Organic Linden Blossom Hydrosol

There are several species of lime tree in the Tiliaceae family, resulting from centuries of botanical hybridisation from wild trees. Among them, the Tilia vulgaris - or the common lime - is a fast-growing ornamental tree that is much popular for its majestic appearance in the garden (it can grow up to 40 metres tall!).

Its branches are ascending and its leaves have a lighter inner surface that produces pretty hints of silver when the wind rushes through its branches.

The lime or linden tree has long been considered a magical tree by many cultures. It has been traditionally used as a sedative, comforting and digestive herbal tea for centuries.

Curiously, despite being listed in the 3rd edition of the European Pharmacopoeia, it has received little attention from the scientific community. The delicious honey-like scent that emanates from the linden tree and fills the air when it flowers in May and June is due to the presence of volatile molecules in its inflorescences. Its content is too low to produce a usable quantity of essential oil, but steam distillation yields a hydrosol with a sweet, delicate fragrance.

In addition to its sweet, honeyed fragrance, linden hydrosol has long been used as an excellent internal and external soother: as a cosmetic active ingredient, it soothes sensitive, itchy skin, and its scent calms stressed, anxious people.

In the past, harvesting linden blossoms was a common activity on farms and provided a valuable source of extra income. During May and June, when the linden trees were in bloom, men would prune the branches while women and children gathered the fragrant flowers.

A Hydrosol from South-East France

To continue the tradition, our producer employs freelance, experienced pickers with know-how inherited from previous generations. The pickers come from all over the South-East of France, from the Vercors and the Baronnies to the Hautes-Alpes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

The only method known to date for harvesting linden trees by hand requires a great deal of time and patience. While the old-timers used to cut the branches to make picking easier, today the linden blossoms are harvested using a traditional wooden ladder to which a saquette (a heavy canvas bag) is attached.

Drying is also done by hand: the flowers and bracts are placed in barns for optimum ventilation, and laid out in thin layers on clean racks that have been inspected beforehand to avoid contamination. The bracts and flowers are stirred daily to ensure that they dry evenly and retain their pretty pastel-green colour, drying over two to three days.

After drying, most of the harvest is used in herbal medicine and to make herbal teas, while much of the rest is distilled in the heart of the Vercors Regional Nature Park, in a distillery expert in producing floral waters from delicate plants, to make our Aroma-Zone Organic French Linden Blossom Hydrosol.

To ensure we continue to offer you a high-quality hydrosol from South-East France, Aroma-Zone and its partner are committed to revitalising the industry by seeking new harvesters and developing simpler and more profitable harvesting methods.

100% Pure and Natural

With no added preservatives, this Organic French Linden Blossom Hydrosol has a subtle honeyed fragrance with comforting and soothing effects on the emotions. It is gentle on the skin and relieves discomfort, making it perfectly suited to sensitive skin.