WOW! is probably the most accurate way to start this review as this class was above and beyond any of my expectations. Judging by the response of my fellow �classmates� I was not alone in this feeling. This class was jam packed with information about the sisters of our beloved essential oils. Hydrosols - Master Class was a two-day class that is about 16 hours of instructional time and many more spent considering all the great new ideas & thoughts you generate long after the class is over. It was very interactive, entertaining and informative. Suzanne is a very knowledgeable lady who is happy to share her knowledge and encourage people to enjoy the use of hydrosols for therapeutics and pleasure alike. Being involved in all aspects of hydrosols over the last several years, from the sowing of the seeds, growing, harvesting, distilling, stocking, shipping, etc. Suzanne is able to provide a holistic look at these lovely waters.

Day One started with a chemistry lesson that was hands down one of the best explained that I have ever seen for ease of understanding and application. This was a great way to start things off for those of us who were a little rusty on the whole chemistry issue. We also discussed the different functional groups, which are present in essential oils and hydrosols and their specific attributes and properties as well as some really great little tricks to help recognize some of the functional groups that are present in an oil (like most aldehydes smell lemony like Lemon Eucalyptus, but are not citrusy). Some safety was covered regarding the different functional groups in hydrosols and oils available on the market today. Suzanne talked about how the chemistry and scent of essential oils and their corresponding hydrosol can be quite different due to the specific chemical constituents, which are present in each. This being in part due to the fact that certain constituents are more hydrophilic or water loving than others, so there will be a higher content of them in the hydrosol than in the oil. The same can be said for lipophilic or fat loving constituents as well. It was also pointed out that depending on the amount of hydrosol that is being kept from each run the constituent levels will vary from hydrosol to hydrosol.

We ended Day One with profiles of hydrosols, some of which are in the book and many of which I have never seen available anywhere else. We looked at hydrosols like Cinnamon Bark, Ginger, Greenland Moss, St. John�s Wort, Echinacea, Mastic, Opopanax, Cistus and Bay Laurel to name a few. We were able to sample and interact with the hydrosols, which was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to check out hydrosols, which we may not have been fortunate enough to examine. Suzanne also brought with her some newer hydrosols and also some that are native to Canada like Scarlet & Purple Bee Balms (Monarda didyma & fistulosa respectively), which incidentally are almost identical chemically to Thyme vulgaris thymol & geraniol but cheaper and locally available. In covering the individual hydrosols we were presented with not only physical uses but also the emotional and energetic side of these beautiful products, which was very beneficial to all who are interested in energy, body and emotional work.

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