Spike lavender: a lively essential oil to dilute with care

Not all lavenders are alike. Alongside true lavender, delicate and floral, grows a cousin with a bolder character: spike lavender. Its scent is livelier and more camphoraceous, and its essential oil is not used in quite the same way. Here is a short guide to telling it apart and using it well.

What is spike lavender?

Spike lavender, Lavandula latifolia, belongs like all lavenders to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its Latin name means "broad-leaved": its leaves are indeed wider than those of true lavender. It prefers low altitudes and the hot, dry soils of southern Europe, notably in Spain and Provence. Where its range meets that of true lavender, the two species cross naturally to produce lavandin, widely grown for perfumery.

According to the product sheet, our spike lavender essential oil is obtained from the flowering tops and comes in a 10 ml bottle. It is classed in the ketone chemical family, which calls for particular precautions – our sheet on essential oil families explains why. The sheet also states that its use requires the advice of a specialist.

How to use it

Our druggist recommends it for external, diluted application, in the spirit of traditional skin care and relaxing moments.

In a skin care oil

• Mix 1 to 2 drops into a tablespoon of a gentle vegetable oil (almond, jojoba, calendula).
• Do a patch test in the crook of your elbow and wait 24 hours.
• Apply to a small area of clean, healthy skin, avoiding the face, eyes and mucous membranes.

For a relaxing massage

• Make a massage oil with about 3 drops per 10 ml of vegetable oil.
• Slowly massage the neck, shoulders or soles of the feet in a quiet room.
• Its fresh scent accompanies a moment of relaxation at the end of the day.

Precautions

Ketone family: take care. The product sheet makes it clear that using this essential oil requires the advice of a specialist. Never use it neat, never swallow it and keep it away from the eyes. Oils rich in ketones should be avoided during pregnancy, breastfeeding and for young children unless a specialist advises otherwise; ask for advice too if you are on medication. Keep the bottle closed and out of the reach of children.

Our products

• Spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia), 10 ml – from the flowering tops.
• Spike lavender essential oil – with a fresh scent, according to its sheet.
• Organic spike lavender essential oil, 10 ml – the organically farmed version.

Advice from the drugstore

Spike lavender or true lavender? Both have a place in the home, but not for the same uses or with the same precautions. If you are unsure, visit us at Droguerie Perusset in Yverdon-les-Bains: we will let you smell both and help you choose the one that suits your needs.