Which Essential Oil is Popular
One of the most popular oils; lavender essential oil is used in many products and by aromatherapists in different natural remedies.
For the regular readers of my blog; they know I have long had a love for all things lavender. Lavender essential oil is no exception.
This essential oil has many uses and I would like to share why you may wish to add this to your health regime.
How Do We Obtain It
Firstly to explain what an essential oil is and how it is obtained. Lavender essential oil is extracted from the lavender plant (stem & flowers) by steam distillation.
The steam cooks the plant and releases the essential oil. When the steam that contains the essential essences is cooled; the oil is separated from the water and filtered.
Choose Pure Essential Oils
True essential oils are only made from plant matter so if anything else is added it is not a pure essential oil. Be sure to check as the synthetic oils that have other products added to them may smell similar.
They do not however have the same therapeutic effects and should not be used for this reason. They may also cause reactions when applied to the skin. I will be discussing this in more detail in another post.
Which Lavender Species
In Australia the most popular lavender used in essential oils is organic lavandula angustifolia (English lavender). In other countries other lavender species are used.
English lavender is noted for its beautiful fragrance and relaxing properties. It is used in both the perfume and the health industry.
Known to have antibacterial, antihistamine and antifungal properties; the natural health industry must be encouraged by the many reports that are coming out about its wonderful healing properties.
How Does Lavender Essential Oil Work
Lavender essential oil can be inhaled through the nasal passages; which in turn sends receptor messages to the limbic system in the brain where our emotions are situated. The perfume of the lavender works in such a way that alpha waves in our brain increase and that causes us to relax.
When massaged into the skin; the skin being permeable means it is absorbed through the skin into our bloodstream. See special precautions at the end of this article.
Lavender Uses
Whether you are adding a few drops to enjoy a relaxing bath, using it in a diffuser, or applying it to cuts and abrasions; the many uses of the lovely lavender seems to be limitless. Well almost.
Controlled Medical Trials
Another encouraging development is the many controlled medical trials by recognised researchers around the globe that result in the lovely lavender getting the recognition it deserves in the health field.
It is already one of the most widely used essential oils in aromatherapy.
An Important Note
Now for a cautionary note: It is ill-advised to apply neat lavender directly onto the skin without first doing a test to ensure there is no reaction or sensitivity. Some aromatherapists will say that this is one of the essential oils that can be applied neat to the skin. However, always do the test dose first.
It should also not be ingested. In some instances it is contra-indicated if you have certain medical conditions or are pregnant; so please speak to your medical consultant/aromatherapist if you are not sure whether you should be using the lovely lavender for your health and well-being.
Lavender essential oil has many uses and I hope you have found this both informative and helpful.
Related Articles:
Lavender for Health
Why Choose Organic Lavender
Relaxing With Lavender
English Lavender
Return to Home Page from Lavender Essential Oil
Enjoyed the post?
Use these sharing buttons to share the post on your favorite social networks. To make sure you stay up to date with all the great lavender information, you can subscribe via RSS to receive free updates.
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Is lavender used in any men’s cologne? When I think of lavender I think of it being more for woman. Is this true?
Hi Danny
Thanks for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment. I know a lot of men feel that way. However there are now creams that have a subtle lavender perfume that men can use. I have just been watching a program on TV here in Oz and I was amazed how many men now pay so much attention to their appearance. I am still sourcing quality organic lavender products and when I find some suitable men’s products I will let you know. I only want to recommend products I have reviewed to keep up the integrity of this site.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hello Patricia. The relaxing effect that Lavender has on us would be a good explanation why it’s in a lot of baby products now. When my son was younger I used to buy Calming or Sleepy Time lotion and it always had Lavender in and the stuff worked as a charm at night time. I might have to start using it again as he gets fussy at night wanting to stay away late. Thanks for such an informative post.
Hey Patricia,
I also thought that lavender was for women only. Just recently I read a post on the web that lavender mimics the actions of female hormones and inhibit the effect of male hormones and disrupts the endocrine system in the male body. It was featured on the BBC news, but I don’t know how much of it is really true….If you want the link to the BBC site where it discusses that issue…Let me know Patricia..Maybe this could help you give your blog audience a clearer picture about lavender for males.
Thank you for giving me great feedback in my blog..
