3. Production methods

The methods used to extract floral waters and hydrolats are mainly those used to produce essential oils: hydrodistillation and steam distillation.

These alembic methods must be distinguished from maceration techniques, as they do not extract the same substances.

Hydrodistillation and steam distillation extract compounds that are sufficiently volatile to be carried away by steam. In the case of maceration, all water-soluble compounds, whatever their volatility, are extracted.

The chemical compositions, and therefore the properties and toxicity, of hydrolats and macerates can therefore be very different.