Alcohol in Hydrosols ** Was: Shelf Life - Hydrosol Sale ** 1/3 (33.3%) Off

[Guest guest]

Howdy Monica,

 

> Hi Butch,

> I was told by my herbalist 5% to 10% vodka alcohol can extend the

> shelf life of a hydrosol if you do not want to keep the hydrosol in

> the refrigerator. Do you agree?

 

Not really .. that's not enough alcohol to kill critters if one were

to contaminate the hydrosol. Remember, they exit the still STERILE ..

there are no critters to speak of except possibly a couple that might

have survived (though I doubt it) within a microsopic particle of

plant matter (which will be in ALL hydrosols). Its us that

contaminate them. Some folks keep them in basements .. lots of mold in

basements .. when you open the bottle there is a good chance of some

spores entering .. and if one pours used hydrosol back into the batch

its bad news .. as is touching the lip of the bottle or the cap .. or

transfering the hydrosol to a container that is not sterile.

 

Refrigeration does for hydrosols what it does for food stuff .. it

slows down the growth of bacteria and whatever that are present .. but

with hydrosols .. the idea is to not have those buggers be present.

 

> Monica

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com