Cedrus atlantica/Cedarwood/Atlas Cedar

pH 4.1–4.2

Aroma and Taste A light fragrance; dry, woody, almost sawdustlike, with sweet overtones. Reminds one of a cold sauna or cedar closet, although these are usually made from the wood of North American cedar (Thuja sp.), not the mountain or Mediterranean cedar (Cedrus sp.). Quite different from the pervasive aroma of the oil.

Stability and Shelf Life Very stable. The odor begins to diminish after eighteen months, but the properties seem to be consistent up to two years or more, depending on the source.

Properties and Applications This hydrosol is primarily used for topical applications. I do not recommend it for internal use except for specific pathologies, as it is extremely diuretic.

Cedarwood is the first choice for hair care. It has been used successfully as a treatment for thinning hair, some types of hair loss, scalp itch, and dandruff and to add shine and luster to dry, damaged, or treated hair. The French use it to soften and detangle hair as well as for dandruff. Shampoos can be diluted by 50 percent with the hydrosol, and conditioners by 30 percent or more. Cedar blends very well with rosemary CT cineole (for all hair colors) and both sage (for red and dark hair) and chamomile (for blond hair), although sage can easily overpower the cedar aroma.

This is also the hydrosol for animal fur. Its delicate aroma makes it well suited to use on cats to get rid of dander and help deter fleas. For dogs it can be used as a final rinse to be left on the coat after a bath for fleas, and it certainly makes them shiny and sweet smelling. Use in a spray bottle and add two or three drops of cedar oil for a daily flea spray in summer and autumn. Dogs seem to have a predilection for certain smells, and cedar is one of them.

Some skin conditions respond well to cedar, particularly weeping and cracked skin, some types of psoriasis, peeling and sweaty feet, dermatitis, allergic rashes, chicken pox, cold sores, and inflamed acne. Usually compresses of the straight hydrosols, or a strong dilution of 50 to 70 percent hydrosol and cool springwater, are the best option in treating skin. Cedarwood also combines well with yarrow hydrosol if intense itching accompanies the condition.

This hydrosol is wonderful in the bath, especially cool summer baths when the humidity is high. I put it in a kiddie pool and both my dog and I emerge greatly refreshed! Try it in the sauna; it is safe to sprinkle it directly on the rocks and it will help release mucus and phlegm from the lungs, or use it in a foot soak for tired hot feet after you’ve been standing all day long.

Centaurea cyanus/Cornflower/Bachelor’s Button

pH 4.7–5.0

Aroma and Taste An extremely delicate scent. When the hydrosol is cold, the odor is almost undetectable; warm, it becomes vaguely floral. The flavor undiluted is also delicate, a little green, neither particularly floral nor herbal, with a slightly bitter aftertaste but nothing unpleasant. Diluted, the flavor almost disappears, and one smells more than tastes it.

Stability and Shelf Life Unstable to moderately stable; shelf life twelve months.

Properties and Applications Almost interchangeable with sandalwood hydrosol in topical treatment of skin conditions. One of only four hydrosols recommended as an eyewash (the other three are Roman and German chamomile and green myrtle). This probably has the widest application as an eyedrop substitute, and users who wear contact lenses say it works very well for them, although it should probably not be used while the lenses are in the eye. Topically, use cornflower as a compress for tired, swollen, or itchy eyes or for the effects of pollution or long hours at the computer.

Renowned for its cosmetic applications and cool feeling on the skin, cornflower is used to tone crepey skin and firm delicate and mature skin of the décolleté. It is also wonderful for dry and devitalized skin and can be added to masks, lotions, creams, toners, and makeup removers or used on its own before the application of a moisturizer. Combine it with rose geranium to combat very dry climates, on airplanes, or to give a dewy complexion. Daily compresses on the eye area, particularly when combined with rock rose, will visibly diminish fine lines and tone the tissue. Combine with witch hazel or lavender for cleansing cuts and wounds and compressing bruises. Cornflower is a good choice for diluting shampoos and conditioners or massaging into the scalp; it gives hair shine and highlights and is less drying than chamomile for blond hair.

A general system tonic, cornflower was once used as a tea against the plague. Why, I don’t know, except that plague victims probably tried everything. Mildly diuretic and digestive, its bitter principals make it supportive to the liver and gently astringent. On its own or in combination with juniper, cypress, or tea tree, it makes an effective douche for urinary tract infections and is gentle enough not to irritate sensitive tissue. Internally and topically it can be used to reduce fever, particularly in infants, as its delicate odor is well tolerated. Research indicates that it may contain phytohormones, and it is certainly worth trying for hot flashes, both topically and internally.

AVOID during first trimester of pregnancy because of potential presence of phytohormones.