Aromatic Waters Overview

Aromatic Water

• Aromatic waters are clear, aqueous solutions saturated with volatile oils or other aromatic substances.
• They are saturated solutions typically made from volatile oils or similar substances dissolved in distilled water.
• Aromatic waters are not strong medicinal agents due to the low concentration of their active ingredients.

Examples of Aromatic Waters

• Orange oil
• Flower oil
• Peppermint oil
• Rose oil
• Anise oil
• Spearmint oil
• Wintergreen oil
• Camphor
• Chloroform

Aromatic Water Uses

• Used as intermediate solutions for creating other pharmaceutical preparations.
• Can be used as a liquid phase in emulsions and suspensions.
• Used as flavoring agents for water-soluble drugs to mask unpleasant tastes.
• The odors and tastes in aromatic waters come from the volatile substances used in their preparation.
• Some aromatic waters prepared from essential oils (e.g., peppermint and anise) have carminative properties.

Topical Aromatic Water Uses

Preparation of Aromatic Water

• Most aromatic substances have low solubility in water.
• The concentration of aromatic material, even in saturated solutions, remains relatively low.
• Common methods for preparation include distillation, solution, and alternative solution methods.
• Concentrated aromatic solutions, containing alcohol or solubilizing agents, are manufactured or created then diluted with water as needed.

Chloroform Water (N.F.) Preparation

• Prepared by the solution method
• No clarification is necessary; excess chloroform stays in the bottle.
• Chloroform is denser than water
• High volatility of chloroform creates constant loss-and-regain equilibrium through evaporation
• The bottle must be shaken vigorously when dispensing, and only the supernatant liquid should be used.

Peppermint Water Preparation

• Peppermint oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons (usually terpenes), alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, and ketones.
• Terpenes are the least water-soluble components and are primarily removed through filtration.
• Terpeneless oils (aroma carriers) are made using fractional distillation or extraction.
• Terpeneless oils have a stronger aroma, are more soluble, and are more stable than natural essential oils but are more expensive.

Dilution

• Concentrated aromatic waters are prepared to avoid complications during the clarification process.
• Concentrated aromatic waters are diluted with the appropriate amount of purified water as needed.
• Example: Dilute rose water is made by combining strong rose water with an equal volume of water.

Preparation of Concentrated Aromatic Water

• An alcoholic solution (containing 50-55% alcohol) of the essential oil is combined with water and talc.
• The combination is agitated and filtered after several hours.
• The diluted aromatic water is created by diluting 2 ml of the concentrated aromatic solution to 100 ml with water.
• The finalized product has less than 1.5% alcohol.

Stability of Aromatic Waters

• Aromatic waters are not very stable preparations.
• Improper storage leads to instability; many waters support mold growth.
• Excessive exposure to light and temperature changes can cause aromatic waters to lose their qualities.
• Loss of aroma and cloudiness results from volatile material separation during temperature decreases.
• Addition of strong electrolytes to water, can cause precipitation of volatile components.
• Loss of flavor can occur due to adsorption of aromatic substances onto suspended matter in dispersions
• Oxidative degradation can result from dissolved atmospheric oxygen reacting with aroma-bearing solutes. This process can be accelerated by light and trace metals like iron and copper.

Special Care for Aromatic Waters

• Chloroform water should be stored in light-resistant containers because light speeds up the chloroform's oxidation into phosgene (a poisonous gas).
• Almond water may develop benzoic acid crystals due to benzaldehyde auto-oxidation.
• Aromatic waters made with recently boiled, purified water filtered via bacterial retentive filters in sterile glass containers remain stable for a year.