Talk to you soon…
Hi again Adam
Great to hear from you again. I have read several articles that purport to this. It was actually in young males who were bathed in lots of lavender products. I think at the time there were 2 reports of this. I have not heard any adverse reports in adult males using it though. With essential oils only a very small amount is used mixed with a carrier oil so I would think that is should be safe to use. Thanks for bringing that point up. I like to stay up with what is being said about the lovely lavender. I have many more articles on lavender health that I will be publishing on my blog. Stay tuned.
Patricia Perth Australia
Thanks Karen. Good to hear from you again. You are right; lavender is very relaxing and hopefully it will help your son to sleep at night.
Patricia Perth Australia
Regarding a recent post of mine, can you recommend a lavender product that might help me deal with this brutal shaving process? Thanks for all the great information!
Hi Charles
I will research and get back to you. Sounds awful. Love your writing.
Patricia Perth Australia
I read that it has a lot of health benefits and that it is often recommended for insomnia. Have you tried lavender tea?
Hi Rose
It has heaps of health benefits and I am already researching and writing more health posts. You are right, it causes you to relax thus helping you with sleep. I haven’t tried lavender tea but I am sure it is very tasty. I will have to source some.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hi Patricia,
I didn’t know lavender has antibacterial and antifungal properties too. Thanks for the information!
I love the lavender scent in lotions and oils, because it relaxes me after a stressing day’s work. I use the lotion intended for babies (Johnson’s brand)
Thanks for visiting Emily. I love lavender products; but one thing I would say is this. Make sure they are certifified organic so you know you are not getting synthetic chemicals in your product. They can cause skin reactions and even in some case burn the skin. I will be writing on this later.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hello Patricia,
I am goign to be infusing lavender into the yarns I will use for my prayer shawls because of its calming effects. Thanks so much for sharing this great information.
Hi Dee
Thanks for revisiting my site. When you do infuse your shawls just make sure it is certified organic lavender. There are lots of synthetic ones out there and people can have reactions to them. US amd Europe are known to do this as the lavender crops do not meet the growing customer requests for the lovely lavender products people are now requesting. I will be doing a post on this very thing as I think the more informed we are the better.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for such an informative post about lavender!
Lavender is my favorite scent. I use Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap and lavender is my scent of choice. I just can’t get enough of the scent.
I didn’t know that it could be used on cuts and abrasions. I learned something new.
Take care,
Evelyn
Hi Evelyn
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and comment on my blog. There are heaps of uses with the lovely lavender. I have heaps of things to blog about. Hope you visit again soon.
Patricia Perth Australia
I did not know lavender is used in so many way. Hope I find this oil in India.
Patricia,
I agree, the value of the oil is directly connected to the extraction process and to the added ingredients (or lack of).
That is why I use TRUessense by FOREVERGREEN~ Is that the essential Oil you use?
Hi Imran
I will be interested to hear if you can get it in India. We have so many choices here in Australia. I am still sourcing my produts at the moment.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hi Linda
I have only ever used Australian organic lavender products. I am in fact looking to source quality organic products in US to recommend to my readers. Will check that one out. As long as you know it is accredited as organic lavender it should be good.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hi Patricia,
I learnt a few things I didn’t know about lavender essential oil in this post. It has antihistamine properties, so it should be useful to relieve hay fever. Would you recommend it for hay fever relief? This would be better than hay fever spray or pills.
Anyway, I went straight for my tiny bottle of essential lavender oil after reading your post.
Also, I didn’t know one should not apply lavender oil neat on the skin. Last year, I discovered that when I rub lavender leaves on mosquito bites the relief is almost instantaneous. Using the oil had the same effect, just that I’ve been applying pure lavender oil on the skin.
Hi Ben
Great to see you back on my blog. The lovely lavender has so many uses and I will be writing heaps more articles about it.
I would ask an aromatherapist about using it for your hay fever because they know amounts, strengths and the correct carrier oils to mix with.
The reason I caution against using it neat is because some people have sensitive skin and may have a reaction. Also need to make sure it is organic lavender as if it is mixed with synthetic products there have been recorded accounts of it burning.
Patricia Perth Australia
Wow I like all this info. Does it work good on aging skin when you live in a very dry climate? As long as you aren’t sensitive too it. I have really been looking for something to use on my skin becomes of the climate I live in.
