Aromas of Flowers — the Lavenders

Lavenders have a reputation as the most pleasing of herbs

Lavenders come from the Mint family of herbs. Herbs of the Mint family include the Rosemarys, Thymes, Basils, Sweet Marjoram, which you’ll recognize as kitchen herbs and herbal medicine. The plants, once harvested and wilted, are also steam-distilled to produce essential oils. Lavenders, as a plural word, indicates there is more than one Lavender, more than one type of the plant, yielding more than one distinctive Lavender fragrance.

A bit of background puts you at a distinct advantage when choosing the right Lavender for you.

A Lavender Aroma

A Lavender’s aroma is both celebrated and well-studied. It’s herby, sweet, floral-fruity-woody fragrance has a supremely calming influence on our moods. Long ago in classical times (the times of Greece and Rome), Lavender was infused in bath water for its health benefits. The herb was recognized as restorative for anxiety, depression, and general disruption of homeostasis.

Legendary Thievery before Perfumery

Before perfume became economically important to France, the scent of Lavender played a role in the famous Four Thieves Vinegar, made with the herbs rosemary, thyme, garlic, and lavender. The use of Lavender for ritual bathing preceded perfumes and often included several Mint family herbs infused together in water. As well, author Jennifer Rhind points to the description of lavender as a cure-all herb in the writings and physic gardens of 12th century herbalist Hildegard of Bingen. She recognized the curative benefits of Lavender for the systems of the body, including the psyche. More recently, we reflect on the French Eau De Cologne, which is made of Lavender and other herbs to produce a very clean, refreshing scent. In modern times, Lavender is classed as a top note, or the sensation that’s noticed first in an aroma. Lavender angustifolia was notably added to formulas of the well-known perfume houses: Yves St. Laurent, Calvin Klein, Houbigant, and more.

Lavenders

Lavender species

Family: Lamiaceae, the Mint family of herbaceous perennials. Lavenders are grouped with the plants we call Mediterranean herbs, the ones we are familiar with as culinary herbs.

Type of Lavender most often used: True Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is the plant which has a calming influence upon inhalation. The botanical Lavandula officinalis is cited in herbals for medicinal teas, washes, and compresses.

Origin and Biological status: Likely the Mediterranean coastline of Europe and North Africa, however most references indicate that the origin of the species lies in France.

Part distilled are the flowering tops through summer. True Lavender is steam-distilled for essential oil, or extracted with hexane for the absolute.

Adulteration: is easily adulterated by the addition of synthetics to stretch the yield, although synthetics have no therapeutic benefits. True Lavender may be adulterated with other Lavenders as well as isolates of the Lavender components to boost the fragrance.

Season: Harvested and processed through the summer months.

Energetics: the essential oil is cooling, when its scent is intentionally inhaled. See also Unusual characteristics, below.

Lavenders in Rituals: The word Lavender comes from the word Lavar which means to wash. Popular due to its calming influence, the aroma has been valued for millennia as the personification of clean or cleansing. In the West, specifically in France, fragrant herbs are personified in a way similar to the deified plant essences in Asian cultures. Lavender cleanses, but in a soft and soothing manner, so as to magically clear away, rather than to punitively banish. The plant’s aroma sweeps away ailments in humans and restores the purity of spirit that may have been lost due to trauma.

Lavender hydrosol is available for cosmetic use. Children and the elderly may benefit from its soft but insistent therapeutics without experiencing overwhelm from scent.

Lavenders in medicines: Lavenders are considered a calming herb in both herbalism and aromatherapy. According to Western herbalists, Lavender is antidote to inflammation, a classification from Greek medicine. See References, below.

Essential Oils and Absolutes in Perfumes and Aroma-therapy

Perfumes: Lavender essence is captured in concretes, absolutes, essential oil, and hydrosol. Notably the term “absolute” when assigned to Lavender indicates an extraction of the flower essence with alcohol, according to Stephan Arctander. This differentiates a Lavandin absolute which is extracted with petroleum and Lavender absolute which is not.

