Origins:

The exact date of the invention of Hungary water is lost to history, though some sources say it dates to 1370 or the late 14th century  According to legend, it was formulated at the command of the Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. Some sources say that a hermit or monk-recluse first gave it to the Queen of Hungary, though most likely it was made by a court alchemist or a monk-alchemist. In some stories the water was given to the queen in order to help her headaches, in others it was given as a beauty elixir to preserve a youthful appearance. In any case it was famous as a fragrance and a remedy for facial irritations (including redness and acne) – so much so that versions of this recipe have been used for almost 700 years!! (from Wikipedia)

My Version

The recipe I use for Queen of Hungary water includes 13 different botanicals that are extracted in witch hazel (for the face mist) or almond oil (for the moisturizing face oil). I left them to extract for 3 months to get the most benefit and I absolutely love the result! I have very dry skin and often simply cleanse it by spritzing my face with Q of H water and wiping it dry with a damp washcloth before applying the oil and doing a mini- face massage. While it is technically a facial toner, each of the flowers share a specific benefit.

Botanical Ingredients:

(adapted from Mt. Rose Herb’s recipe which was adapted from Rosemary Gladstar’s recipe which was adapted from many folk recipes all the way back to the Queen of Hungary herself!)

Not to name drop, but many celebrities and make up artists are turning to versions of this recipe to use under or over make up and while my recipe might be a bit humbler than other higher priced brands out there, I think its pretty funny that at the end of the day rich and poor alike are returning to more natural skin care products made out of something as simple as a few handfuls of flowers that have been used for centuries. (You can read the story in the Hollywood reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/makeup-monday-a-cult-fave-780181/)