Debbie
Hi Debbie
Firstly congrats on doing so well with your blog. I have a way to go with mine. If you are going to use lavender products the most important thing is to make sure it is certified organic. I am doing a couple of articles on this as there are so many products out there that are not! It can be used on dry and aging skin. I hope to source quality products that I can recommend in the not too distant future. An aromatherapist can recommend what is best for you. Hope that helps and thanks for taking time to visit and comment on my blog. All the best for your blogging venture too.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hey Patricia,
Good to hear that it doesn’t have any adverse effects on adult males.
@Rose, I have tried lavender tea and I really like the way it tastes. I agree it helps you become calm and relax. Plus, it smells real good.
Can’t wait to hear more on the lovely lavender and how it can benefit us Patricia…
Keep us updated…Thanks Patricia..
I need to source this lavender tea and try it Adam. Will keep you updated and thanks for revisiting my blog. Over to check out your latest post now.
Patricia Perth Australia
You’re not supposed to apply lavender directly onto the skin? I’d have sworn I’ve had lavender rubbed into my skin, although it wasn’t the first oil used.
It is recommended not neat lavender. It had probably been mixed with carrier oils. Aromatherapists know what they are doing hopefully and lavender products you buy if they are organic will have been prepared correctly. It has been reported that you can get skin irritations from neat lavender oil so best to take the experts suggestions. I will be writing another post that covers this more in detail.
Patricia Perth Australia
Interesting Patricia. Wow I never knew there was so much to say about lavendar
What a cool niche… I love the smell of lavendar, but I know nothing about it. I’ll send this link to my sisters, they’re interested in this 
Thanks so much for visiting Ben. I think you young bloggers are amazing. Being a baby boomer technophobe I find the techie stuff you guys can do with your eyes closed so challenging but writing about the lovely lavender I so enjoy. Will eventually monetize my blog and will have some great organic lavender products that I will review. Will let you know when that is happening.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hello Patricia,
Once again you’ve provided some great information. Lavender has so many uses, I enjoy adding it to my products and using it around the house. I typically a variety of essential oils into diffuses I have around our home. I don’t store bought air fresheners, who needs them when you can use a variety of essential oils to naturally scent your home.
Re:applying the lavender essential oil neat to skin. It’s one of only a handful of essential oil where this is ok to do, due to its gentle nature eve in concentrated form. Rose essential oil, is another that can be applied neat.
However follow the same precautions before you do. I’ve always told people to do a patch test before applying, if no reaction than you can add a few drops.
I remember applying it directly on a burn, and a few insect bites. Reading the books on the subject, along with the information written in a few journals you’ll see this is accepted. You’ll even see that question on some aromatherapy certification tests, at least here in the States.
I initially picked up my license several years ago.
There are so many types of lavender it can be hard to pick one; some have a sweeter scent while others are more medicinal.
So good to have you revisit. You are a wealth of knowledge. The reason I have cautioned against neat is cos unless you know it is organic; there have been recorded incidences where people have ended up with burns and contact dermatitis. I always err on the cautious. Here in Australia the English and French lavender are usually harvested for lavender products. I know in the US they also use other species too.I appreciate all the information you have added to this post. Really great and thanks.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia,
I do think it’s great that you are cautious. I have very sensitive skin, lavender essential oil (the organic type) won’t get a reaction from me, however, the others will. Much props to you for being cautious, I’ve encountered many who wouldn’t.
You want to know something, I had a cousin that would buy me cosmetic products because she knew the “presents” she bought me would cause breakouts. You want to guess who got those gifts? If you guessed that she did, you’re right!
You and your cousin not best friends then! I have sensitive skin too; that’s probably why I am so cautious and only want to recommend products I know are organic and top quality.
Patricia Perth Australia
I’ve never used the essential oil of lavender but it does seem to have so many uses. Will try it as an antihistamine as I get pollen allergies every summer.
My love affair with lavender is growing it in the garden. Few plants can attract the bees the way lavender does and, to me, nothing make a garden more peaceful than listening to the hum of bees. So I have it planted everywhere.
Maybe if I didn’t spending all summer out in the garden I wouldn’t get the pollen allergy!
