Crafting Lilac Floral Water: A Guide to Making and Preserving the Fragrance of Spring

Lilacs are more than just a beautiful spring bloom—they carry a delicate, nostalgic fragrance that can be captured and preserved in floral water. Whether you want to use lilac hydrosol for skincare, aromatherapy, or simply to enjoy its soothing scent, this guide will walk you through the process of creating and storing it properly.

What Are Floral Waters?

Have you ever wondered by you can never seem to find lilac essential oil? That is because it does not exists (1) . This is due to the lilac blossom containing very low levels of natural essential oil and it would take processing many pounds of the blossoms for little payout. This makes distilling lilac essential oil highly impractical. Instead, we turn to hydrosols—gentle, fragrant floral waters that preserve the plant’s aromatic essence in a much more sustainable way.

Also known as hydrosols or hydrolats, floral waters are the natural byproduct of the essential oil distillation process. While essential oils are concentrated and powerful, hydrosols contain the same healing properties as their oil counterparts—just in a much gentler form. They are safer, more affordable, and ideal for use on children, seniors, pets, and people with chronic health conditions, where essential oils might be too potent.

Floral waters also offer a cost-effective way to enjoy luxurious botanical scents. Precious oils like rose, sandalwood, and jasmine are incredibly expensive, but their hydrosols provide the same delightful fragrance at a fraction of the cost.

With that in mind, let's dive into how to craft your very own lilac floral water!

What You’ll Need

• Fresh lilac blossoms (enough to fill 1/3 of a large pot)
• Large stock pot with a domed lid or a well-fitting metal/glass bowl
• Flat rock
• Smaller bowl or pot (to collect the hydrosol)
• Filtered or spring water
• Ice
• Amber or blue glass bottle with a spray top - between 30-100mls for a small batch

Step-by-Step Process

1. Harvest and Prepare Your Blossoms: Pick lilac blossoms from a healthy, pesticide-free plant. Rinse gently to remove dirt and separate them from the stems.
2. Set Up Your Distillation Pot: Place a flat rock at the bottom of the stock pot and set a small bowl or pot on top—this will collect the floral water. Surround the bowl with lilac blossoms, filling about one-third of the pot.
3. Add Water and Seal the Pot: Pour filtered or spring water into the pot, just enough to barely cover the blossoms. Then, place the domed lid upside down or use a snug-fitting glass or steel bowl to create a sealed environment.
4. Bring to a Boil and Begin Condensation: Turn the heat to high until the water starts boiling. Then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Begin adding ice to the inverted lid or bowl—this will help condense the steam and collect the floral water.
5. Collect the Hydrosol: Let the process run for 15 minutes, adding ice periodically as needed. Once enough floral water has gathered, carefully remove the pot from the heat.
6. Store and Preserve Your Lilac Hydrosol: Pour the freshly collected hydrosol into an amber or blue glass bottle with a spray top. These dark-colored bottles help protect the liquid from UV exposure, keeping it fresh longer.

How to Use Lilac Floral Water

Lilac hydrosol has so many wonderful uses:

• Room freshener: Spritz around your home for a light, floral scent.
• Clothing refresher: Spray onto fabrics to eliminate stale odors.
• Skin toner: Use as a gentle toner to refresh and hydrate your skin.
• Bath enhancer: Add to your bath for a soothing floral experience.
• Linen spray: Mist onto pillows and sheets for a comforting bedtime fragrance.
• Car freshener: Keep a small bottle in your car for an instant mood lift.
• Personal fragrance: Use as a body spray or facial mist to uplift your spirits.

Storage Tips

Use fresh hydrosol within 6 months for best results. To extend shelf life, store it in the fridge. You can also add 20% vegetable glycerin or Everclear high proof grain alcohol to your hydrosol—this will preserve it for up to 2 years.

A Personal Reflection

I absolutely love taking the time to craft my own lilac water. Last year, I was lucky enough to make a batch that lasted until my lilac tree began blooming again this spring. Throughout the dark months of winter, I cherished the scent, feeling transported back to my sunny garden with each spritz. It’s truly a beautiful way to preserve a little piece of spring!

Watch for my Empathic Medium's Remedy Workshop Series I will host at Soul and Energy Studio in Olds AB.

I will have in person and online versions of this learning opportunity. In this series, I will cover areas many empaths, psychics and mediums should consider addressing to raise their vibration and manage their energy with greater success. One area I will cover is how to make the switch to easy DIY cleaning and body products. Want to know about events like this ahead of time? Ask to be put on my event and workshop email list and I will be reaching out again in late August with updates to my fall and winter workshop and class schedule!

Cited Sources:

How to Make Lilac Oil: Infuse or Enfleurage Fresh Lilac Flowers - SimplyBeyondHerbs