with your friends and family to help them understand the benefits of using distilled water with essential oils as well. For more informative articles about essential oils and aromacology, check out other guides on Oshu Oils, and don’t forget to explore the Oshu Oils range of essential oils to enhance your wellbeing.
