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Elderflower water is the hydrosol that remains when the blossom of the elder, Sambucus nigra, is distilled with steam: water that has taken up a small amount of the scent and the water-soluble parts of the flower. It is not an oil, and it is not the elderflower cordial of the kitchen. Our elderflower water comes in a 100 ml and a 250 ml spray bottle; the ingredient line names elderflower water, potassium sorbate and citric acid, the last two as preservative. In Dutch it is called vlierbloesemwater, and both names are on the bottle.
Many people search for 'elderflower water' or search for 'the elderflower water revolution', which was the title of the old version of this page. We make no claim about what this water does in or under the skin, on the scalp or to the hair: the label says nothing about that, and neither do we. What you can check yourself is what the ingredient line says, how the water smells and feels, and how to use it. That is what this guide is about.
Elderflower water at a glance
- What it is: the hydrosol of the blossom of the elder, Sambucus nigra, a shrub of hedgerows and gardens across Europe.
- Ingredient line: elderflower water, potassium sorbate, citric acid; no alcohol, no added fragrance.
- Smell: light, floral and honey-like, the smell of elderflower in June but softer; clear when you spray, gone soon after.
- Feel: water; it dries within a minute and leaves nothing behind.
- Use: facial toner, body mist, spray over towel-dried hair, water phase in a home-made cream, gel or clay mask; external use only.
- Not the cordial: elderflower syrup and lemonade are foods from the kitchen; this hydrosol is a cosmetic water and not for swallowing.
- Bottle and storage: 100 ml or 250 ml; cool, dark and with the cap tightly closed, the fridge is fine.
What a hydrosol is
When plant material is distilled with steam, two things come out of the still: a small amount of essential oil that floats on top, and a large amount of condensed water that has passed through the plant. That water is the hydrosol, also called floral water or plant water. It carries a little of the scent and the water-soluble compounds of the flower, and no fat. Elderflower gives very little essential oil, so with this plant the hydrosol is the product. A hydrosol is mild by nature and is used undiluted, sprayed or dabbed on. More of them are in the hydrosols collection.
How it smells and feels
Light, floral and honey-like, the smell of an elder in full bloom in June but softer, and clear at the moment you spray; it fades within minutes and does not linger the way a perfume does. On the skin it is water: it dries within a minute and leaves nothing behind, no film and no stickiness. Kept in the fridge it feels cool on the face and the arms, which is the reason many people keep the summer bottle there.
What the ingredient line says about the preservative
A hydrosol is water, and water without a preservative spoils within days once opened. This one is stabilised with potassium sorbate and citric acid, and the ingredient line names both; the other hydrosols in the shop use the same pair, apart from the witch hazel water. There is no alcohol and no added fragrance; the smell is that of the flower. Anyone who reacts to sorbates picks another product.
As a facial toner
After cleansing, spray elderflower water two or three times over the face with the eyes closed, or moisten a cotton pad and wipe the face with it. Let it dry for a minute, and only then apply your oil or cream; on lightly damp skin a face oil spreads more easily and you need fewer drops. Morning and evening is usual, and because the water is mild it suits the whole face. It pairs with any of the oils in the face oils collection.
As a body mist
Spray it over arms, legs and neck on a warm day; it evaporates quickly and leaves a light floral scent for a few minutes. Kept in the fridge it feels cooler still. It does not replace a deodorant and does not stain fabric, because it contains no oil and no colour.
Over the hair
Spray it over towel-dried hair before styling, or over dry hair during the day. It is water, so it does not weigh the hair down and rinses out without effort at the next wash; on curly hair a few sprays before scrunching wet the hair evenly. Keep it away from the eyes.
As the water phase of your own cosmetics
In a home-made cream, gel or face mask, use elderflower water instead of distilled water. Mix a clay powder such as ghassoul or white clay with it to a paste for a mask, and use that paste the same day. Anything you make with water and keep for more than a day needs a preservative of its own; the preservative in the hydrosol does not cover what you add. Powders and supplies are in the clay powders and DIY collections.
Elderflower water next to rose water and orange blossom water
All three are floral hydrosols used the same way. Rose water smells of rose and is the classic toner; orange blossom water smells sweet and citrus-like; elderflower water is the lightest and most honey-like of the three. Choose on smell. All three are water with a preservative, and none of them is a food product.
How much you use and which bottle to choose
A spray is about 0.1 ml. As a toner twice a day, two or three sprays a time, 100 ml lasts about two months and 250 ml about five. As a body mist in summer it goes faster, and 250 ml is the size. As the water phase of your own products, a mask or a cream takes 20 to 50 ml at a time. Both bottles hold the same water.
How to store it
Cool, dark and with the cap tightly closed; the fridge is fine and, for a mist, pleasant. Do not leave the spray bottle in the sun. A hydrosol that has turned cloudy, smells sour or musty, or shows threads or flakes has spoiled, preservative or not; do not use it any more. Use an opened bottle within six months.
What to watch out for
External use only: this is a cosmetic water, so do not swallow it; the elderflower cordial of the kitchen is a different product, made and checked as a food. Test a spray in the crook of the elbow first and wait a day. Avoid the eyes and rinse with lukewarm water if it gets in. The ingredient line names no fragrance; whether this batch contains anything a particular person reacts to, we cannot rule out without an analysis certificate. Keep out of reach of children.
Frequently asked questions
Is elderflower water the same as elderflower cordial?
No. The cordial is a sweet syrup made from the flowers as a food. This is a hydrosol for the skin and the hair, and not for swallowing.
Does it contain alcohol?
No. The ingredient line names elderflower water, potassium sorbate and citric acid.
Can I use it on my hair every day?
Yes. It is water and rinses out at the next wash.
Which bottle should I choose?
100 ml for a toner, 250 ml for a summer mist or your own products.
