Lavender is one of the best known and most popular plants. For centuries, people have valued the mint family essential oil for its calming and relaxing effects. What many don't know:Lavandin, which is related to true lavender, looks and smells the same, but has a slightly different effect. If you want to use lavender essential oil for aromatherapy applications, make sure you use the right variety.
True lavender, botanically named Lavandula angustifolia, grows in fields at elevations 500 meters and above and is best harvested in the midday heat. Then the yield of the essential oil is highest because the plant protects itself against the heat. There is also the real mountain lavender. It grows in the wild at altitudes of 800 meters and above and is laboriously harvested by hand with a sickle, also preferably in the midday heat. The range of ingredients in lavender essential oil has been found to be richer the higher the growing area.
Even the Romans used lavender to make their baths and laundry smell nice. The name lavender is derived from the Latin word “lavare”, which means “to cleanse”. In naturopathy, lavender is traditionally used for restlessness, nervousness and insomnia. It has a balancing, calming, mood-elevating, sleep-promoting and anxiety-relieving effect. Several ingredients are responsible for this effect, especially esters and monoterpenols.
Lavender has also proven itself in the care of skin irritations. The essential oil has, among other things, a balancing, regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect. It balances the skin. Numerous scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of lavender. Due to the various application options, it is an all-rounder that should not be missing in any home or first aid kit.
True lavender essential oil is also one of the few oils that can be applied undiluted to the skin at certain points, as it not only soothes and regenerates our nerves, but also the skin. Normally, essential oils should only be used diluted.
True lavender is often mistaken for its congeners lavandin. No wonder:if you want to recognize the differences, you have to look very closely. But they do exist:where true lavender has no branches, but flowers that sit at the top of a long stem, the stem of lavandin (botanical lavandula x intermedia) is branched.
There are also big differences when it comes to “inner values”. Lavandin smells just as herbaceous and fresh as real lavender, but has a stimulating and refreshing effect due to its 4-6 percent camphor content, the calming effect has no effect here. Lavandin also has an activating and stimulating effect on an emotional level and provides clarity. Lavandin is used physically in sports massage oils, as a cleansing fragrance or in toning leg sprays for the summer.
Rub a drop of pure lavender on the earlobe and do a relaxing ear massage. The soothing scent rises quickly in the nose and acts on the skin at the same time.
A few drops of fine lavender in aloe vera oil form a wonderful aftersun oil that relaxes the skin. Here you can count about 10 drops of lavender per 100 ml of organic aloe vera oil.
4 drops of organic lavender
4 drops of organic bergamot
2 drops of myrtle
Drop essential oils in an aroma lamp, nebulizer or aroma stone
30 ml alcohol (eg vodka)
30 ml organic almond oil
30 ml water
10 drops organic lavender
2 drops organic lemon
5 drops organic tea tree
Put alcohol and essential oils in an empty atomizer. Add almond oil and top up with water. Shake well before use, spray on palms and rub.
10 g chamomile flowers
10 g lavender flowers
2 drops organic lavender
Put the dried flowers and leaves in a bowl. Add lavender essential oil and mix. Put the mixture in a tea filter and close with a nice ribbon. Place the bag directly into the hot water in the bathtub.
