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Purodem® CPD Courses

Hydrolat Therapy & Applications CPD Course: Distilled Plant Waters in Professional Aromatherapy Practice

A professional CPD course designed for aromatherapists, complementary therapists, healthcare practitioners, and formulation professionals who want to deepen their understanding of hydrolats and learn how to use them more confidently in professional practice. This course supports a more structured approach to hydrolat therapy, practical applications, and aromatic formulation.

CPD Course Overview

  • CPD Hours: 6
  • Level: Professional CPD
  • Delivery: Distance learning
  • Assessment: Competency-based
  • Prerequisites: See below
  • Professional hydrolat use
  • Safety and stability awareness
  • Therapeutic application skills
  • Quality assessment confidence
  • Direct application to professional practice
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About This Hydrolat Therapy CPD Course

Hydrolats are often overlooked in professional aromatic practice, despite offering a gentle, versatile, and highly practical option for a wide range of applications. While essential oils tend to receive most of the attention, hydrolats have their own distinct properties, uses, and therapeutic value.

This Hydrolat Therapy & Applications CPD course is designed to help practitioners understand hydrolats more clearly and use them more confidently in professional settings. It supports a more informed approach to hydrolat selection, application, safety, storage, and formulation.

Whether you are an aromatherapist expanding your materia aromatica, a complementary therapist looking for gentler aromatic options, a healthcare practitioner exploring hydrolats as part of professional development, or a formulation professional wanting to broaden your practical knowledge, this course provides a clear and professionally relevant introduction.

Why Hydrolat Therapy Matters in Professional Practice

Hydrolats can offer a valuable addition to professional practice because they provide a different way of working with aromatic plant materials. They are often better suited to situations where a gentler approach is preferred, and they can be especially useful for practitioners who want to broaden their toolkit beyond essential oils alone.

A stronger understanding of hydrolats can support:

  • Better knowledge of hydrolat properties and applications
  • Greater confidence in selecting appropriate aromatic waters
  • Improved awareness of safety, stability, and storage
  • Broader formulation options for skin, body, and environmental use
  • More thoughtful use of gentle aromatic materials in professional practice

 

For complementary therapists and healthcare practitioners, hydrolats can be especially relevant where a softer, lower-intensity aromatic option is desirable.

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for:

  • Aromatherapists
  • Complementary therapists
  • Healthcare practitioners
  • Holistic practitioners
  • Massage therapists
  • Reflexologists
  • Reiki practitioners
  • Integrative practitioners
  • Skincare and formulation students
  • Product makers
  • Professionals working with aromatic materials in practice

 

Previous experience with hydrolats is not essential. The course is designed to be clear, practical, and accessible while still offering valuable professional development.

Hydrolat Therapy for Complementary Therapists

For complementary therapists, hydrolats can offer a practical and versatile way to work with aromatic plant preparations in a gentler format. If you work in massage, reflexology, reiki, holistic skincare, wellbeing practice, or another complementary therapy field, this course can help you understand when hydrolats may be useful, how they differ from essential oils, and how to integrate them more confidently into your work.

Hydrolat Therapy for Healthcare Practitioners

For healthcare practitioners and integrative professionals, this CPD course offers a structured introduction to hydrolat therapy and practical hydrolat applications. It is designed as professional development for those who want to improve their understanding of aromatic waters, their characteristics, and their potential place within a broader professional context.

Hydrolat Therapy for Aromatherapists & Formulation Professionals

For aromatherapists, formulation professionals, and product makers, hydrolats offer valuable possibilities for both therapeutic and formulation-based work. This course supports a clearer understanding of hydrolat applications, helping you select and use them more effectively while expanding your confidence in aromatic practice beyond essential oils alone.

Hydrolat Therapy CPD Course Content

Unit 1: Introduction to Hydrolats

  • What hydrolats (hydrosols) are and how they differ from other aromatic waters
  • Distinguishing true hydrolats from aromatic waters and floral waters
  • Overview of steam distillation and how hydrolats are produced
  • Chemical composition of hydrolats, including water-soluble constituents and volatile components
  • Comparison with essential oils in terms of potency, risk profile, and therapeutic application

Unit 2: Hydrolat Properties

  • pH and natural acidity of hydrolats and how this affects stability and shelf life
  • Thermal sensitivity and microbiological vulnerability
  • Recognising changes over time and common signs of spoilage
  • Understanding natural variation between batches or distillation sources
  • Assessing organoleptic characteristics, including colour, aroma, and clarity

