Peppermint is one of my favorite herbs. It’s fragrant, delicious, offers great soothing topical and internal medicine, and makes a wonderful cooling hydrosol that’s perfect for the summer heat.
The Perfect Floral Water for Summer – Cooling Peppermint Hydrosol
Making hydrosols is pretty easy granted you have a few simple kitchen tools:
• A large pot (preferably stainless steel)
• A stainless steel or glass bowl that can withstand high heat
• A clean stone, brick, or in my case, a mortar to place your bowl on top of
• A stainless steel lid or a stainless steel mixing bowl to place over the pot
These make for a perfect makeshift hydrosol distiller!
How to Make Peppermint Hydrosol
Ingredients
• Pure spring water (please do not use tap water)
• Fresh or dried herbs, in this case, any peppermint will do
• Ice
Loving Preparation – peppermint hydrosol recipe
• Make sure that your pot is clean and place in a clean stone, brick, or mortar in the center
• Fill the pot with spring water just underneath the rim of the stone
• Sprinkle in your dried or fresh peppermint, about 2-3 good handfuls (I use a combination of both)
• Place the bowl on the stone
• Put the lid on the pot UPSIDE DOWN so that the condensation drips into the bowl from the lid handle (be sure to cover up any venting holes in the lid)
• Fill a few sandwich bags with ice and place them on the upside down lid to quicken the distillation process (optional)
• Bring the water to a nice simmer and then turn down the heat to low
• Allow to gently simmer for up to 4 hours depending on how much hydrosol you’re going for
• Once finished, quickly bottle the hydrosol in glass spritzer bottles to keep the aroma fresh and potent
[yumprint-recipe id=’115′]I like to keep my peppermint hydrosol in the fridge to keep it extra cooling. If you really want to up its refreshing properties, try adding 5-10 drops peppermint essential oil to preserve and kick it up a notch.
The Benefits and Peppermint Hydrosol Uses
This hydrosol has a wonderful and cheerful aroma that will uplift your mood and sharpen your senses, not to mention bring fast relief to hot skin.
Peppermint Hydrosol Uses and Benefits:
• Pulling heat from sunburns – spritz it on liberally every 30 minutes
• Cooling yourself during a hot day – spritz where ever relief is needed
• As a refreshing toner– dab onto face using a cotton ball twice per day
• As a PH balancer for acne prone skin – spray on face liberally and follow with rosehip oil to moisturize
• A room spray
• A pillow mist
• A breath freshener that refreshes and tones gum tissue (I like to give it to my dog Orion to keep his breath smelling minty!)
• Can be added to skincare recipes
• Can be added to homemade mouthwash or just used by itself
• Relieves itching, burns, and bug bites – just spray right on the afflicted area
• Can be added to your neti pot to relieve congestion- add about 1 TB to your neti pot solution
• Homemade eyewashes when congestion, redness, and allergies are present (mix ¼ tsp high-quality sea salt into 1 cup of water. Add 1 TB peppermint hydrosol and shake to mix.)
• As a food, beverage, and desert flavoring
• Can be dabbed on acne prone skin to calm redness and inflammation
• Great for controlling oily complexions – use as you would use a toner
• Relives colic, heartburn, bloating, upset stomach and other digestive ills – sip a small glass after meals
• Makes a great aftershave
• Add it to your daily lemon water
I hope you enjoy making your own peppermint floral water. If you would like to learn how to make rose hydrosol, please visit my article How to Make Rose Water and The Benefits of Rose Water.
Have you ever made peppermint hydrosol before? Please share in the comments below!
You may also enjoy reading:
Peach and Rose Summer Heat Elixir
How to Make Micellar Water
Summer Heat Relief- Cooling Herbs
Grapefruit, Bergamot, and Rose Linen Spray
Curious as to how much herbs you add……
I usually eyeball it and add several handfuls of fresh peppermint to a pot of spring water 🙂
Hi,
I just wondered how long this hydrosol lasts without adding something like witch hazel or alcohol as a preservative. What I’ve read up says most hydrosols last for about a couple of weeks however one site mentioned a rose hydrosol lasting for six months max. but the recipe on the site didn’t mention any type of preservative.
Thanks,
Ceejay
Hi Ceejay!
Mine lasts for about a week, maybe two if I keep it in the fridge. However, if you buy a REAL hydrosol they will lasts many months because they are so pure. Homemade ones not so much, even if you add witch hazel. I wouldn’t add alcohol only because it is very drying for the skin.