Yarrow

The Yarrow that we harvest makes for a distillate that flashes blue – indicating the likely presence of Chamazulene. Chamazulene is a degradation product of the sesquiterpene matricin. It’s also known as a free radical scavenger, able to travel inter-cellularly (via a matrix of narrow pathways) and bring its benefits to fibroblasts that produce collagen.

But honestly, we don’t really know what it is in this yarrow that makes us all love this hydrosol so much.

Through the years of distilling, we’ve noted that the best distillates (effective, gentle, fewer volatile terpenes) comes from flowers that are dried on the stalk and feel like they weigh next to nothing. We know these lightweight harvests are full of sesquiterpenes because sesquiterpenes are dermal irritants. Yarrow harvest is irritating. The more these irritants are broken down, the better… it seems.

After distillation is complete – rather than skim the surface for the oil – we leave it in and let the distillate cure. As the year goes on, the nature of the hydrosol changes and develops from a green, astringent smelling distillate to smelling untouchably honest with a sun soaked herbal/medicinal nose.

Late harvest and age help this hydrosol evolve into something of a quieting force.

If our Yarrow hydrosol rings your bell, we suggest ordering a year’s worth at harvest time (available for purchase August - October).