Plant Profile Uses & Benefits
Extraction Method Cultivating & Harvesting
The Black Sea climate zone of Bulgaria produces some of the world's best lavender. Its sunny and dry climate during harvest coupled with dry, well-drained, sandy soil is ideal for this aromatic plant. For these reasons, we chose Eastern Bulgaria.
There are over 30 species of Lavender and hundreds of genotypes that are distinguished by their growth form and the chemical compositions of their essential oils. The three main species of Lavender fall within the genus that produces essential oils. They belong to a group called “Lavandula” and they are English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), Spanish Lavender (Lavandula Stoechas) and Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia).
Lavender: Lavandula Angustifolia
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae
Order: Lamiales
Genus:: Lamiaceae
Species: L. angustifolia
Origin: Eastern Bulgaria
Plant part: Herb top flowering
Extraction Method: Distillation
Description: A thin, clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid.
Aromatic Summary: A top note of strong aroma, a rich floral scent that is somewhat fruity and mellow.
It takes 3-5 pounds of Lavender flowers to produce just one 15mL bottle of Lavender essential oil.
Herbal Actions: Aromatic, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-catarrhal, Analgesic, Carminative, Cicatrisant, Rubefacient, Nervine, Vulnerary, Antidepressant
Primary Benefits
Soothes occasional skin irritations and minor burns
Lavender reduces anxious feelings, helps ease tension, and promotes peaceful sleep
Due to Lavender’s versatile properties, it is considered the must-have oil to have on hand at all times and a staple for your first aid kit.
Lavender has been used and cherished for centuries for its unmistakable aroma and myriad benefits. In ancient times, the Egyptians and Romans used Lavender for bathing, relaxation, cooking, and as a perfume.
With its calming and relaxing qualities, this mild sedative is reputed to reduce stress by relaxing brain waves, which is also said to reduce cortisol levels that contribute to the stress hormone. As cortisol leads to lower immunity, Lavender would accordingly support the immune system by helping relieve feelings of stress that can weaken health. Lavender is believed to help balance hormones and reduce feelings of nervous tension, and based on empirical evidence, has worked to reduce feelings of depression for some individuals.
You can add lavender to your bath water to soak away stress or apply it to the temples and the back of the neck. Add a few drops of Lavender to pillows, bedding, or bottoms of feet to relax and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.
When applied topically, Lavender is frequently used to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Its potential to restore skin complexion is also demonstrated with use on aging and acne-prone skin on which it slows the look of aging with its powerful anti-oxidant action and improves the look and feel of skin that is subject to eczema and psoriasis.
Lavender oil contains antibacterial anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It's these properties that make it useful for for skin irritations like acne, dermatitis, insect bites, cuts and burns also makes it a go-to for hemorrhoids. It helps by providing relief from itching, burning and swelling associated with hemorrhoids. Combine a few drops each of olive oil cypress and lavender oil. Using a cotton ball, apply the solution to the affected area. If this is the right combination for you, you should feel immediate relief.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to the desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity. Lavender is a safe oil and can be applied to small areas Neat!
Main Chemical Components
Linalool: 28.47%, Linalyl acetate: 31.99%, Camphor: 0.24%
Lavender falls under the chemical compound group known as esters, which are typically characterized by their calming properties. The main chemical components of Lavender oil are Linalool and linalyl acetate. Essential oils that are high in Linalool, including Lavender, are known for their ability to reduce sad and anxious feelings. As an essential oil with chemical components known for its calming properties, Lavender can also be used to help ease feelings of tension.
Throughout history, lavender has promoted healthier skin and good hygiene, and today it is synonymous with relaxation and self-care. Lavender's crisp, clean, and floral fragrance makes it favoured among soap makers and soap users alike
Using Lavender Oil in Soap
Lavender Oil is considered a "NEAT" oil, which means it can be used undiluted on the skin. Typically, undiluted application is only used in a specific localized area for acute conditions, treatment work, or reflex/acupressure work.
Being that soap is a wash-off product Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) can be used up to 20%.
Lavender Essential oil is known to decelerate trace and is the perfect oil when doing detailed designs. Mid notes Lavender herbaceous/floral with Mid notes meaning this oil holds well on its own and blends well with pretty much everything!
“Notes” denote the volatility of an oil's aroma. The conifers and citrus oils, for example, are in general “top notes” - their aroma readily releases, but is fleeting. The bottom notes, or “base notes” on the other hand are deep and long-lasting, think Agarwood, Cedarwood, Patchouli, etc. Middle notes can generally stand alone in a blend mid notes are the star that helps give body and fullness to a blend. They're often what holds the blend together and makes it work.
Extraction Method
The distillation part of the production process determines the oil’s value, due to the fact that the pressure or temperatures applied to the flowers during the distillation process could potentially alter the structure of the fragrance molecules and thus change the oil’s chemical constituents. If the oil comes in contact with free water during the preheating stage of distillation, the oil quality and the efficiency of extraction may both be weakened.
The highest quality essential oil is derived from steam distilling only the fresh Lavender flowers and no other part of the plant. It is believed that the first distillation produces an oil that is clear and of the highest quality. The second distillation is believed to produce oil of a pale amber colour and a strong scent that is less pleasant than the first oil. When selecting a Lavender essential oil, it is more relevant to consider a company’s complete essential oil production process from field harvest to the bottling of the final product.
Cultivating & Harvesting
Lavender plant growing conditions contribute to the quality of the distilled essential oil. This means the season, climate, moisture levels, and even the amount of cloud coverage affect the quality of the finished product, as not all plants are hardy in all environments. Soil quality is a major factor in the quality as well – a high amount of nitrogen in the soil, for instance, can promote disease in Lavender plants, causing them to appear sickly and leading to a decrease in flower growth.
The yield and the quality of the oil depend on the age of the Lavender bushes as well as the weather. The months of harvest are between the end of July through August and may diminish quality within four and ten days.
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