by Cathy Monrad
Mother’s Day is here. And in Rochester, especially, lilacs are synonymous with this special day. I decided to make a large batch of this lilac facial toner to give as gifts to all the special mothers in my life.
This toner can also be added to a bath, used as a hair rinse, or spritzed on bed sheets for a lovely scent.
MATERIALS
Quart size wide-mouth glass jar with lid
1/3 cup lilac blossoms
1/3 cup organic witch hazel
2/3 cup distilled water
Spray bottle or clean jar for storing final product
To Make Toner
- Dry lilac blossoms overnight on a paper towel until they are slightly wilted.
- Place blossoms in a jar, then add witch hazel and water to jar. Be sure the blossoms are completely covered by liquid. If not, add more witch hazel.
- Place lid on jar, then store in a warm location out of direct sunlight.
- Let the mixture infuse for two weeks, occasionally shaking gently to mix.
- Strain the mixture and pour face toner into a clean jar or spray bottle. The spent blossoms can be composted.
To Use Toner: Apply lilac toner with a cotton ball or spritz on face after washing. Keep refrigerated if desired. Since the alcohol in the witch hazel acts as a preservative, the toner can simply be stored in a cool place.
Cathy Monrad is the graphic designer and bestest garden crafter for the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I tried this before reading about it because I use witch hazel regularly (not daily though), and it has a really nice fragrance to it. The blossoms turned brown but it doesn’t seem to affect the scent. I started using it daily a week ago and I swear my wrinkles have all but disappeared! My crows feet are gone! It makes my skin nice and tight and look healthier. It could be a coincidence because I’ve been getting more sun and have a good tan now but I think its the lilac flowers because straight witch hazel doesn’t make my skin feel this tight. In a good way. Highly recommend trying this.
What happens if some of the dead lilacs get in by mistake
Will this smell like lilacs
Hi Ellen,
I am sure a couple of dead petals won’t hurt the finished product.
When I made my batch, the result had a light lilac fragrance, but the variety I used did not have a strong scent to begin with. I am sure there are varieties that would work better than others, but I have not experimented.
Thanks for reading and reaching out!
Cathy