Floral Water, Bigroot Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum), 1 l

Bigroot geranium floral water (hydrosol) comes from Bulgaria, where bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a common and traditionally used plant. The hydrosol is produced by steam distillation: steam passes through the plant material and releases the volatile aromatic and water-soluble components of the plant, and once it cools, it leaves a water phase with the natural scent of bigroot geranium.

Bigroot geranium belongs to the Geraniaceae family and is sometimes simply called geranium in trade. It is not a pelargonium (Pelargonium graveolens), from which geranium essential oil is made. Bigroot geranium is a different plant with its own scent and composition.

The hydrosol is a water-based raw material with a low content of aroma compounds. It is easy to incorporate into formulations with a high water content, such as toners, mists, serums, gels, creams, masks and cleansing products, and it can form part or all of the water phase.

Key benefits

• Part of the water phase – can partially or fully replace distilled water in selected cosmetic formulations.
• Natural fragrance of bigroot geranium – gives simple water-based products the plant’s own fragrance, which must be taken into account when fragrancing.
• For toners, mists and gels – used in facial toners, light serums and hydrating gels.
• Good compatibility with hydrating ingredients – combines well with glycerine, aloe vera, panthenol, allantoin, betaine and hyaluronic acid.
• Wide range of uses – suitable for face, body, hair and cleansing cosmetics, in both leave-on and rinse-off products.

Suitable for products such as

• facial waters, toners and facial mists,
• light hydrating gels and serums with aloe vera, glycerine, hyaluronic acid, panthenol or allantoin,
• creams, facial milks and body emulsions as part of the water phase,
• aftershave and after-depilation products,
• body sprays and refreshing waters with the natural scent of bigroot geranium,
• clay, herbal and powder masks to be mixed just before use,
• cleansing gels, facial cleansing waters and micellar products with a correctly chosen pH and preservative system,
• hair toners, shampoos and conditioners as part of the water phase,
• cosmetic compresses and wraps.

Use in formulations

• Recommended usage rate: usually 1–100% depending on the product type; it can form part or all of the water phase.
• Soluble in: water and water-based cosmetic systems.
• Miscible with: distilled water, glycerine, propanediol, aloe vera juice, hydrogels and water-soluble active ingredients.
• Compatible with: O/W emulsions, facial toners, gels, serums, cleansing products, shampoos and rinse-off hair care products.
• Emulsion products: incorporate it into the water phase; in formulations that are heated, it is advisable to add part of the hydrosol only during the cooling phase to minimise unnecessary overheating of the aromatic components.
• We recommend adding it during cooling (at a temperature below 40 °C).
• Leave-on products: particularly suitable for facial mists, toners, serums, gels and creams; always check the final pH and the microbiological stability of the finished product.
• Rinse-off products: it can be used in shampoos, shower gels, foams and cleansing products as part of the water phase.
• Preservation: when using it in your own formulation, the preservative system of the whole finished product must be assessed, especially for products with a high water content.
• Formulation pH: always measure the final pH in the finished formulation and adjust it according to the preservative used, the active ingredients and the target product type.

Safety and storage

• Intended for cosmetic use and for further processing in cosmetic formulations.
• For sensitive skin or on first use, we recommend carrying out a tolerance test on a small area of skin.
• Prevent contamination of the contents – use clean tools, close the packaging immediately after use and do not pour the raw material that has been taken out back into the container.
• Store in a tightly closed container, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Storage in a cool, dry and dark place is recommended; hydrosols are water-based raw materials sensitive to microbial contamination.
• When making a finished cosmetic product, always verify the final pH, the microbiological stability and the suitability of the preservative system.
• For products intended for children, pregnant women or very sensitive skin, the suitability of the whole formulation must be assessed, not just the hydrosol itself.

Frequently asked questions

If you would like to learn more about the benefits and use of hydrosols in natural cosmetics, read our article Hydrosols in natural cosmetics.
Take a look at the other hydrosols and floral waters in the Handymade.sk range.