Lavender has always been loved. This sweet-smelling plant’s Latin name, Lavandula, traces its origins to the Latin word lavare, meaning "to wash," a nod to its ancient use in cleansing rituals, baths, and spiritual purification. Ancient Egyptians crafted cosmetics and imbued embalming oils with lavender extracts. Regal Romans, known for their love of bathing, infused their ablutions and waters with lavender, knowing it stimulated slumber and healing. In the European era of alchemists and apothecaries, lavender was a cherished ingredient in herbal remedies, used to soothe skin, quell headaches, and ease nervous afflictions. It was even strewn across floors to freshen the air and ward off illness. The legacy of lavender lit the path to peace of mind, peak perfumery, and skin salvation, weaving its way into the heart of human experience and offering its fragrant embrace as a salve of purity, serenity, and healing.
Legends in the Field of Lavender
Herbalist, hymn-harmonizer, and healer Hildegard von Bingen, the renowned 12th-century devoted an entire chapter to lavender in her writings, extolling its virtues for "purifying the soul, lifting melancholy, and promoting a serene spirit," securing its place in the medieval pharmacopeia.
Hildegard von Bingen’s writings on lavender reflect her deep understanding of its healing and spiritual significance. In her seminal work, Physica, she describes lavender as possessing the ability to "diminish evil" and "calm a restless mind," associating its fragrant essence with both physical and emotional cleansing. She recommended lavender as a healer of wounds and digestive issues and also for its power to uplift the soul and dispel sadness. Her holistic approach elevated lavender's dual role as a physical remedy and a spiritual purifier, making it a vital herb for well-being.
"Lavender forefathers"—René-Maurice Gattefossé and Dr. Jean Valnet—are key to the history of aromatherapy. They each contributed to elevating lavender from a traditional remedy to a cornerstone of modern medical aromatherapy.
René-Maurice Gattefossé, a pioneering French chemist, is often credited with coining the term "aromatherapy." In his seminal 1937 work, Aromathérapie, he recounts a pivotal incident that sparked his interest in distilled extracts called essential oils. While working in his laboratory, Gattefossé suffered a severe burn on his hand, and to alleviate the pain, he intuitively immersed his hand in a container of lavender essential oil. To his astonishment, the burn healed rapidly with minimal scarring, an experience that led him to extensively research the therapeutic properties of essential oils, particularly lavender.
His dramatic experience with lavender oil is the root of aromatherapy legend— a true "eureka" moment that solidified lavender’s place in therapeutic lore and leads to our contemporary use of essential oils. His work laid the scientific groundwork that gave lavender essential oil the credibility it enjoys today.
Dr. Jean Valnet, a renowned French army surgeon and aromatherapist, expanded on this legacy by blending his medical expertise with the healing art of essential oils. In his influential book, The Practice of Aromatherapy, Valnet discusses the antiseptic and healing properties of lavender oil. He notes its efficacy in treating wounds, burns, and various skin conditions, highlighting its soothing and regenerative effects, and his emphasis on lavender as a remedy for emotional imbalance continues to inspire. Valnet's work in aromatherapy integrated essential oils into modern medical practices, emphasizing the importance of natural remedies in promoting health and healing.Together, Gattefossé and Valnet gifted us with the knowledge of lavender's extraordinary properties and a deeper appreciation of its ability to harmonize science, medicine, and nature. A perfect pair of lavender-loving luminaries!
Marguerite Maury, often hailed as the "mother of aromatherapy," explored the therapeutic virtues of lavender in her seminal work, The Secret of Life and Youth. She emphasized lavender's key calming effects, stating that it "soothes the nervous system and promotes restful sleep." Maury also points out its versatility in skincare, noting that lavender "aids in the healing of burns and wounds, and rejuvenates the complexion." Her pioneering approach to aromatherapy involved creating personalized essential oil blends, with lavender frequently serving as a cornerstone due to its gentle yet prolific properties.
In L'aromathérapie exactement, authors Pierre Franchomme and Dr. Daniel Pénoël, a distinguished figure in medical aromatherapy, delved into the multifaceted properties of lavender essential oil, particularly Lavandula angustifolia. The authors state that lavender oil is "indispensable in the treatment of burns and wounds," and they take note of its potent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects that promote wound healing and skin regeneration.
Modern scientific research supports these claims, elucidating the mechanisms by which lavender oil facilitates healing. Studies have demonstrated that lavender essential oil enhances collagen synthesis, a critical component in wound healing, and exhibits antimicrobial properties that prevent infection in damaged tissues. Additionally, lavender oil has been found to modulate inflammatory responses thereby reducing swelling and promoting faster recovery.
These scientific insights shed light on René-Maurice Gattefossé's anecdotal evidence of experiencing burn relief after applying lavender oil. The antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative properties of lavender essential oil likely played a pivotal role in his recovery, aligning with both traditional uses and contemporary scientific understanding of this versatile essential oil.
In Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Peter Holmes also studies the useful nature of Lavandula angustifolia. He designates lavender as "one of the very best anxiolytics in aromatherapy," accentuating its efficacy in alleviating anxiety and promoting relaxation. Holmes also underscores lavender's "broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties" that make it valuable in addressing various skin conditions and infections.
Holmes turns his exploration to lavender’s role in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is believed to "clear heat and calm the Shen," thereby harmonizing the mind and spirit. These contributions from Holmes demonstrate lavender's therapeutic potential across healing modalities: “The large theme that emerges from the totality of Lavender’s therapeutic effects is one where relaxation is balanced by restoration followed by a net regulating effect.”
Robert Tisserand, a contemporary aromatherapy specialist, has performed groundbreaking research and writing on lavender. His opus, Essential Oil Safety, co-authored with Rodney Young, is a meticulous resource that remains the gold standard for essential oil data and good practices. Tisserand's insights into Lavandula angustifolia showcase its versatility, from comforting the nervous system to soothing the skin. He celebrates lavender as one of the safest and most universally beneficial oils and describes it as "a harmonizing and balancing gift from nature."
Tisserand has also recently debunked a persistent myth surrounding lavender oil (and tea tree) via scientific safety analysis. A flawed research study implicated these oils as hormone disruptors even though the accused products used synthetic fragrances rather than pure essential oils. Tisserand's research clarified that authentic lavender and tea tree pose no risk to hormones, and restored their reputations as safe and effective. His evidence-based aromatherapy validates the traditional use of essential oil use with modern scientific methods, ensuring that essential oils like lavender remain trusted allies in natural wellness.
In The Intelligence of Essential Oils, Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, a trailblazer in modern medical aromatherapy, explains the complexity of Lavender oil: "Over 1,200 components have been identified in Lavender essential oil. It is intuitively understandable that these layers upon layers of physiological activity of all the components in Lavender generate an overall quality, which is distinctly that of Lavender." In his book, Advanced Aromatherapy: The Science of Essential Oil Therapy, Schnaubelt describes Lavender as "the gentle healer," promoting it as a broad- spectrum antimicrobial and its role in encouraging relaxation and emotional balance. He asserts that "Lavender oil's well-rounded profile makes it suitable for a wide range of therapeutic applications," from alleviating stress to supporting skin health.
Author Steffen Arctander, in Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, states that Lavender oil is "one of the most versatile and widely used essential oils in perfumery and aromatherapy." He describes its calming and soothing scent as "fresh, sweet, floral, and herbaceous.” As for Lavender Absolute, Arctander writes that it "bears a close resemblance to the odor of the flowering lavender shrubs. Its woody-herby undertone and coumarin-like sweetness duplicate the odor of the botanical material."Academic researcher and pharmacologist Gerhard Buchbauer examined lavender in depth in his 1991 study, "Aromatherapy: Evidence for Sedative Effects of the Essential Oil of Lavender after Inhalation." Buchbauer and his colleagues investigated the sedative properties of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and its main constituents—linalool and linalyl acetate. The researchers observed that exposure to lavender oil led to reduced activity levels and that the sedative effect correlated with the duration of exposure to the essential oil.
The study also examined the effect of lavender oil inhalation on caffeine-induced hyperactivity. After administering caffeine, the researchers found that inhaling lavender oil restored calmness, suggesting that Lavender oil may counteract stimulant-induced hyperactivity.
These findings support the conventional use of lavender in aromatherapy—such as drops on pillows and in baths—to facilitate sleep and alleviate stress. The authors concluded that their results furnish "evidence of the aromatherapeutical use of herbal pillows employed in folk medicine since ancient times...to facilitate falling asleep or to minimize stressful situations."
Finally, lavender-legend Ernest Guenther, a leading-edge chemist and author of The Essential Oils (1948-1952), a monumental six-volume work, reviewed every imaginable element of essential oils, from their chemistry and distillation methods to their historical uses and olfactory artistry. As both a scientist and an aesthete, Guenther’s meticulous research and eloquent insights on lavender bridge the technical and the poetic with his high praise of this botanical marvel. Guenther details the distinctions between lavender species, describing each treasured variety’s nuanced chemistry and olfactory profile.
Guenther was captivated by the synergy of lavender’s chemistry, particularly the interplay of linalool and linalyl acetate that he describes as “a duet of tranquility and restoration.” This natural harmony is what gives lavender its unparalleled ability to soothe the mind, uplift the spirit, and tend to the skin with gentle grace.
Cherished for its delicacy and therapeutic properties, Guenther identifies Lavandula angustifolia as the “true lavender.” Unlike Lavandula latifolia (spike lavender) or Lavandula x intermedia (lavandin) with higher camphor levels and sharper aromatic profiles, Lavandula angustifolia embodies a gentler elegance that is “sweet, floral, and herbaceous, with an understated tenacity that lingers like a whisper of meadow air.” This balance of softness and depth has endeared true lavender to perfumers, aromatherapists, and herbalists for centuries.
