Lavender Essential Oil

Essential oils are produced by steam or water distillation of the leaves, wood, petals, buds, needles, bark or roots of aromatic botanicals such as lavender, rosemary, cedarwood, rose, peppermint and cypress. While most essential oils are water or hydro distilled, citrus essential oils are either cold pressed or steam distilled from the rinds (peels) of citrus fruits.

Among them, lavender has become a widespread essential oil favourite and one we use a lot here at Calm Families.

Boasting many uses and a relaxing scent, lavender essential oils are made directly from the lavender plant. Using special distilling techniques, the end-product is a highly concentrated extract of lavender’s useful compounds, full of health benefits.

These include anxiety relief, pain relief, migraine relief, air freshening, cleaning, and even hair care.

Lavandula (commonly known as Lavender)

Lavender is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is found across Europe to Northern and Eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, southwest Asia, China (Plectranthus mona lavender) to southeast India. Many members of the genus are cultivated extensively for the extraction of essential oils. The most widely cultivated species, Lavandula angustifolia, is often referred to as lavender and used in Aromatherapy .

History of Lavandula Angustifolia

Lavandula Angustifolia better known as Lavender, is a perennial evergreen plant that has produced the most used essential oil in the world for over 2500 years. Thriving in oceanic climates with dry, rocky, sandy terrain, Lavender can be found in the Mediterranean region, Europe, Africa, the Canary Islands, the Middle East, and India.

The name Lavender is believed to be derived from the Latin word “lavare,” meaning “to wash,” as it was often used in baths and laundry for its fragrant properties. With a calming, physically and emotionally balancing fragrance, it has commonly been used in products for its relaxing effects on the body in. Other historical uses for this oil included mummification and perfumery for the Egyptians, while for the Romans it was used in baths and in cooking.

Uses

Lavender essential oil is reputed to have many therapeutic properties. The following highlights its many benefits: