Description: An evergreen woody shrub, up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall, with pale green, narrow linear leaves and violet blue flowers.

Color & Consistency: Pale, thin yellow liquid with a tint of green.

Strength of Aroma: Strong.

Common Uses: Lavender is credited with being an analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, antseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, bactericide, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, decongestant, deodorant, and as a diuretic. Herbalist regards Lavender as the most useful and versatile essential oil for therapeutic purposes. Lavender is the essential oil most commonly associated with burns and healing of the skin. It also has antiseptic and analgesic properties which will ease the pain of a burn and prevent infection. It also has cytophylactic properties that promote rapid healing and help reduce scarring. Lavender Bulgarian is a very therapeutic grade comparable in status to the better known Lavender Population. The different soil, temperature, precipitation, etc., contributes to some subtle changes in scent, the greatest advantage being for more sophisticated label claims.

Note: Top.
Lavender Bulgarian has a slightly different note from Lavender French. A more full-bodied aroma similar to fresh lavender flowers, but therapeutically has the same range of properties as that of Lavender Population.

Blends with: most essential oils, especially with anise, bay, bergamot, chamomile, citronella, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lemon, lime, mandarin, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, peppermint, petitgrain, pine, rosemary, rosewood, spearmint, tangerine, tea tree, ylang ylang. Blends nicely with fragrances, too.

Aromatic Scent: The lush, fresh lavender-floral nature of this variety makes it sweeter, mellower and less camphoraceous than typical Lavender 40/42. It smells more like fresh lavender flowers, and doesn't have that medicinal fragrance often found in other varieties.

History: Lavender takes it's name from the Latin word lavare, which means to wash, as it was commonly used in bathing as well as for perfuming laundry for nobility. Lavender is adapted to living in a dry climate and is native to the western half of the Mediterranean, reaching altitudes of up to 1800 meters. The uses of lavender are well documented; there is even Biblical reference to Magdalene using it to wash the feet of Jesus. It is believed that the Romans and the Benedictine monks subsequently introduced it to rest of Europe.

Cautions: Non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing, when properly diluted in carrier oils.