Broadstairs Botanicals x Chartwell House
Recently, our residents enjoyed a truly uplifting experience when we welcomed the talented team from Broadstairs Botanicals for a hands-on Hydrosol and Distillation Workshop. Together with Broadstairs Botanicals, our residents at Chartwell House created a Rosemary Hydrosol – a gentle, dementia-friendly blend made from nothing more than rosemary leaves and flowers. The rosemary itself was extra special, as it came from our very own plantings, both from our garden at Chartwell House and from our dedicated planter in Piermont Park, Broadstairs. The process was simply fascinating, as the rosemary was steam-distilled to capture its water-soluble aromatics, producing a beautifully fresh and uplifting scent.
About Broadstairs Botanicals
Broadstairs Botanicals is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to making the most of the beautiful plant life growing across Thanet. Each year, gardens and public spaces bloom with fragrant plants like lavender, bay, rosemary, mint and sage only to be cut back when the season ends. Instead of letting these aromatic treasures go to waste, Broadstairs Botanicals transforms them into pure hydrosols and essential oils by using traditional methods that date back almost a thousand years. Their mission is to ease the mind and soothe the soul by creating accessible wellness products for the local community while keeping the ancient craft alive.
How We Made Our Rosemary Hydrosol
Our Rosemary Hydrosol was created using a traditional steam distillation method, a technique that has been used for thousands of years. Here is the process of producing the Rosemary Hydrosol:
- Harvest The Rosemary – We picked fresh rosemary from our own garden at Chartwell House and from our community planter in Piermont Park in Broadstairs.
- Preparing The Still – The rosemary was placed into the distillation vessel with water below it.
- Heating The Water – As the water boiled, steam rose up through the rosemary, gently releasing its natural oils and water-soluble aromas.
- Capturing The Steam – The fragrant steam was channelled through a condenser which cooled it back into liquid form.
- Separating The Layers – The result was pure rosemary hydrosol (botanical water) with a tiny amount of essential oil naturally present.
Aromatherapy and Dementia
Aromatherapy is an ancient practice that uses scented essential oils from plants, flowers, herbs and trees to improve mental and physical health and is considered to have a range of health benefits for those living with dementia. These health benefits include improving sleep quality, relieving stress and encouraging relaxation, clearing sinuses, managing pain and soothing sore joints (Dementia UK, 2023). Hydrosols, such as those created by the Broadstairs Botanicals are being viewed positively for skincare, haircare and household aromatherapy. With similar properties to essential oils but in a much less concentrated from, hydrosols are gentle enough for direct use, making them ideal for dementia-friendly wellbeing activities.
Supporting Our Nostalgia Care with a Holistic Approach
The Rosemary Hydrosol we created is also dementia-friendly, making it perfect for our Nostalgia Care, dedicated to residents living with dementia. Sensory activities like this are a wonderful way to connect with those living with memory loss, offering comfort and familiarity in a gentle, engaging way.
Our commitment to residents’ wellbeing goes beyond special events. Every month, Chartwell House welcomes a holistic therapist who offers gentle essential oils and massage therapy, this is an alternative treatment that uses physical touch to relax the mind, body and soul. By working with soft tissues and muscles, massage can help release tension, soothe aches and pains, and promote overall health and wellbeing.
Just like aromatherapy, massage is about more than its physical benefits, it’s a moment of care, connection and relaxation ensuring our residents feel comfortable and truly at home.
From Workshop to Community Impact
The beautiful Rosemary Hydrosol has taken on a life beyond our walls, a local shop within the Broadstairs community called BY..SP ltd has been promoting Dementia UK, and Chartwell House decided to donate some bottles, complete with our label to support their efforts. So far, 13 out of the 24 bottles we have donated have been sold, raising £104 from the hydrosol alone. BY..SP has even asked to make it an ongoing item, and with other fundraising activities they’ve been running, their total has already reached around £600 for Dementia UK!
Watching our residents engage with the aromas of fresh rosemary and take pride in creating something beautiful was a reminder about creating opportunities for joy, connection, and little unexpected magic in everyday life.
To discover more about Chartwell House or Boutique Care Homes, please visit www.www.boutiquecarehomes.co.uk
