Lavender essential oil
Lavender oil: one name, several plants
"Lavender oil" on a label can come from four different plants. They share a family resemblance, and they differ in chemistry, aroma and use. Knowing which one is in the bottle is the first step to choosing well.
The four lavenders
| True lavender | Lavandin | Spike lavender | Spanish lavender | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia | Lavandula × intermedia | Lavandula latifolia | Lavandula stoechas |
| Also called | English lavender, fine lavender | — | Spike | Often sold in Australian nurseries as "French lavender" |
| Main constituents | Linalool and linalyl acetate; low in camphor | Linalool, linalyl acetate, with more camphor and 1,8-cineole | Linalool, 1,8-cineole and camphor | Camphor and fenchone |
| Aroma | Sweet, floral, soft | Floral with a sharp, camphoraceous edge | Fresh, herbaceous, clearing | Strongly camphoraceous |
| Typical use | Evening diffusing, bath, massage blends, skin blends | Household fragrance, cleaning, soap | Fresh, clearing blends | Rarely used in aromatherapy |
True lavender is the lavender of aromatherapy. Its soft floral character comes from linalool and linalyl acetate, which together make up most of the oil. It is naturally low in camphor, which is why it smells gentle rather than medicinal.
Lavandin is a natural hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender. It yields far more oil per hectare, so it is cheaper, and much of the "lavender" in household products is lavandin. The extra camphor gives it a sharper edge.
Spike lavender grows at lower altitudes in Spain and Portugal. Its higher cineole and camphor give a fresh, clearing aroma closer to eucalyptus or rosemary.
Spanish lavender is the garden plant with the rabbit-ear bracts. Its oil is high in ketones (camphor and fenchone) and is seldom used on the skin.
A note on "French lavender"
The name means two different things in Australia. In a nursery, "French lavender" is usually a garden plant such as Lavandula dentata or Lavandula stoechas. In essential oils, it traditionally means true lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, grown in France. Springfields French Lavender is Lavandula angustifolia.
Where it grows changes the oil
True lavender from different regions has the same constituents in different proportions. Altitude, soil, climate and harvest time all shift the balance between linalool, linalyl acetate and the minor constituents, and you can smell the difference.
| Springfields lavender | Botanical name | Origin | Aroma | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | France | Soft, floral and rounded — the lavender most people know | 10 ml · 20 ml |
| Lavender Certified Organic | Lavandula angustifolia | Bulgaria | More herbaceous, deeper and fuller | 10 ml · 20 ml |
| Tea Tree/Lavender Certified Organic | Blend | — | Fresh and green over a floral base | 10 ml |
Lavender also appears in Sweet Dreams, Ezi-Breathe and Sleepy Lavender Massage & Body Oil.
How to choose
- For a classic lavender aroma, choose French Lavender.
- For a deeper, more herbal lavender, or if you prefer certified organic, choose Lavender Certified Organic.
- For blending with citrus (mandarin, sweet orange, bergamot), French Lavender sits more lightly.
- For blending with woods and herbs (cedarwood, rosemary, clary sage), the Bulgarian holds its own.
Why testing matters with lavender
Lavender is one of the most often adulterated essential oils. The usual substitutions are lavandin, which is cheaper, and added synthetic linalool or linalyl acetate. Both are hard to detect by smell alone. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) shows the oil's constituents and their proportions: a camphor level too high for true lavender points to lavandin, and an unusual ratio of constituents points to additions.
How to use lavender oil
| Use | How |
|---|---|
| Diffuser | 4–6 drops in the water reservoir; 30–60 minutes at a time in a ventilated room |
| Bath | 6 drops mixed with 6 drops of Essential Oil Dispersant, then added to the water |
| Massage | 4 drops in 10 ml of carrier oil (about 2%) |
| Tissue | 1 drop on a tissue |
See the dilution guidance for other uses.
Safety
- Dilute before applying to skin, and patch test first.
- Keep away from the eyes. Not to be taken.
- Store with the cap closed, away from heat and light. Linalool oxidises with air over time, and oxidised lavender oil is more likely to irritate skin.
- Keep out of reach of children. Cats are especially sensitive to essential oils; see Essential oils and pets.