Lavender Essential Oils and Herb

Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula officinalis

Family: Labiatae

Part Used in Aromatherapy and Herbalism: The flowering buds

Scent: Fresh, Sweet, Herbacious, Soft-floral, bittersweet (this depends on the type of lavender that's distilled and also the part of the country it is grown in)

Types:
French Hi Altitude Lavender - The Sweetest as well as the Lavender that comes from France that is not Hi Alt. is also a very nice scent.
Bulgarian - There are two; naturally grown and wild-crafted (a little bit stronger than the French Hi Altitude, but very nice)
Lavender Spike (spica) - A more bittersweet lavender.
Lavindin - A hybrid, that's got a slightly more herbal scent.
Lavender Stocheas - A little stronger, but still smells nice, which I purchase from Turkey - also wild-crafted.

Countrys of Origin: United States, Turkey, France and Bulgaria (in my opinion, these are the best), Persia, Canary Islands, Spain, Morocco, England and Australia.

Lavender is a shrub, not just a flowering plant or a tree that grows to about three feet in height. It can be grown in many climates, as well as here in Connecticut, but in Florida and other places that are hot, it's usually just too hot for the bush to survive.

The oil is steam distilled from the flowering buds of the lavender bushes. It takes about 150 of the buds for a pound of the essential oil. There is also a hydrosol from the steam distillation, when it's available. Though I've tried it, I prefer the rose otto and oregano hydrosol (not for the scent on the oregano, for the antibacterial benefits), more than I do the lavender, as I really do like the lavenders scent.

I grew up with the aloe vera plant in the house as my Mom had them, and if we got a burn from the stove, we'd grab some aloe and squeeze the juice from it right on the burn to ease it. Now, I not only have the aloe, but we keep lavender (a small bottle) in the kitchen, as it works great on burns. We've had it literally stop a burn and the sting from forming, just by dabbing a little of it on the burned spot, quickly. Definitely one of the oils I wouldn't be without.

The lavender herb is very relaxing and I make lavender pillows and sachets from it. Mark's got one pillow that's good-sized that he's had for years and he wants a second one - when I get a chance to sew it for him as I already have enough herb. The pillows are great. You squeeze them and the scent envelopes you and it not only smells good, but it's very calming and relaxing as well. So, it helps with sleep too.

The essential oil, when added to a homemade cream, lotion, milk or other product that you can make (see recipes), it's good to put on your skin for conditions such as dermatitus, eczema and psoriasis - what you'd do is smooth a little over your skin. I also make a complexion soap, from a melt and pour base, that's got lavender and a little tea tree in it for problem skin that works well.

Properties: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, calmative, antifungal, relaxing, cleansing, refreshing, good for depression.

Safety Data: Non-irritating, non-toxic. (I do know one aromatherpist who is sensitive to all lavender, including the organic, so it's not impossible).

Lavender has also been used for desserts, but nothing I'd put it on, as I don't like the taste that much.
We've also used it on cold sores, and it's taken them away in a day or so, just like lemon, though I'll take the taste of lemon anyday.

You can also make up lavender sachets, small ones and hang them in your closet - they not only are good for moths, which don't like them, but your closet always smells nice too. I put the smaller sachets in drawers, and my clothing always smells that herbal-sweetlike scent.
I also use it in my shampoos, a little bit for it's properties and scent as well as conditioner and in perfumes. This also makes a nice gift set if you're making gifts for a birthday or getting a heads-up on Christmas.

As always, any questions - please ask.

mn - 2007