Perfumers use Lavender absolute rather than Lavender essential oil in formulas. There Lavender occupies or amplifies the top notes. A trio of oils is shown in the combination of Lavender absolute, Thyme absolute, and Violet leaf absolute, which may have an herby-green aroma. Or Laurel absolute and Lavender absolute and Thyme absolute, which may have a floral-herby aroma.

Aromas or Fragrances for Inhalation and Topical Application: Essential oils and Absolutes are products of steam-distillation or extraction, respectively. These products are for External Use Only, either by smelling the volatile aromas or by applying a carrier-oil-based formula to the skin. See Safety Notes, below.

Unusual characteristics: the herb we know as “Lavender” is represented by 4 different Lavender plants. Rather than being called chemotypes or versions of one plant grown in different regions, these 4 plant types are morphologically unique. Each plant creates metabolites from organic chemicals, but in distinctively different amounts. This results in unique fragrance and therapeutics. (See References, below.)

Lavandula angustifolia: True Lavender, detailed above.

Lavandula latifolia: Spike Lavender, contains 1,8 cineole, a component of Eucalyptus essential oil that helps us breathe easier when congested, in addition to linalool (helps us relax) and camphor (also assists the respiratory system). Spike Lavender helps with headache pain as well as exerting a calming influence.

Lavandula stoechas: French Lavender (sometimes known as Spanish Lavender), has higher amounts of camphor and fenchone, considered to be irritating. L. stoechas is also known as French or Spanish Lavender, may be used to alleviate pain, but also can be neurotoxic.

Lavandula x intermedia: Lavandin, also a French lavender, which combines the metabolites of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia, yielding a milder medicated oil, known to assist with anxiety and musculoskeletal aches and pains. It may be useful in massage where L. angustifolia could be too strong. See Peter Holmes reference, below.

Olfactive features: Lavender is valued for its top notes, or clean and bright fragrance. Inhalation of True Lavender essential oil results in a calmer state of being. This is because the components of aroma from the plant support all 7 bodily systems. When Spike Lavender is inhaled, its components elicit a respiratory response. When French or Spanish Lavender is inhaled, its chemistry causes expectoration of mucus in respiratory infections. And when Lavandin is inhaled, its combined chemistry causes a milder reaction that either English Lavender or Spike Lavender.

Aromatic characteristics: More than other essential oils, Lavender is chosen to blend with as it has the capacity to harmonize almost all oils. In my personal experience, oils which present challenges to successful blending with Lavender include Frankincense and Eucalyptus.

Safety Notes: Consult with a qualified health provider prior to use if pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing, or taking any medication.

Always dilute essential oils prior to use. Use only externally, such as in a topical preparation or in a carrier oil for inhalation.

Botanical and other illustrations from wikipedia.

REFERENCES for this page include published papers and printed material:

Lavender species contain recognized pharmacological effects. In this study’s abstract, it is stated that “Lavender has antifungal, neurological, antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, anti-diabetic, and analgesic effects and more.” It goes on to specify the components of the herb and posits why it should be considered for biological applications for skin care, etc.

Gaber El-Saber Batiha, et al. A review of the bioactive components and pharmacological properties of Lavandula species. Nauyn Schmiedebers Arch Pharmacol. 2023 May; 396 (5) ; doi: 10.1007/s00210-023-02392-x. Epub 2023 Feb 11.

A review of articles covering the anxiety-reducing capacity of Lavender essential oil compared the results of eleven studies using physiological markers.

Onyoo Yoo, et al. Anxiety-Reducing Effects of Lavender Essential oil Inhalation: A Systemic Review. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11222978

Another review of of studies showing Lavander as a “useful aromatic and medicinal plant with great economic potential”.

Miroslav Haban, et al. Lavandula species, Their Bioactive Phytochemicals, and Their Biosynthetic Regulation. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108831.

Arctander, Stephan. Perfumes and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin. Published 1960 in Elizabeth, NJ.

Holmes, Peter. Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol 1. Published by Singing Dragon Press, London and Philadelphia, 2016.

Rhind, Jennifer. Fragrance and Wellbeing: Plant Aromatics and Their Influence on the Psyche. Published by Singing Dragon Press, London and Philadelphia, 2014.

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