Being a Registered Aromatherapist, I am proud that it is the highest standard in Canada that an aromatherapist can hold and that the designation is recognized internationally. In the past England was well known for its training in aromatherapy. Some of the well recognized aromatherapy educators from Britain are often quite amazed by the high standards and by how knowledgeable the aromatherapists are who practice here in BC.

This past weekend I attended a training facilitated by Anne Harman, a Herbalist and Artisan Distiller on the preparation of hydrosols. A hydrosol is the water that is remaining after plant material has been distilled. Steam distillation is one of the most common methods for extracting essential oils from plant material. After distillation process the essential oil remains on the top of the water below which is known as hydrosol. Many people are unaware of how this process can also impact the quality of the end product.

In fact Anne Harman and her organization Circle H Institute do a lot of research and testing of various hydrosols and what is on the market. She received samples from another supplier and was told that it was of good quality; however, any discriminating nose would be able to tell the difference. These samples smelled like they had a fragrance (synthetic) added to create the scent. Unfortunately, due to current labeling requirements they could still sell it as a hydrosol. Just like buying essential oils, vitamins, or herbs, it is buyer beware. Not all are of the same quality and we must ask questions when purchasing.

Next month I will talk more about quality and things that some suppliers might do.