Crafting a Modern Queen of Hungary's Water: A Luxurious Herbal Elixir for Radiant Skin
The traditional Queen of Hungary’s Water is one of the oldest known cosmetic preparations, originally formulated in the 14th century. It was reputedly created for Queen Elisabeth of Hungary, who used it as a rejuvenating tonic. The original recipe typically included:
Rosemary: The primary herb, celebrated for its stimulating, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties.
Wine or distilled alcohol: Used both as a solvent to extract the beneficial compounds from the herbs and as a preservative.
Other herbs (optional): Depending on the variation, other herbs like mint, sage, and lemon balm were sometimes included.
Comparison with Your Formulation:
Herb Selection:
Traditional: Focused heavily on rosemary as the main active ingredient, with minimal additional herbs.
My Recipe: Expands the herbal blend to include not just rosemary but also gotu kola, sage, peppermint, and lemon peel. This diversification introduces additional therapeutic benefits, such as skin healing from gotu kola, purifying effects from sage, and refreshing, toning qualities from peppermint and lemon peel.
My formulation is a modern interpretation that remains true to the spirit of the original while enhancing its versatility. It not only preserves the essence of the traditional recipe but also expands its functionality with additional botanicals and a gentler base.
Ingredients:
8 ounces of witch hazel (alcohol-free)
2 tablespoons dried rosemary
1 tablespoon of dried gotu kola
1 tablespoon of dried sage
1 tablespoon of dried peppermint
1 tablespoon of dried rose
1 tablespoon dried lemon peel
10 drops lavender essential oil
1-2 tablespoons vodka or another clear alcohol (optional, for better preservation and enhanced extraction)
Instructions:
Prepare the Herbs: Measure out 2 tablespoons of dried rosemary, and 1 tablespoon of each: dried gotu kola, sage, peppermint, and rose. Lastly, measure out 1 tablespoon of dried lemon peel.
Combine the Ingredients: Ground all the dried herbs and lemon peel and pour into a clean glass jar.
Add Alcohol (Optional): If you choose to use alcohol for better preservation and enhanced extraction, add 1/2 ounce of grain alcohol to the jar. Mix to combine. (This step mimics the intermediary method used for herbal-infused oils and helps to extract more of the beneficial compounds from the herbs.)
Add Witch Hazel: After 24 hours, pour the 8 ounces of witch hazel over the herbs in the jar. Ensure that the herbs are fully submerged in the liquid.
Infusion Process: Seal the jar tightly and place it in a cool, dark place. Allow the mixture to infuse for 2-4 weeks. Shake the jar gently every few days to help the infusion process.
Strain the Infusion: After the infusion period, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the herbs. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the herbs to ensure you extract as much of the infused witch hazel as possible.
Add Lavender Essential Oil: Once the infusion is strained, add 10 drops of lavender essential oil to the liquid. Shake the bottle well to combine.
Bottling: Pour the strained and mixed liquid into a clean, dark glass bottle to protect it from light. Label the bottle with the date and contents.
Usage: Use the Queen of Hungary Water as a facial toner, facial mist, or general all-over body refresher. Apply to clean skin using a cotton pad or spritz lightly over the face, neck, and body.
Benefits of the Ingredients:
Rosemary: Enhances circulation, stimulates cell renewal, and has antimicrobial properties.
Gotu Kola: Promotes skin healing, improves elasticity, and stimulates collagen production.
Sage: Acts as an astringent, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory.
Peppermint: Provides a cooling effect, soothes irritation, and has antimicrobial properties.
Lemon Peel: Brightens the skin, provides vitamin C, and has astringent properties.
Rose:
Lavender Essential Oil: Calms and soothes the skin, reduces inflammation, and has antiseptic qualities.
