Primavera Floral Water
About a thousand years ago the Orient experienced an unprecedented period of prosperity. Damascus, Baghdad and Aleppo became centers for trade, medicine, science, philosophy and music. Particularly in mathematics and healing art tremendous progress was made. The Muslim mathematicians of the 10th century are considered as the founders of today's algebra. The medicine of the Arab-Islamic civilization between the 8th and 12th century was centuries ahead of the West. Hospitals were already divided in specialties, the treatment was carried out individually according to the physical and mental being of patients and the enormous knowledge about medicinal plants already enabled an early form of anesthesia. This era of progress and prosperity was accompanied by special scents. Besides incense especially precious essential oils ensured the legendary smell of the Orient. Fragrant oils of myrrh, cinnamon or rose petals exuded their aroma in palaces and the estates of wealthy merchants. Western travelers swooned in their reports over the overwhelming scent of Arabia.
Fragrant plants were already very popular in the early antiquity. But only by distilling it was possible to win their valuable essences. The foundations for this were already known in antique Greece. According to the philosopher Alexandros Phrodisias the Greek sailors had found a way to win drinking water on the high seas. Therefore they boiled sea water in a pot. The rising steam was collected with a sponge. When the sponge was squeezed over a cup, it filled up with drinking water. Thus one could separate several substances from another by evaporation - in this case, water and salt. But several centuries passed until the first distilling of vegetable oils was carried out.
In the 10th century, the Persian physician and polymath Ibn Sina wrote his monumental work: al-Qanun, the ”Canon of Medicine“. Besides medicine theory, it contained 760 drugs and detailed information about their administration. The development of the distillation process for essential oils is attributed to the greatest physician of the East. However, it is more likely that he rather was perfecting the process than inventing it. Archaeologists found stills from centuries back. In the early Middle Ages the Arab glassblowers were known around the world for their craftsmanship. With high-quality stills made of glass and the body of acquired plant knowledge of scholars, precious essential oils could be produced in consistent quality. A ”by-product“ that emerged in this process was the hydrolate (floral water).
In essence, the process of distilling has hardly changed since the 10th century: Water and plants are filled in a vessel and the water is brought to a boil. When the steam ascends, it releases oil droplets and water-soluble substances from the plant. The steam is directed into a tube, cools down and liquefies again. In a collecting container the lighter essential oil is separated from the water after cooling. Therefore, there are two taps: the top one is for the oil and the bottom one for the floral water. In Europe the floral water was even more popular than the oil itself in the 16th and 17th century. Its cooling effect and the light scent should soothe invalids, but it also served as a refreshing toner. In addition, it was often used in the kitchen. Rose water for example was mixed in drinks or was even drunk purely. Confectioners liked to use rose water to flavour chocolates or marzipan.
In floral waters valuable ingredients and traces of essential oil remain. Therefore, they develop a very unique aroma profile that can clearly be distinguished from the scent of the essential oil. Floral waters are wonderful as toner and aftershave but also as refreshing body sprays. With the convenient spray bottles of Primavera the gentle form of aromatherapy can easily be applied. The minty scented Organic Peppermint Water is a real freshness boost for body, mind and soul. It has a cooling and clarifying effect, gives new impetus and cares for blemished skin. The herbal-sweet Organic Lavender Water has a soothing and balancing effect on skin irritations. As a body spray, it relieves mild sunburn. The regenerating Organic Immortelle Water has a relaxing and invigorating effect on stressed skin. The lovely Organic Rose Water preserves the natural moisture of the skin, but can also be used as a delicately scented body spray or nourishing hair tonic. Enjoy the gentle, effective care, the sensual scents and the pleasant effect of Primavera Floral Water. A real treat for skin and soul.
