Aromatic waters are clear, saturated aqueous solutions of volatile oils or other aromatic or volatile substances.
Aromatic waters are prepared from different types of volatile substances like peppermint oil, rose oil, orange flower oil, spearmint oil, anise oil, wintergreen oil, camphor and chloroform. Most of the aromatic substances in the preparation of aromatic waters have very low solubility in water and even though water may be saturated, its concentration of aromatic material is very small. The volatile substances from which the aromatic waters are to be prepared should be of purest quality.
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In this blog we can discuss what aromatic water is, different types of aromatic waters, different methods of preparation and some applications of aromatic waters.
Types of Aromatic Waters
Aromatic waters are of two types
- Simple aromatic waters
Simple aromatic water is a saturated solution of volatile oil or volatile substances in purified water. They are mainly used as vehicles
e.g. Chloroform water
- Concentrated aromatic waters
Concentrated aromatic waters contain alcohol as solvent for the volatile constituents. They are 40 times stronger than simple aromatic waters.
Examples of concentrated aromatic waters are Camphor Water BP, Concentrated Peppermint Water BP, Concentrated Caraway Water BPC etc.
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What is Pharmaceutical mixture
Methods of Preparation of Aromatic Waters
- Simple solution method:
In this method, aromatic water is prepared by intermittently shaking volatile substances with purified water in a suitable container for a period of 15 minutes. After the period of agitation the mixture is set aside for 12 hours or longer to allow any excess oil or the solid substance to settle. Without further agitation the mixture is passed through a wetted filter paper and purified water added as needed to bring the volume of the filtrate up to the prescribed quantity
Examples include preparation of chloroform water and camphor water
- Distillation method:
This is the common method of preparation of aromatic waters although it is slow and expensive. Here crude drug containing volatile substances is subjected to distillation in a suitable still, with sufficient purified water. The distillate collected in the receiver will have two layers. The excess oil collected in the top layer is removed. The remaining aqueous solution, saturated with volatile material on clarification by filtration produces aromatic water.
Examples are Strong Rose Water, and Orange Flower Water.
- Â Dilution method:
In this method aromatic waters are prepared by diluting concentrated alcoholic solution of volatile substances. Concentrated aromatic waters are 40 times stronger than simple aromatic water. Here one portion of concentrated water is diluted with 39 portions of purified water. This may lead to precipitation of some volatile and non volatile substances which are insoluble in purified water and diluted alcohol. Powdered talc, kieselguhr and pulp filter paper work as filter-aid are used to get a clear solution.
Applications of Aromatic Waters
Aromatic waters are pharmaceutical aid and used principally for perfuming and flavoring the formulation. Aromatic waters may be used for some special purposes like,
- Camphor water is used as the vehicle in ophthalmic solutions owing to its refreshing and stimulating effects to the preparation.Â
- Rose water has an antioxidant activity. It also cleanses, tones and protects skin from harmful environmental impacts.
- Hamamelis water is used as a rub, perfume and as an astringent in various cosmetic preparations.
- Chloroform water has been used as a preservative and flavouring agent.
- Peppermint water is used as carminative.
