Lilac Water And Oil
Grandma June kept a pretty bottle of lilac water on her dressing table — I often dabbed a little on when I played in her jewelry and hats. Their divine scent, a heart-opening reminder of their sublime beauty and the promise of spring. They soothe and lift the spirits at the same time.
I often overfill my house with lilacs, and I will meander out of my way on my bike to find the bush that I smell from a distance.
Lilacs are edible — the blossom and leaves. Their wood is magnificently strong, and often has a beautiful lilac colored swirl in it — they make gorgeous spoons.
Lilacs have a long medicinal history in skin care such as oils, soaps and lotions. Lilacs tenderly ease rashes and fevered skins.
Add them to salt or sugar scrubs or infuse your favorite body oil with the blossom. Teas and tinctures are used to clear spring fevers and as a vermicide — they were used to treat worms.
Add them to wine spritzers, fruit bowls, candy to dress up a cake.
Add clean lilac blossoms to a small jar and pour honey over it, seal and in a few weeks and strain the blossoms - or don’t.
Always, dry some for later. They make a delicious tea in the cold of winter
Ingredients
Lilacs (free of pesticide)
Water
Ice
Instructions
Select fresh lilac blossoms, free of herbicide and pesticide spray. Gently remove any stems and greens.
Clean lilac blossoms by floating them in a sink or cool pan of water. Drain.
Choose your method - The easy way - simply steep 1/2 cup of lilacs (or 1 -2 tsp. dried) in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain, and store sealed in refrigerator….or play with condensation.
Condensation Instructions
Use this method if you want to make both lilac water and extract oil. In a heavy, deep stock pot, place a ramekin filled half way with water into the center. The water weighs the ramekin down. Place lilac blossoms around the ramekin then fill with water until it reaches half way up the ramekin. Place another ramekin or shallow soup bowl on top of the first ramekin.
Bring the water and lilacs to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer.
Place a stainless steel bowl filled with ice over the opening of the stock pot. The bowl must be large enough to seal the pot, yet shallow enough to not touch the top ramekin or bowl.
As the lilacs simmer in the water, the steam will rise and create condensation that will drip back down into the mixture. Replace ice as needed. Simmer for 3 gloriously fragrant hours.
Once done you will have a small container worth of lilac water with oil floating on the top. Separate the lilacs, if desired, by gently skimming the surface with a small spoon.
Energetics & Healing Properties
Lilacs have long been a spring favorite to lift the spirits and relieve depression while calming the mind. They influence the Heart and Liver.
Primary season: Spring
Have a blessed spring!
April
