Legend has it that when Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea and set foot on the beaches of Cyprus, animals and magical creatures had gathered around her. And it seems that, in order to escape the gaze of a satyr, Aphrodite took refuge behind a bush that gladly gave its branches to the goddess to decorate and cover herself. This bush was the myrtle, which has always been a symbol of femininity and strength. Not for nothing, in ancient Greece many Amazons had a name that recalled the word myrtle, such as Myrtò, an Amazon who had fought against Theseus. But we have to go all the way to the Middle Ages to see myrtle used as a true beauty cosmetic. In fact, myrtle is the ingredient of an aqua mirabilis, or miracle water, the name given for more than 500 years to all aromatic waters, called the water of the angels, ideal to take care of the skin with a toning and revitalizing action. And the myrtle water can also be prepared at home and used as a tonic, a real aromatic water of beauty that tastes of ancient heroines and divinities. So let's see the properties of myrtle water and then the recipe for its realization.
Water of the angels, properties
The water of the angels is an aromatic water prepared with myrtle. Myrtle essential oil is useful to soothe irritated skin. Not only that, in case of acne it helps regulate sebum production, counteracts enlarged pores, the formation of blackheads and is antibacterial (Kim et al, Biomedical Dermatology, 2018). The water of the angels, sprayed on the face before bed, also helps to calm down and counteracts insomnia (Ali et al, Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2015). Aqueous extracts of myrtle leaves are precious sources of antioxidants, useful to counteract the aging processes and to keep the skin young, supple and fresh (Amensaour et al, Nat Prod Commun, 2009). Finally, myrtle is also an ally in case of sunburned skin, in fact, it has been shown that its extracts, in addition to being soothing, reduce the damage caused by UV rays on the skin (Ozcan et al, Burns, 2019).
Water of the angels, preparation
Let's see two recipes for the myrtle water, the first dedicated to young and acne prone skin, the second to mature skin with wrinkles. You can prepare the water of the angels in a few steps using the essential oil of myrtle. This recipe is useful for acne-prone skin given the antibacterial and sebum-regulating properties of myrtle essential oil. Boil half a glass of water in a saucepan. Remove from heat and let cool down. Pour the water into a bottle with a spray cap. Add 20 drops of myrtle essential oil. After shaking you can spray on face and body. In the case of mature skin, instead, it may be useful to resort to an alternative recipe of the water of the angels that involves the infusion of myrtle leaves, which have been shown to be anti-aging, and the addition of orange flowers and petals of roses, with an antioxidant, illuminating and relaxing action (Lee et al, Food Sci Nutr, 2018). Bring a cup of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add a teaspoon of dried myrtle flowers and leaves, a teaspoon of dried orange flowers, a few rose petals, preferably fresh. Leave to infuse for twenty minutes, then filter and pour into a bottle. You can also enrich the water of the angels with five drops of myrtle essential oil. After spraying the water of the angels, you can complete with a drop of anti-aging serum oil and a little face cream.