Hi Dawn
Thanks for visiting my blog. One of my regular readers suffers with sinus problems and he has just used lavender essential oil with success. Of course we are all individuals and if you have any medical problems always best to check first to see if okay to use it. He has found it very beneficial so I was happy to hear that report. It was simple remedy: get bowl of boiling water, add few drops of organic lavender essential oil and use as steam inhalation. Just make sure you use organic products as you don’t want to be inhaling anything with added chemicals in them! Would be interested to hear if it helps. Great that you are growing the lovely lavenders in your garden.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hi Patricia:
I am so happy to be here. Though I made it after your comment on my blog, but it is a pleasure. it is a party here, and everyone is invited. I felt this way because, the first look on the post made me feel it is a great blog post. You have added extra effort. Full of information and attractive formatting. I do use lavender essential oils. I know it is supposed to be very relaxing and it is great for body and facial soaps. I add it to my Soy Shampoo and Conditioner also. Patricia you got a great niche that I love and use. I know now Internet is getting all overwhelmed with the information. Keep up the good work.
Fran Aslam
Thanks for your kind words Fran. I’m enjoying researching the many uses of lavenders. Hope you keep visiting and enjoying my posts.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hi Patricia,
Lavender massage oil never fails to relax me and for a good night sleep I also use lavender lotion.
Thanks for soothing me today.
Hi
Glad to hear you enjoy using lavender essential oils. Thanks for visiting
Patricia Perth Australia
Beautiful post Patricia, my favorite is the relaxation part by inhaling it and sending signals to the emotion part of the brain to make us relax.
I gotta try it hehe.
Hi Sayed
Thanks for your visit. Lavender has so many amazing uses. I will be writing more about it soon.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hey Patricia, thanks for commenting on my blog – this is my first time to your site and I have to say I am a little surprised by all the things you claim lavender does. And your site looks great, BTW. Being a fitness professional, I am really interested in the holistic type of health/wellness so anything I find that I can pass on to my readers is much appreciated. I can’t wait for more health related posts!
Susan
Hi Susan
Welcome to my blog. Nice to have you over here and thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. A lot of the results of my research on the lovely lavender has been conducted by medical researchers. Finally they are acknowledging all its amazing uses. Have heaps more to share so stay tuned.
Patricia Perth Australia
I want to emphasize how thorough and beautiful your site is! I love the mix between Lavender Uses and business building. The colors are inviting and gentle and so is the information. I’ll be back…I’m a holistic health practitioner (fancy massage therapist…lol) and I would love you link to you in the future for articles about herbs, and natural remedies for children, etc.
Thank you!!!
Hi Jessica
Firstly welcome to my small niche lavender blog. I have been over to your site to check out your blog. Can see that you are committed to a more organic lifestyle and I will be interested to read more of your posts.
Thanks for the kind words about my blog. I have just had it upgraded by a techie friend and it has gotten a positive response from my regualr readers.
Professional yet still welcoming is what one of my mentors has said, which is what I wanted it to be, so I am very pleased with the response to the upgrade.
Thanks for your input Jessica. I write posts most weeks and as you will have noticed, it is about all things lavender and also now a new section “Patricia’s Ponderings” about networking, blogging and other thoughts I have that I want to share with my readers.
I have a nursing background and love researching the many uses of the lovely lavender. It has surprised me as I have read so many medical research articles that are showing what people have now for thousands of years and they are confirming scientifically.
We know that lavender is not only relaxing but can be used in so many ways. I will continue to research and share about these uses on my blog and in the ebook I am in the process of writing.
Patricia Perth Australia
Lavender, if I’m not mistaken, is use for aroma therapy right? I think my sister have a lotion with Lavender oil in it, which calms and removes stress. Thanks for the post!
Hi Erica
Welcome to my lavender blog. Thanks for stopping by and staying to comment.
Lavender is used in aromatherapy and is the most popular essential oil that many aromtherapists use.
It has so many uses and I have written quite a few natural lavender health posts about it. There are more to come.
At the moment I am updating a lot of my posts and had an update of my site too with the help of a blogging buddy who is really tech savvy.
BTW I just checked out your blog. Interesting topic. Let us know how you get on. All the best with your venture Erica.
Patricia Perth Australia
{ 1 trackback }