Aromatic Water: 3 Stage/pharmacy Dr. Haithem

Aromatic water
Lecture 2
3rd stage/pharmacy
Dr. Haithem
Aromatic waters
 Aromatic waters are clear aqueous solutions

saturated with volatile oils or other aromatic or
volatile substances.
 They are saturated solutions usually of volatile oils or
similar substances in distilled water.
 Aromatic waters are not therapeutically potent
because of the very small proportion of the active
ingredients presents in them.
Preparation of aromatic water
 Most of the aromatic substances in the preparation of aromatic

waters have very low solubility in water, and even though the
water may be saturated, its concentration of aromatic material
is still rather small.
 The official methods of preparation of aromatic water are:
 1. Distillation 2. Solution 3. Alternate solution
 Formulas for concentrates of the aromatic principles containing
either alcohol or solubilizing agent have been developed, or are
manufactured as concentrated waters. To prepare aromatic
water the concentrates are diluted with water before use.
History
 Aromatic water such as rose water were used in

Egypt as early as the 4th century>
 Distilled water containing volatile oil reaches their
therapeutic peak in the early 16th century in Europe.
 Although their therapeutic uses were declined in
modern time, they continued to be used as flavorings.
 Hamamelis water (witch hazel) has lingered on as an
aftershave and astringent.
Example of aromatic waters
 Aromatic waters were prepared from a number of

volatile substances, including:
Orange oil
Flower oil
Rose oil
Peppermint oil
Anise oil
Wintergreen oil
Camphor and chloroform oil
Spearmint oil
Aromatic waters uses
1. Aromatic waters are used as intermediate solutions for

manufacturing of other preparations and also used as the liquid
phase of emulsions and suspensions.
2. Aromatic waters are used as a flavoring agent, aromatic waters
provide a pleasantly flavored medium for administration of
water soluble drugs when test masking of undesirable test is
not a problem. The odors and tastes of the aromatic waters are
from the volatile substances from which they are prepared.
3. Aromatic waters prepared from essential oils like peppermint
and anise oils which have some carminative properties.
Topical aromatic waters
Aromatic water use

Rose water perfume
Hamamelis water (witch hazel) astringent
Camphor water Rubefacient (dilate skin vessels)
Reduce skin itching
Eye wash
 Distillation method
 The distillation method
consists of placing the
odoriferous portion of the plant
or the drug in a suitable still
with sufficient purified water
and then distilling most of the
water, avoiding charring or
scorching (burning) of the
substance.
 The excess oil is separated
from the distillate .
 The label of commercial witch
hazel contain one or more X ,
each X represent one distillation
Distillation
 Advantage  Disadvantage
 Most of the aromatic waters  Not practical or economically
are prepared by distillation. feasible to use this method in
most cases
 Used for preparation of
aromatic water from fresh
plants ex tract.
 Stronger Rose water
 Orange flower water
 Hamamelis water
 These cannot be prepared by
other methods
Solution method
 The volatile substance is agitated with purified water for a

period of 15 minutes.
 The mixture is set aside for at least 12 hours to ensure
saturation before it is filtered through wetted filter paper
 A large excess of solute is used 2g or 2ml /liter solution in
order to obtain the maximal rate of solution
 The filter paper must be wet to prevent the passage of excess
oil in to the filtrate and eliminate absorption of the dissolved
aromatics by the filter.
 Not necessary to make up to volume through the filter, since a
saturated solution is sought.
Solution method
 In spite of repeated filtration
 Easy method
it is difficult to obtain a
 Simple equipment brilliantly clear preparation
owing to formation of
extremely fine particles.
 This can be obviated by using
boiling purified water
 Time consuming method
Chloroform water N.F
 Prepared by solution method

 No clarification is needed because the excess
chloroform must remain in the bottle because
chloroform is heavier than water
 The high volatility of chloroform creates equilibrium
of loss and restoration of strength by evaporation
 When dispensed the bottle must be shaken vigorously
and only the supernatant liquid should be used
Alternate solution method
 The volatile material is mixed with 15g purified talc or with

sufficient quantity of purified siliceous earth (silica) or pulped
filter paper. (an adsorbent)
 The mixture is agitated with a liter of purified water for 10
minutes prior to filtration.
 The talc or other inert material functions as both a
1-filter aid which facilitates the clarification of the solution
2- a distribution agent by breaking up of the aromatic
substance into fine particles thus increasing the surface area
exposed to solvent action accelerating the rate of dissolution .
Alternate solution method
 Advantage  Disadvantages
 Not proven to entirely satisfactory , owing to
 Time saving the problem of the purified talc or siliceous
earth passing through the filter papers
commonly used
 Purified Talc is usually finely divided
 Difficult to obtain purified siliceous earth
free from soluble or finely divided
extraneous matter.
 Elutriation with water is used to remove
soluble material and finally divided particles
( is a process for separating particles based
on their size, shape and density, using a
stream of liquid)
Peppermint water
 Peppermint oil is a complex mixture of