Guenther also explains the influence of terroir and altitude, which impart distinctive characteristics to the chemistry of plants. Lavender grown at high-altitude, such as Alpine and Maillette, have elevated ester content—particularly linalyl acetate—that amplifies the soothing, creamy floral notes. Guenther describes these high-altitude varieties as possessing “a rare purity and serenity, akin to the crystalline air of their mountain origins.”
Lavenders grown at lower altitudes, such as French Fine and Classic Lavender, have a more robust, herbaceous aroma due to the levels of linalool and camphor in these varieties. Guenther describes the profile as “harmonious yet vibrant, with a complexity that lends itself equally to perfumery and practical applications.”
Guenther offers lavish praise of lavender’s versatility as a middle note in perfumery as it blends well with other essential oils, including citrus, florals, and woods. He describes lavender as an essential ingredient in classic fougère and chypre fragrances. He also features the enduring fragrance of Lavender Absolute that captures the plant’s non-volatile compounds; “Lavender Absolute is an olfactory masterpiece,” he writes, “combining the honeyed warmth of summer hay with the floral brightness of lavender in bloom.” Its depth and tenacity make it a prized ingredient in perfumery, offering a dimension that steam-distilled lavenders cannot replicate.
A LIVELY LEAGUE OF LUMINATING LAVENDERS
Living Libations offers a classic quintet of captivating Lavender varieties. While every Lavender oil is an enchanting essence, each one possesses distinctive charms, from the serenely soothing to the dreamily floral. Among this lively league of elixirs and liniments there's a perfect Lavender waiting to grace you.
Here’s a deep dive into the distinctions among our five varieties:
Classic Lavender – The Legend
Lovely, languid Lavender is distilled from the flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia, grown in the amethyst-hued fields of Bulgaria. With a soothing caress that has been cherished for centuries, this versatile essential oil is a botanical balm for body, mind, and spirit—a true Swiss Army knife of aromatherapy. This aromatic is the quintessential classic Lavender; a sweet, fresh floral that whispers tranquility.
Versatile and timeless, this legendary Lavender is perfect for various applications, from skincare to saunas, easing the appearance of scars to enhancing slumber. Lush in linalool, this flower essence supports skin cell renewal, invites calm clarity, and creates soothing baths.
Scent Profile: Balanced and versatile; a quintessentially clean scent gilded with floral notes that evoke calm meadows in full bloom. Hints of soft greenery and a touch of light woodiness create a balanced aroma that soothes the senses and invites relaxation.
Aromatic History: From the Latin lavare—to wash—Lavender was revered by Romans to infuse bathwater and as a calming remedy for skin healing and spirits. Its universal appeal has made it a staple for perfumes, linen sprays, and aromatherapy blends.
Key Constituents: Balanced in linalool and linalyl acetate, it is versatile for both calming the mind and soothing the skin. Its mild camphor content gives it a fresh, clean scent without being overly floral.
- Linalool (25-38%): Known for its skin-soothing and relaxing benefits.
- Linalyl Acetate (25-45%): Provides a sweet, floral aroma and contributes to Lavender's soothing effects on the nervous system.
- Camphor (<1%): Low levels of camphor ensure this oil remains gentle on the skin and senses.
Alpine Lavender – The Dream
This cloud-nine Alpine Lavender rises from the fresh air of the Lubéron Mountains, steeped in the crystalline purity of high-altitude blooms. This lovely, lulling essence delivers a velvety-soft and pleasantly powdery fragrance with a whisper of mountain air. It diffuses fragrant floral grace, wrapping skin and senses in a Lavender lullaby.
“This extremely hardy, weather resistant, sun-loving variety has the most delicate, fine ‘powdery-floral’ fragrance. This is because the ester content of its oil is higher than lavenders from lower elevations…”
Peter Holmes, Aromatica
Scent Profile: A powdery-soft floral fragrance, reminiscent of spring air and alpine blooms. Sweet and light, with a subtle, creamy undertone that whispers of wildflowers and rolling, snow-capped peaks. Its gentleness is uplifting yet grounding, making it a favorite for sensitive noses.
Aromatic History: Distilled from Lavender growing in the high-altitude regions of the French Alps, Alpine Lavender was historically used for its pure essence, enhanced by the pristine environment. Its powdery notes have long been associated with luxury and refinement in perfumery.
Key Constituents: Grown at high altitudes, this variety boasts a more refined, powdery aroma due to higher ester content (linalyl acetate). It is particularly gentle and healing on the skin and effective for emotional relaxation.
- Linalool (up to 40%): High levels make it incredibly soothing for all skin concerns.
- Linalyl Acetate (35-50%): Elevated levels contribute to its sweet, powdery scent.
- Terpinen-4-ol (1-3%): Boosts antimicrobial benefits.
French Fine Lavender – The IconIconic and divine, French Fine Lavender is sublime. The pinnacle of aromatic elegance, French Fine Lavender is a fragrant treasure distilled by a fourth-generation family distillery. Known for its timeless versatility, this particular Lavender is lavishly restorative for the skin and serenely sweet for sleep. Sweet on scars, soothing to the skin, and a sublimely serene aroma, it elevates every other aroma, making it perfect for perfumes.