True lavender: the essential oil for relaxing rituals

Purple rows stretching to the horizon under the July sun, the hum of bees, a sachet of dried flowers slipped between the sheets: lavender is part of our shared scent memory. Of all essential oils, it is often the first one people buy. And with good reason: versatile and pleasant, it lends itself to many small everyday rituals.

What is true lavender?

True lavender, also called fine lavender or English lavender, bears the botanical name Lavandula angustifolia, meaning "narrow-leaved". It belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and grows naturally at altitude, on the sunny mountain slopes of southern Europe. It should not be confused with spike lavender, which is more camphoraceous, or with lavandin, a hybrid of the two species. Its dried flowers have long been tucked into wardrobes to scent linen.

According to the product sheet, our true lavender essential oil offers a "floral, aromatic scent". It is also available in an organic version, in a 10 ml bottle. To find out how essential oils are grouped into families and what that means for their use, see our sheet on essential oil families.

How to use it

Our druggist uses it in diffusion and in cosmetic care, for moments of relaxation.

A relaxing atmosphere in the evening

• Put 4 to 6 drops in your diffuser and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes in the living room or bedroom.
• Switch it off before going to bed: the scent lingers for quite a while.
• If you like, pair it with bergamot or sweet orange for a fruitier note.

In your body care

• Add 2 to 3 drops to 10 ml of vegetable oil for a massage oil or a scented body oil.
• For the bath, first mix 3 to 4 drops into a bath base or a spoonful of neutral body wash: essential oil does not blend with water.
• Always do a patch test in the crook of your elbow before the first application.

For your linen

Refresh a sachet of dried lavender with one or two drops, then place it in a wardrobe or drawer, without direct contact with the fabric.

Precautions

Gentle, but concentrated. However familiar it is, true lavender is still an essential oil: do not swallow it, do not apply it neat to large areas and keep it away from the eyes. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, or if you are on medication, ask for advice before use. Keep the bottle closed, away from light and out of the reach of children.

Our products

• True lavender essential oil – floral, aromatic scent.
• Organic true lavender essential oil, 10 ml – the organically farmed version.

A timeless classic

True lavender is the ideal companion for getting started with essential oils: a scent everyone knows, with simple and varied uses. To choose between the classic and organic version, or to create your first blend, the team at Droguerie Perusset in Yverdon-les-Bains will be happy to welcome you.