What is "Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water" and what is its utility?

Lemon balm is a plant that can grow up to 70 cm in height and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is also nicknamed "lemongrass" due to its lemony scent, as well as the "bee plant". Indeed, it is described as "melliferous": bees use the nectar of lemon balm to produce their honey. Thus, the name "lemon balm" comes from the Greek word "melissa" which means bee.

The medicinal virtues of lemon balm have been known for over 2,000 years. Hippocrates himself recommended this plant for digestive discomfort. Charlemagne cultivated it in his gardens for its benefits on mood swings and the nervous system, while Charles V consumed it daily in the form of tea.

"Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water" is the name I.N.C.I. used to refer to the floral water or hydrosol of lemon balm. This substance is obtained by steam distillation of the aerial parts of the plant, namely the stems, leaves, and flowers. Distillation results in two distinct fractions: the essential oil and the hydrosol. To do this, the plant is heated in a still filled with water for several hours. The steam is then cooled in a condenser and collected in liquid form. The essential oil, less dense than the water used for extraction, floats on the surface, which is nothing other than the hydrosol. Derived from the same plant, the two fractions have similar properties, but the hydrosol is less concentrated in active species, as the aromatic essences are present in smaller quantities. Therefore, it can be used without contraindications by children and pregnant women, unlike the essential oil.

In terms of its chemical composition, Melissa hydrosol is rich in neral, geranial, geraniol, nerol, and geranic acid. It is a clear, mobile liquid, colorless to light yellow, with a distinctive scent.