Using Floral Waters Instead of Purified Water in Cosmetics

Yes, you can use floral waters such as Rose Water and Lavender Water in cosmetic formulations. However, it's important to understand that they are not a direct substitute for purified distilled water.

Key Differences:

• Purified Water (like Purified Water, TDS Limit 1PPM)) is highly pure H2O with minimal dissolved solids and no microbial contamination. It serves as a neutral base for formulations.
• Floral Waters (like Rose Water (Rosa Damascena), Rose Petal Water, and Lavender Water (Lavandula Angustifolia)) are produced by steam distillation of plant material. They contain not only water but also trace amounts of volatile oils and other water-soluble plant compounds from the source plant. This gives them their characteristic fragrance and can provide additional skin benefits.

Considerations When Substituting:

1. Composition: Floral waters introduce plant extracts and fragrance, which can affect the final product's properties, scent, and potential interactions with other ingredients.
2. Preservation: The specific Rose Water and Lavender Water products you mentioned already contain preservatives (phenoxyethanol). Purified water is typically unpreserved and requires the addition of a preservative system in the final formulation. If you use a pre-preserved floral water, you need to account for the preservative already present when formulating.
3. Stability: The presence of organic compounds in floral waters can sometimes make a formulation less stable compared to using pure water, although the added preservatives help.

In summary, while floral waters can be used as the water phase or a significant component (up to 100%) in cosmetic products, they bring additional properties and ingredients (including preservatives) that purified water does not. You can use them, but be mindful of these differences and how they might impact your final product.