Botanicals in Skincare

Herbs and flowers are a cornerstone of natural cosmetics. They provide multiple skin benefits and can be incorporated into formulations as:

• Hydrosols (flower waters)

• Powders

• Herbal teas

• Herbal extracts

• Essential oils

• Flower (macerated) oils

Many botanicals are easily sourced from grocery stores or grown organically at home for those wishing to formulate from scratch.

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Harvesting Guidelines for Herbs & Flowers

To preserve potency and quality:

• Correctly identify the plant and plant part (petals, buds, leaves, roots, etc.).

• Harvest on sunny days after morning dew evaporates to reduce moisture.

• For essential oil extraction, pick flowers early in the morning when oil concentration is highest.

• Avoid older plants, which may harbor insects or parasites.

• Flower buds are best harvested in spring.

• Leaves are most potent before blooming.

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Drying Herbs and Flowers

General Drying Rules

• Dry small, delicate plants whole.

• Chop larger herbs into smaller pieces.

• Do not wash before drying—moisture encourages mold.

Air-Drying Method (Best for Delicate Botanicals)

• Spread herbs on a paper towel.

• Place in a cool, ventilated area, away from:

  • Direct sunlight

  • Heat

  • Humidity

• Herbs are ready when they crumble easily between fingers.

Oven-Drying Method (Best for Roots & Heat-Tolerant Parts)

• Spread herbs in a thin layer on perforated foil.

• Place on a wire rack in the oven.

• Use the lowest temperature setting possible.

• Avoid overheating, which may degrade botanical properties.

Powdering

• Use mortar and pestle for small batches.

• Use a coffee grinder for larger quantities.

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Storage of Dried Botanicals

• Store for up to 2 years in amber glass jars.

• Keep away from:

  • Heat

  • Humidity

  • Sunlight

• Label clearly with plant name and harvest date.

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Essential Oils

• Highly concentrated, volatile, and aromatic.

• Their physiological and skin effects are well documented.

• Preferred in natural formulations over synthetic fragrances due to:

  • Better skin tolerability

  • Lower sensitization risk

• Expensive and require careful handling and precise dilution.

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Flower Oils (Macerated Oils)

• A cost-effective alternative to essential oils.

• Made by macerating fragrant flowers in a neutral carrier oil (e.g., sunflower oil).

• Allows transfer of:

  • Aroma

  • Some active plant compounds

• Less concentrated than essential oils.

• Require larger quantities in formulations.

• Provide a gentle fragrance and mild botanical benefits.

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Key Difference: Essential Oils vs. Flower Oils

Feature	Essential Oils	Flower Oils
Concentration	Very high	Low
Cost	Expensive	Affordable
Aroma strength	Strong	Mild
Usage level	Very low	Higher
Skin sensitivity risk	Higher	Lower