How to make homemade DIY Lavender Water using organic fresh or dried lavender buds. This lavender hydrosol can be used in drinks, for skin, in beauty products and more!

I had some dried lavender buds leftover from when I made dairy-free Lavender Honey Ice-Cream last year.

They’d been sitting in my pantry for months, and after contemplating what to do with them I settled on the idea of making some DIY lavender hydrosol.

I have made rose hydrosol in the past, which was actually the inspiration for this lavender water recipe, as I’d just finished up my last bottle of rose water earlier that week, and needed a new hydrosol for my skincare routine.

Lavender water (a.k.a lavender hydrosol), is a botanical water made by distilling lavender flowers. This water is colourless and has a much softer scent than that of lavender essential oil.

Hydrosols share similar beneficial properties to those of essential oils, just in a less concentrated form.

When making hydrosols at home, a good rule of thumb is to double the amount of herbs needed when using dried herbs. For example, use 3 cups of fresh herbs or 6 cups of dried herbs to make the hydrosol.

Uses for Lavender Water

Lavender water has a myriad of uses, some of which include:

• As a Natural Perfume. Adding a touch of lavender water to the pulse points around your body can leave you with a subtle hint of fresh lavender fragrance that is so much cleaner and healthier for your body than store-bought, chemical-filled fragrances and perfumes. If you wanted to go a step further, you can even make your own perfume oil at home.
• As an Air Freshener. Most commercial air fresheners contain harmful ingredients in addition to synthetic fragrances. Using an all-natural lavender hydrosol can help to deodorise and freshen up any room in your home, car or workspace, with the added benefit of being an antiviral and antibacterial. Spritz the lavender spray around your room, on your bedding, or add it to your humidifier water to evenly distribute the lavender scent around your home.
• As a Toner. Lavender is a natural antimicrobial, antibacterial, and astringent which makes it the perfect natural skin toner for use after cleansing. Add a few drops to a makeup wipe and gently rub it over cleansed skin to remove any remaining traces of build-up and help tone your skin.
• As Distilled Water for Ironing. Distilled water is usually recommended for ironing as most tap water contains hard minerals that can build up on your iron overtime, preventing steam from escaping and resulting in an iron that no longer functions properly. Lavender hydrosol is a great distilled water alternative as it contains no hard minerals and gives clothes a subtle lavender scent after ironing.
• As an Aftershave. Many aftershaves and perfumes contain solvents like Benzyl acetate and ethyl acetate. Instead, using lavender water can help refresh and tone skin in a much gentler way.
• As an After Sun Spray. Aside from making your own homemade after sun spray using a range of different ingredients, applying some lavender water that’s been cooled in the fridge can help soothe and cool down sunburnt skin naturally.
• Added to a Bath for Aromatherapy Benefits. While essential oils are most recommended for aromatherapy benefits, hydrosols can be effective, too, and give a lovely aroma to bath water. Lavender hydrosol also has wonderful benefits for skin.
• As a Hair Rinse. After washing your hair, following up with a rinse of lavender water can be beneficial as it contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. This can help in keeping your hair clean, shiny, and healthy. Plus, it will leave hair smelling faintly of lavender which is an added bonus! If dandruff is an issue for you, adding a couple of drops of rosemary essential oil to the rinse, and massaging that across the scalp can help with symptoms.
• For Cleaning. To avoid the harsh chemicals often found in cleaning agents, switch to using natural cleaning products like lavender hydrosol. It can be used on windows, floors, sinks and countertops, adding a fresh lavender fragrance to your home while cleaning at the same time!
• For Dog care. When used externally, lavender water can used to keep your pet’s coat clean, assist in disinfecting and healing wounds, and wash infected areas. Just make sure your pet is not allergic to lavender by testing a tiny amount of the hydrosol on their skin before use.

Before we get started in learning how to make this homemade organic lavender hydrosol – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!

Homemade Organic Lavender Water

When making a flower water (or hydrosol), it’s ideal to use fresh flowers from the garden or those purchased from a local organic farmer that you know hasn’t sprayed any chemicals. The best hydrosols are made with flowers that are in season, which is when they’re most fragrant. However, you can make lavender water using dried petals, too, and the process is just the same.

I use these dried organic lavender buds, as they’re really affordable and high quality.

Makes approximately 100ml

Ingredients:

• 6 cups dried organic lavender buds
• Water (can used distilled if you prefer // see guide here for making distilled water at home)
• Ice cubes
• 100ml glass dropper bottle or clear glass bottle, for storage

To make:

1. Place a heat-resistant bowl or glass jar in the centre of a large saucepan or stockpot. The jar acts as a container to catch the condensing steam that will become the lavender water.
2. Arrange the lavender buds around the jar, then add just enough water to cover the buds in the saucepan, avoiding the glass jar. The jar needs to stay above the water and flowers so it can ‘catch’ the floral water as it condenses. Place the lid on top, but sit it upside down. Place the pan on medium-low heat and bring the water to a simmer.
3. Add two to four cups of ice on top of the inverted lid. Let the water simmer for 20-25 minutes, adding more ice to the top of the lid as it melts.
4. After simmering, carefully remove the lid, pouring the ice water into the sink. Alternatively, you can keep the water in a separate bowl to use on the garden once it has cooled. Then, using oven mitts, lift the glass jar of floral water out of the saucepan or stockpot and pour the water into a clean glass bottle or amber dropper bottle using a funnel.

Homemade hydrosols are an infusion of plant properties and distilled water. They will keep for years if stored in clean bottles and protected from light and heat. For more tips on how to store hydrosols, see here.

As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post. 

What do you use flower hydrosols for? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa