Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)

Overview

Lavender may also be referred to as True lavender, English lavender, Common lavender, Garden lavender, Narrow-leaved lavender, Lavandula angustifolia maillet, Lavender maillet. It is typically processed in Bulgaria, France, China, Ukraine, Spain, & Morocco using steam or hydro distillation as a method for extracting oil from the leaves and flowers/buds.

Summary

Lavender is a very useful and popular essential oil. It comes from the flower tops of Lavandula angustifolia (Lavandula officinalis) plants and is extracted by steam distillation. It has a flowery scent and a balancing effect on the body and mind.

Essential Facts

  • Aroma Description:

    Camphoraceous Floral Fresh Fruity Herbaceous Sweet

  • Common Name(s): True lavender, English lavender, Common lavender, Garden lavender, Narrow-leaved lavender, Lavandula angustifolia maillet, Lavender maillet
  • Botanical Family: Lamiaceae
  • Botanical Genus: Lavandula
  • Chemical Family: Esters, Monoterpenols
  • Major Compounds: Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, (Z)-B-Ocimene, Lavandulyl acetate, Terpinene-4-ol, B-Caryophyllene, (E)-B-Farnesene, (E)-B-Ocimene, 3-Octanyl Acetate
  • Perfumery Note: Top/Middle
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
  • Color: Clear with a Tinge of Yellow
  • Countries of Production: Bulgaria, France, China, Ukraine, Spain, & Morocco
  • Indigenous Country: Native to the Old World, from South Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, & Asia to southeast India
  • Cultivation: Unsprayed or organic
  • Processing Methods: Steam or Hydro Distillation
  • Part Typically Used: Leaves and Flowers/Buds
  • Shelf Life: 6 years
  • Ethically and sustainably sourced Ethically and sustainably sourced
  • Organic Organic
  • Vegan Vegan
  • Not Pregnancy Safe Not recommended or safe if pregnant or nursing

Essential Details

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Lavender:

Don't use lavender oil during the early stages of pregnancy.

Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Lavender Essential Oil. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 325-328.]

Safety Precautions for Lavender:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.