Refugio Gardens Botanicals
California Mugwort Hydrosol – Sustainably Wild Grown, Artisan Herbal Spray (Artemisia douglasiana)
California Mugwort Hydrosol – Sustainably Wild Grown, Artisan Herbal Spray (Artemisia douglasiana)
Couldn't load pickup availability
California Mugwort Hydrosol – Sustainably Wild Grown, Artisan-Distilled, Pure & Genuine (Artemisia douglasiana)
Experience the Visionary Spirit of California
California Mugwort Hydrosol (Artemisia douglasiana) is a silvery-green chaparral herb long honored for its cleansing, cooling, and visionary qualities. Our hydrosol is sustainably wildharvested and artisan-distilled in small batches at Refugio Gardens. Gentle yet potent, this aromatic spray offers a refreshing, herbal–bitter scent traditionally linked to dreaming, balance, and skin soothing.
Aroma & Character
- Fragrance: Herbal, pungent-sweet with a cooling, slightly bitter edge
- Note: Middle
- Energetics: Clarifying, introspective, cooling with gentle stimulation
Discovery & Innovation
In 1998, Dr. Amy Inez Hazard performed the first known artisan steam-distillation of California Mugwort essential oil, revealing its unique aromatic and therapeutic profile. The hydrosol, co-produced in each distillation, carries this legacy forward—capturing Mugwort’s cooling, cleansing vitality in a gentler, water-based form for topical and aromatic use.
Uses & Benefits
- Women’s balance: traditionally misted for soothing cycles and cramps
- Skin soothing: relieves poison oak rash, insect bites, itching welts, and irritation
- Muscle comfort: cooling spray for tired legs, spasms, and overexertion
- Dream & spirit: used in dream pillows, meditation, and reflective rituals
- Everyday refresh: a clarifying body, linen, or room spray
Chemistry & Research
Hydrosols contain both micro-drops of essential oil and the water-soluble plant compounds once flowing in the living plant. This gives Mugwort Hydrosol its distinctive anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antipruritic actions, supported by constituents like artemisia ketone, camphor, and 1,8-cineole. These compounds explain its traditional use for rashes, insect bites, and anecdotal relief of hives. †
Sustainability & Harvesting
Our Artemisia douglasiana is wild grown on private ranch land in Santa Barbara. Plants are harvested selectively, with roots preserved to ensure regrowth. Distilled at low temperatures in small artisan batches, the hydrosol reflects the living vitality of California’s chaparral landscape.
Experience Wild California
Spritz this hydrosol to ease tension, inspire dreamwork, or cool and refresh the skin. Its fragrance recalls moonlit chaparral nights when Mugwort leaves shimmer silver in the coastal air.
Want to go deeper? Read the full profile in our blog: Therapeutics of California Mugwort.
California Mugwort Hydrosol FAQ
What is California Mugwort Hydrosol?
A steam-distilled aromatic water from Artemisia douglasiana, valued for its cooling, clarifying, and skin-soothing qualities.
How is it different from the essential oil?
The hydrosol is gentler and water-based, containing both essential oil micro-droplets and water-soluble plant compounds, making it suitable for direct spray and daily use.
What are the traditional uses?
Traditionally for women’s cycles, dream practices, skin irritation, and cooling refreshment after exertion.
Is it sustainably harvested?
Yes. Plants are selectively wildharvested on private ranch land, ensuring regrowth and habitat health.
Disclaimer: For educational and traditional use only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always patch test before use. Consult a qualified practitioner if pregnant, nursing, or under medical care.
Share
Safety & Cautions
Safety & Cautions
- Please be advised to keep essential oils out of reach of pets and children.
- Please avoid using photosensitive essential oils (Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Orange, Bergamot, Tangerine, Calm Shen Blend and any products made with these oils such as Santa Barbara Goldenbush Lotion) prior to going out in the sun or using a tanning booth as they can react to sunlight and cause something similar to a severe sunburn.
- It is advised to void continuous long term use of the same essential oils.
- Be sure to research the powerful effects of essential oils before use.
- Use diluted essential oils on the skin (Carrier oils like Jojoba are great for this in a 10% essential oil to 90% carrier base oil ratio).
- It is advised to patch test on a small portion of sensitive skin and discontinue if there is irritation or a negative reaction.
- Please know the safety data and specific warnings on an individual oil or Blend before using.
- And please use careful caution using essential oils during pregnancy. Any use should be approved by a medical provider.
- Its important to keep essential oils away from your eyes. If oil does get in your eye, do not flush it out with water. You can dilute the area immediately with vegetable or carrier oil by placing the vegetable oil on a tissue and gently wiping the eye area.
- Also essential oils are flammable so please avoid direct contact with flames such as candles.
- Please do not use essential oils internally unless properly trained and prescribed by a physician. If accidentally swallowed, call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately and do not induce vomiting.
