Most organic cleaning products or plant-based body care products use a plant’s oil as a key ingredient.

But in WOW’s range of natural cleaning formulas the key ingredient is a hydrosol, rather than an oil. Hydrosols, also known as hydrolats or distillates, are created from the steam distillation of plant matter that results in the water-soluble parts of the plant being suspended inside larger molecules of water. The resulting liquid, the hydrosol, retains many of the properties of the plant’s essential oils (in the case of camphor, its powerful antimicrobial and anti fungal cleaning properties) while making it much gentler and safe for human use.

You may have already come across a hydrosol before; they are most commonly used in natural skincare, cosmetic and aromatherapy products, extracted from plants like lavender, rose and chamomile.  Apparently, you can also enjoy a refreshing, nutritive hydrosol drink from a range of 50 herbal flavours in downtown Teheran on a hot summer day. But as far as we know, WOW’s range of all-natural cleaning and body care products is the first time a hydrosol extracted from camphor has been used commercially in Australia. Which is amazing, considering how long camphor’s beneficial qualities have been known in other parts of the world.

In ancient times, from Babylon to Sumatra, camphor was traded for its various therapeutic benefits. In Europe during the Black Death, it was highly prized as a fumigant. The Chinese used camphor as a restorative and circulatory stimulant, as well as a way to prevent ‘chicken skin’ when ageing. The Persians considered it an aphrodisiac. In India it’s always been a common food additive, and even there today you can buy a camphor hydrosol-based air purifying diffuser and skin toner, ‘healthy for the respiratory tract and overall good health’.

There are lots of other recorded uses of camphor or its hydrosol derivative that add to its reputation as one of nature’s most versatile, remarkable substances. It’s been highly valued in various cultures and over many centuries.

So while WOW’s camphor hydrosol eco-friendly cleaning products are new to Australia, it’s also true they come from some pretty ancient knowledge -  an old idea, made possible by new technology.