Unit 3: Hydrolat Safety

  • Understanding microbial contamination risks and prevention strategies
  • Appropriate storage practices, including refrigeration, packaging choices, and hygiene
  • Shelf-life considerations for opened versus unopened hydrolats
  • Contraindications and client considerations, where relevant
  • Protecting vulnerable groups, including infants, the elderly, and those with sensitive skin

Unit 4: Therapeutic Actions of Common Hydrolats

  • Overview of the therapeutic actions of commonly used hydrolats
  • Examples may include:
    • Lavender: soothing, cooling, and calming properties
    • Chamomile: anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing effects
    • Rose: hydrating, toning, and emotionally supportive qualities
    • Tea Tree: gently clarifying and antimicrobial actions
    • Peppermint: cooling and refreshing effects
    • Neroli: calming and balancing properties
    • Witch Hazel (non-alcoholic): astringent and toning actions
  • Note that hydrolats used during teaching may vary depending on availability and delivery format

Unit 5: Applications in Professional Practice

  • Topical applications of hydrolats, including skin mists, compresses, cleansing solutions, and toners
  • Aromatherapy applications such as inhalation via humidifiers or steam
  • Use of hydrolats in treatment room sprays, pillow sprays, and linen mists
  • Blending hydrolats with each other to create customised aromatic or functional effects
  • Integrating hydrolats thoughtfully into holistic treatment sequences

Unit 6: Simple Hydrolat Formulations

  • Guided creation of two to four simple hydrolat preparations, such as:
    • A hydrolat-based facial toner
    • A calming pillow or linen spray
    • A topical compress for potential inflammation or heat
    • A balanced hydrolat blend for emotional support
  • Emphasis on formulation technique, therapeutic rationale, safety considerations, and clear documentation

Unit 7: Assessing Hydrolat Quality

  • Visual and aromatic assessment of hydrolats
  • Identifying off-notes, cloudiness, or signs of instability
  • Understanding expiry dates, batch information, and traceability
  • Working with reputable suppliers and sourcing responsibly
  • Recognising microbiological concerns and knowing when a hydrolat should be discarded

Unit 8: Professional Documentation & Reflective Practice

  • Recording hydrolat use accurately in treatment notes or formulation logs
  • Creating hydrolat profiles for personal reference and ongoing learning
  • Using reflective practice to review preferences, effectiveness, and client feedback

Teaching, Learning & Assessment

The course is delivered through a combination of tutor-led teaching, guided practical hydrolat evaluation, and structured self-study.

Assessment is competency-based, focusing on understanding, safe application, and reflective practice rather than product outcome or “right or wrong” results.

Assessment methods may include:

  • Hydrolat application worksheets
  • Quality assessment of a provided hydrolat
  • Practical creation of a hydrolat-based preparation
  • Short-answer knowledge checks on safety, applications, and storage
  • Reflective journaling based on selected hydrolats

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this CPD course, participants should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a clearer understanding of hydrolats and their professional relevance
  • Recognise how hydrolats differ from essential oils in character and application
  • Select hydrolats more thoughtfully for different purposes
  • Apply a stronger awareness of safety, storage, and stability considerations
  • Use hydrolats with greater confidence in professional practice

Your CPD Tutor

Deana Kassim

Deana Kassim is Principal Tutor and Director at Purodem. She is a qualified educator, experienced clinical aromatherapist, and member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists (MIFA), with over 20 years’ experience across the beauty, wellness, and education sectors.

At Purodem, Deana leads professional training in clinical aromatherapy and therapeutic product formulation, alongside ongoing work in bespoke aromatherapeutic remedy development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This course is highly relevant for complementary therapists who want to broaden their understanding of aromatic materials and learn how hydrolats can be used more confidently in practice.

Yes. This CPD course may be useful for healthcare practitioners or integrative professionals who want a clearer understanding of hydrolats and their practical applications. It is designed as professional development rather than as a clinical qualification.

No. Previous experience with hydrolats is not essential. The course is designed to be accessible while still offering valuable professional development.

Yes. The course is designed to support a more structured understanding of hydrolat applications, selection, and practical use.

Yes. It is highly relevant for aromatherapists, formulation students, and product makers who want to expand their knowledge of hydrolats and use them more confidently in professional work.

Yes. A certificate of completion will be issued on successful completion of the course requirements.

Enrol on This CPD Course

This course is available to purchase now for £195.

We are also currently offering a 30% launch discount on the full collection of 6 CPD workshops, with the option to pay in full or spread the cost with a payment plan.

Access will be provided from Monday 1st June.

Buy This Course Now – £195

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Continue Your Professional Development

Explore the full Purodem® Professional CPD Course Series or discover related courses below.

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