Lavender essential oil | Lavandula angustifolia

Traditional use: Common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of those herbs that do not need a detailed introduction. It has distinctive, small purple flowers with a mild flowery smell that many people associate with relaxation in nature. Those aromatic flowers are the main herbal ingredient used in naturotherapy. It is also used to produce essential oil.

In the tradition of natural medicine lavender has been around for ages. The anxiolytic effects of this herb made it a great remedy for anxiety and sleeping issues, primarily insomnia. Some people prefer to add lavender oil to the bath in the evening in order to prepare the body for a good night’s sleep. The inhalations will work too. What is more, lavender is probably one of the best natural insect repellents so it can be used in DIY mixtures against mosquitoes. It might prevent the unpleasant bite but even if it happens, lavender oil will help to reduce swelling and speed up recovery. It also helps to deal with pain and that is why in herbal medicine it works as a painkiller for headaches and migraines. And since it has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to breathe freely it is a good support for the organism during common cold and other viral infections. The benefits of using lavender in cosmetics are also pretty significant. It is useful for the skin as it brings a young and healthy look. Moreover, lavender oil facilitates blood flow which makes it quite an effective help in cellulite reduction.

Occurrence: Common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a small shrub from the Lamiaceae family of plants. The flowering period usually occurs in the summer, between July and August. The herb makes small, dense clumps reaching about 0,5 m in height. The woody stems of lavender and its lanceolate, green leaves are covered in small, silver hairs. The most distinctive part of the plant are certainly the inflorescences made of tiny flowers with many colors. However, the vast majority of the flowers are purple or violet but sometimes they might be white or dark pink.

Lavender comes from the Mediterranean Basin – Italy, Spain and France. Nowadays, it is cultivated all over the world. Because it has a relatively small size, it is a common herb in gardens or used as a home plant. It grows most effectively in sunny and dry places. It does not tolerate too much moisture as it has a bad influence on the delicate roots. However, lavender is moderately resistant to low temperatures. 

Lavender essential oil offered in our shop is made from the highest quality lavender flowers grown in France – the country considered the homeland of lavender.

Biochemistry: Lavender essential oil contains many active compounds, including: linalool, linalyl acetate, alpha-pinene, geranial, borneol, p-cymene and beta-caryophyllene. There are also some amounts of anthocyanins, tannins and minerals. 

The oil available in our shop is produced with a method of steam distillation from the flowers of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Thanks to that every drop is optimally condensed and has an aroma bouquet unique for this plant.

Aroma: Top note of medium intensity and low durability. Middle tone with a sweet, green note.

Fun fact: The name “lavender” comes from the French derivative of the Latin word “lavere” which means “to cleanse”. It refers to the tradition of making herbal infusions with this herb.