By Suzanne Catty

Until Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy, very little has been written about hydrosols and their remarkable place within the scope of aromatherapy. Suzanne Catty teaches us clearly what hydrosols are, how they are produced, how to differentiate quality, how to store them, and how to use them properly.

Included is a lengthy chapter that contains the monographs (profiles) of approximately 68 hydrosols. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book. As Catty explains, the available data varies between rare hydrosols and those that are commonly available. Some monographs, therefore, are a bit more detailed than others. Each monograph contains three sections: (1) aroma and taste, (2) stability and shelf life, and (3) properties and applications.

Chapter 5 provides detailed information on the practical use of hydrosols. Included are sections on topical use, babies and children, special health concerns, aromatic tinctures, pets and animals, home and hearth, and esoteric uses. In addition to the sections just mentioned, Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy goes into great detail about diluting and using hydrosols internally.

Also included is a chapter that contains approximately 55 therapeutic recipes, 20 "lotions and potions," and 40 culinary recipes. The therapeutic recipe collection includes recipes for the head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, respiratory conditions, digestive system, circulatory system, skin, reproductive system, renal system, nervous system and muscular system. The recipes within the therapeutic and "lotions and potions" sections are very straightforward. The culinary recipes appear very mouth watering, but a bit more complex to make.