 The hydrocarbons fraction (usually terpenes), alcohols,
ethers, aldehydes and ketones
 The terpenes are the least water soluble which are
mostly removed by filtration (clarification process)
 The other substances are the terpeneless oils (aroma
carriers) are prepared by fractional distillation and or
extraction, are stronger in aroma and more soluble and
more stable than the natural essential oil (Terpene oils)
, but are of higher expense.
Dilution
 Concentrated aromatic waters are prepared to

obviate the difficulties involved in the clarification of
aromatic water
 Which are designed to be diluted with an
appropriate volume of purified water when needed.
 Dilute rose water prepared from strong rose water
with an equal volume of water.
Preparation of concentrated aromatic water
 An alcoholic solution (50-55% alcohol) of the essential

oil is mixed with water and talc, the mixture is
agitated; after several hours it is filtered.
 The diluted aromatic water is prepared by diluting
2ml of the concentrated aromatic solution to 100ml
with water. The resultant contains less than 1.5% of
alcohol.
Dilution method
 Easy method  Aqueous preparation
 No time consumed that contain small
amount of alcohol are
prone to alteration in
flavor and aroma due to
oxidative degradation of
the alcohol
Dilution method
 Other than alcohol non ionic SAA may be used like

Tween 80 (polysorbate 80)
 Peppermint oil 7.5ml
 Tween 20 43 ml
 Purified water q.s ad 100 ml
Dilution method
 Advantage  Disadvantages
 Possess objectionable odor
 Solution of SAA dissolve  The pH lower than the official
larger amounts of water  Foam excessively on agitation
insoluble material  Develop disagreeable taste more
readily
 The concentrate is stable  Easily subject to mold growth
 More oil must be dissolved to
saturate the aqueous phase to
produce the same aroma
 SAA will dissolve the terpenes also
Stability of aromatic waters
 Aromatic waters are not very stable preparations.

 Improper storage cause instability, Many waters support
mold growth
 Excessive exposure to light and change in temperature
cause aromatic waters to lose characteristics,
 Loss of aroma upon exposure to high temperature
 Separation of volatile material when the temperature
decrease causing cloudiness.
Stability of aromatic waters
 Salting out of volatile substance upon addition of water

solution of strong electrolytes and may collect on surface
of the liquid imparting a burning taste to the first dose.
 Loss in flavor may be observed if aromatic waters are
used in the external phase of dispersions, owing to
adsorption of aromatic substances by suspended matter.
 Oxidative degradation involving dissolved atmospheric
oxygen with the aroma bearing solutes which may be
catalyzed by light and trace metals like iron and copper
Special care
 Chloroform water is stored in light resistant bottles,

since light catalyzes the oxidation of chloroform to
the poisonous gas phosgene.
 Almond water deposits crystals of benzoic acid
which result from auto oxidation of benzaldehyde.
 Waters which are prepared aseptically with recently
boiled purified water and were filtered through
bacterial retentive filters into sterilized resistant
glass containers, remain stable for a year.
Thank you

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Aromatic water

 Aromatic waters are clear aqueous solutions

 Most of the aromatic substances in the preparation of aromatic

 Aromatic water such as rose water were used in

 Aromatic waters were prepared from a number of

1. Aromatic waters are used as intermediate solutions for

Aromatic water use

 The volatile substance is agitated with purified water for a

 Prepared by solution method

 The volatile material is mixed with 15g purified talc or with

 Peppermint oil is a complex mixture of

 Concentrated aromatic waters are prepared to

 An alcoholic solution (50-55% alcohol) of the essential

 Other than alcohol non ionic SAA may be used like

 Aromatic waters are not very stable preparations.

 Salting out of volatile substance upon addition of water

 Chloroform water is stored in light resistant bottles,

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