This or That: Lavender versus Lavandin

“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” - Mary Davis

Let’s take a walk through those fields together. Both Lavandin and Lavender are known throughout the world for their calming, exquisite, and heavenly aroma. While Lavender is known as the cornerstone of essential oils…

How Do You Select the Best Variety For You?

Amrita® Aromatherapy’s Lavender Essential Oils all have a wide range of benefits, and that makes each variety slightly different. With Dr. Streicher’s help, Amrita's experts are here to help you decide which Lavender is best for you!

Why Would You Use Lavender in Your Daily Life?

Lavandula angustifolia is emotionally calming and relaxing.* It’s highly regarded for its ability to calm the Nervous System.* When it comes to stress, panic attacks, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, skin irritations, cuts, burns, bruises, stretch marks, respiratory support – or even if you need a natural hand sanitizer – Lavender can help.*

It kills germs that cause sinus and lung infections, cough, and colds.* It’s antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, and analgesic properties make it a remedy for almost anything, including household purification and bathing.* In a massage oil, Lavender helps relieve cramps, muscular pain, high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, and sunburns.*

It helps repels insects and can be used on insect bites.* Its sweet, floral aroma makes it popular for use in perfume and cosmetics. When you add Lavender to a carrier oil, it is very warming and moisturizing.*

What Makes Lavender So Special?

There are 4 areas that can affect each species of lavender: botanical species, origin and altitude where grown (which affects molecular composition), growing/farming methods (organic, wildcrafted, non-organic, synthetic), and method of extraction.

Each Lavender Essential Oil is made from the flower tops that are the main part of the plant regardless of the species. Wildcrafted oils are made from plants that are grown and then collected in the wild in their native climate and habitat. Many people consider these oils to be the most potent. This is especially true for Amrita’s wildcrafted lavender. The natural vitality and life force of wild plants is reflected in their chemical composition, making them exceptionally well suited for aroma-therapeutic applications.

Which Lavender is the Best — French or Bulgarian?

French Lavender is the gold standard of Lavenders because of its outstanding quality. French Lavender is harvested from higher altitudes which gives it a much finer aroma. But beware, French Lavender is among the most frequently adulterated essential oils! Thus, you should buy only from a tested and trusted source.

The companies in Grasse, France, the world capital of perfumery, create 8 metric tons every year of so called "French Lavender" by the using synthetic fragrance compounds. Amrita® Aromatherapy's French Lavender comes from three different master distillers in the South of France. Every year, we select the best for you. Available in both conventional and organic versions.

From a price point of view, Bulgarian Lavender is the Lavender of choice. However, it needs to be very carefully selected, as Bulgarian Lavender can sometimes be harsh. When Amrita® Aromatherapy searches for Bulgarian Lavender, the finest lots are always selected among a number of available lots. Available in both conventional and organic versions.

What Makes Lavender Different From Lavandin?

Lavender Essential Oil can help you discover new levels of relaxation and balance while the soothing aroma helps you sleep more deeply.* It can aid in healing burns, cuts, bruises, sore muscles and more while giving feelings of tranquility and peace.* Allow anxiety and stress to wash away as you soothe your soul by promoting spiritual healing and balance.*

Lavandin Essential Oil will inevitably become one of your most popular oils with its garden-fresh bouquet and Lavender notes. With an aroma that is sharper than other Lavender plants, it is ideal for use in soaps, salves, fragrant perfumes and uplifting body massage oils.* Lavandin could replace Lavender in many instances. This is because it is a hybrid of the flowering tops from Lavandula angustifolia (True Lavender) and Spike Lavender.

Let's take a closer look at Lavender Extra Bulgarian and Sweet Lavandin!

Lavender Extra Essential Oil is known for being pain relieving and soothing, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.* It promotes a peaceful feeling that helps to calm the mind and soul, helping to release anxiety and minimize sleep disturbances.*

Physically, lavender essential oil aids in healing and provides a natural support for cuts, bruises, burns, insect bites, scars and more.* Lavender Essential Oil offers an irritation-free, non-toxic way to assist in physical, mental, and emotional challenges.*

Lavandin Essential Oil has a deodorizing aroma that makes it popular in bath and body products as well as cleaning supplies and air fresheners.* Lavandin helps support your body physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Don’t suffer from restless nights again!* Lavandin can bring a calming relief to nervous tension and anxiety.* Allow Sweet Lavandin to help alleviate nervous exhaustion helping you find balance to the ups and downs of emotional mood swings.*

What should you to be on the lookout for as a fake or impostor Lavender?

Lavender 40/42 is known as the standard for SYNTHETIC Lavender! Unfortunately, this Lavender has heavily penetrated the Lavender market. Natural Lavender has a maximum or 38% lavandulyl acetate (the only exception is Lavender Maillette), and the total of lavandulyl acetate plus linalool is never higher than 70% in natural Lavender.

Amrita® Aromatherapy does not advise the use of synthetic essential oils EVER –

Not in Candles, Not in Soaps, and Not Anywhere Else!

The following is an advertising blurb which misleads the public with a mix of truth and myth:

“Lavender 40/42 is made up of 100% natural Lavender oils blended to produce an oil containing 40% linalool and 42% linalyl acetate, which are the two primary aroma compounds in Lavender. This is done to create a standardized Lavender aroma, which presents a minimum of variation between batches. The scent of Lavender Oil can vary tremendously due to growing conditions and distillation processes.”

Unfortunately, this blurb is a very much a mix of truth and myth. 40/42 refers to the linalyl acetate content which is between 40 and 42%. Lavender has hardly ever 40% linalyl acetate, and lavender that has 40% linalool and 40% linalyl acetate is always adulterated. The sum of these two is commonly 60 to 65%, rarely 68% in natural lavender.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.