About Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is a perennial herb native to Europe, the Mediterranean, East Africa, Southwest Asia and Southeast India. The lavender plant grows to a height between 18 and 24 inches and have gray feathery leaves. The flowers grow on spikes above the leaves and range in color from light to dark purple.
It requires about 250 pounds of lavender to produce about 16 ounces of essential oils.
Aroma –The scent of Lavender is described as sweet, herbal and floral. The scent is said to calm the mind, help to ease tension and stress as well as relax the body, mind and spirit.
Some uses for Lavender are:
As an insect repellent, but it will soothe and heal insect bites as well and it is one of very few essential oils that are safe for babies.
Baby lotion scented with Lavender should help keep baby safe from insect bites.
Lavender can be used on all skin types and is said to help heal acne, dermatitis, eczema, inflammation, psoriasis, insect bites and stings, scaring and burns.
Also, helps for muscle aches and pains, and helps a person relax. Lavender is often used in pillows or sprays to help a person sleep better.
Lavender added to your shampoo will help heal an itchy scalp, can be used on all hair types and will help promote hair growth.
Lavender Essential Oil Properties
Properties
- Analgesic
- Anti-coagulant
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- antispasmodic
- Antitoxic
- regenerative
- sedative
Lavender and Hair
For your hair – lavender can help with hair growth by stimulating the hair follicles, it is best mixed with Rosemary Oil, which is also known to help promote hair growth.
The natural antiseptic found in Lavender can help stop itchy scalps and clear up dandruff, you can simple sprinkle some lavender oil on the scalp and massage it in. (Lavender is one of very few essential oils that can be put directly on the skin)
The therapeutic properties of Lavender has been long known to help calm nerves, relieve tension and stress which are also common factors in the cause of hair loss.
Other properties of Lavender Essential Oil will help to promote the growth of strong, healthy hair by promoting blood circulation through the body which would also include the scalp.
Lavender Essential Oil Skin Benefits
For your Skin lavender has healing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities that are helpful for skin conditions such as acne, burns and scars. Lavender Oil and its wonderful properties will help to moisturize, heal and improve the blood circulation of your skin, helping to reduce stretchmarks and wrinkles.
Muscles and Joints can also benefit from a massage with lavender oil, helping to relieve pain from tense sore muscles.
In creams and lotions rosemary can help improve circulation and as
massage oil it reduces the aches and pains such as muscle aches, back
pain, and arthritis.
- Stops itchy scalp
- Strong astringent
- Relief for burns
- Helps with treatment of acne
- Stimulating action helps to encourage hair growth
- Alleviates dandruff
- Clears headaches
- Calms the central nervous system
- Relaxes the body
- Aids in sleep
Lavender and the Brain
Using Lavender oil in a vaporizer can be calming, reduce stress and help with fatigue
For the mind Lavender:
- helps to eliminate fatigue
- Takes away headaches
- Calming
- Relaxing
- Relieve stress
- Relieve anxiety
- Soothes your senses
Historical Facts – Lavender was so popular in Roman Times that the flowers were sold for the equivalent of a farmer’s wages for a month. Other historical facts include:
- Used for a long time – Cleopatra seduced Marc Antony with Lavender, it was used in pipe smoking to enhance the flavor of the other herbs, and the oils were used on the body for the elegant aroma and also as an insect repellent.
- Popular in the Roman Times that the flowers were sold for the equivalent of a farmer’s wages for a month, or fifty haircuts.
- Used in Roman Times to scent bath water and believed to restore the skin.
- This incredible herb also has disinfectant and deodorizing properties making it an important flower and oil used in London when the Great Plague hit.
- Used to protect against sickness. It was worn around the wrists.
- In World War I it was used as an antiseptic and has long been used to disinfect sores and get rid of head lice.
The Benefits of Lavender Soap
Lavender soap benefits are said to have a calming effect on the body and it can be used to reduce anxiety, stress and promote sleep.
There are dozens of types of lavenders, the lavender extracted from the Bulgarian plants have a strong and rich floral scent.
The French version is just as floral, but with a weaker scent, and the blend 40/42 is made from numerous varieties.
The 40/42 blend is good and strong as well, but considered to be a little less strong and more camphorous than Bulgarian.
The therapeutic benefits of using lavender soap are the same with each variety.
With soap making, other essential oils that blend well with lavender are: bay, bergamot, chamomile, citronella, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lemon, mandarin, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, pine, tangerine, thyme, rosemary, rosewood, and ylang ylang.
Precautions – to avoid Lavender:
- the first two trimesters of pregnancy
- avoid if you have low blood pressure
© 2017, Tes. All rights reserved.
Hi Teresa,
Your site is great and beautiful. I really learned a lot about the soap making. More specifically the ingredients, which is what caught my eye( the images helped too). I really enjoy natural products and when it is possible I try to buy them because they can be expensive.
I have some of the essential oil and other oils as well. I didn’t realize that buying them in bulk was a possibility. I really like how you shared recipes because even that itself is hard to search for the correct one. Having the pictures of what the supplies and ingredients look like is helpful because there are some items listed that I have never heard of before. So, thank you for sharing the information. Very helpful and for the recipes, I’ll be sure to try some of them.
I’m glad you enjoy the site Desiree, my goal is to share so everyone can benefit and learn about natural products. I will be posting more recipes soon, so be sure to check back.
Love Your Blog! very well put. Well done..the only thing i would add and I believe it could ramp-up your blog with more visitors coming, for ex: having testimonials of people that have had awesome results with lavender essential oils. Also add some video testimonials to the products you are promoting to ensure more great experience for your visitors!
thanks Zahra. I welcome anyones testimonials on lavender essential oils. I’ll have to look into the videos thanks for the idea!
Hey Teresa
I have always liked smelling lavender and knew it was supposed to be relaxing. But I had no idea it is so beneficial to your overall health.It is good to know that you can apply directly to the skin.How do you add the oil to your soap?
Thanks Joe
Hi Joe, Lavender is one of my favorite. When I make soap I do batches of about 30 bars and add 2 ounces of lavender essential oil to that. Have a look at these pages if you are interested in making your own soap.
How to make soap from Goat Milk
Make Natural Soap at Home -Step by Step instructions with pictures
What to Scent Soap