Actually, I used to be interested in making home cosmetics when I was a teenager, and as I recall, making lavender water from the dried flowers was fairly straightforward. As a matter of fact, I googled a recipe for it, which I've linked below. (The lavender water recipe is on the right side. The "formulator's alcohol" would stand in for the "best rectified spirits of wine", and you wouldn't even need the half scruple of ambergris! ;-) However, I will admit that even the website says that the "essential oil" way is the easiest, plus it lasts a year (at room temperature?) rather than 2 weeks in the fridge! :-)