​Lavender Oil Benefits And Uses

​Lavender Oil has been highly regarded for thousands of years for it's amazingly calming, peaceful and unforgettable floral aroma along with it's many therapeutic benefits, and it's use has been well documented throughout history. Today Lavender Oil is still in use now more than ever, as it is such a versatile essential oil. Learn about Lavender Oil's Uses and Benefits.

​What Is Lavender Oil?

​Lavender essential oil is made from the Lavender plant or also know by it's scientific name Lavandula Angustifolia which is a Perennial plant that is part of the Lamiaceae family or (mint family) of plant species.

Even if you are new to essential oils we​'re sure you have heard of the amazing calming and relaxing beneficial properties of Lavender.

It has been used in so many cosmetic products and household products including soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, facial creams, moisturisers, and even fabric softner's, washing detergents and washing up liquid to name just a few. 

Lavender essential oil is a must have oil you should always have to hand in your natural therapeutic and wellness arsenal. Essential oils date back right through history and for very good reason.

​​Here are a few interesting facts about Lavender oil.

18 ​Interesting Lavender Plant And Lavender Oil Facts

​Lavender Oil Main Constituents

• ​Linalool
• Linalyl Acetate
• Ocimene
  

​How Is Lavender Oil Made?

​dōTERRA source their Lavender Essential Oil in Bulgaria. We are going to begin with the harvesting process and work all the way through from distillation, testing right through to the end product.

​The leaves and purple petals of this amazing aromatic plant are used to make Lavender Essential Oil which is an ingredient in many health and beauty products today.

The Lavender plant is a perennial plant which begins flowering in it's second year.

​Farmers will pick the perfect time during the peak of the lavender flowers first bloom. The farmers will look at the quantity and colour of the flowers produced to determine the perfect time to begin harvesting the plant.

It is said that the colour of the flowers should be purple - blue on the verge of turning greyish - brown.

​Lavender producers have specially designed harvesters attached to tractor trailers to cut the lavender stems and flowers from the plant.

​The front of the lavender harvester is V shaped, almost like an open scissors and runs along the row of the lavender plants.

​There is a rubber conveyor belt on the inside edge of the harvester that pulls and lifts the stems and flowers of the plant straight upwards and cuts the stems at the base of the plant, leaving the root system still in the ground.

​The flowers and stems that are cut to approx 40cm in length then travel up a conveyor belt to the trailer where a worker usually stands to place them into bunches and clear the converyor belt of any blockages. 

​When the trailers are full to capacity with lavender they are then transported to the distillation facility for processing.

The flowers and stems of the plant are loaded into the distillation stills which are very similar to alcoholic spirit stills.The stems and flowers are compacted very tightly to help prevent the formation of air pockets. The less air in the still means the greater the oil yield.

The Lavender is then distilled by way of steam distillation where high temperature steam is pushed into the bottom of the stills.

The steam travels up through the still heating up the lavender and bursts the oil sacks attached to the petals of the lavender flowers to a lessor extend the leaves and stems. ​

The hot steam which now carries the lavender oil is transported to a different chamber where it cools, condenses and changes back into water and is stored in large barrels or holding tanks. 

When the liquid eventually settles the oil and water separate naturally. Then the water is pumped out of the barrels or holding tanks and what remains is the pure lavender essential oil.

​dōTERRA have state of the art labs which then filter and test the essential oil to Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) an extremely pure and potent essential oil is the end product we have all grown to know and love to use.

​The end product is an amzingly soothing, calming and relaxing bottle of dōTERRA Lavender Essential Oil with many versatile uses and therapeutic benefits.

​Lavender Aromatic Description

• Light
  
• Powdery
  
• Floral
  

​How Can Lavender Oil Be Used?

​There are 3 main ways Lavender Oil can be used.

• Aromatically
  
• Topically
  
• Internally
  

​When we refer to internal use of Lavender essential oil, we are referring to a particular brand called dōTERRA which we highly recommend using. Some other brands may or may not be made to a 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) and may not be meant for ingestion at all. Care must be taken as to what oils may be taken internally and we urge you to do some research into quality and purity of the essential oil that you may choose to use

​Check out this short video explaining the uses and benefits of Lavender Oil 

​Aromatic Use

​The most popular way to use this incredibly floral and aromatic oil is to place 3 to 4 drops in an aromatic diffuser to calm and soothe the mind and body. 

​To directly inhale you can place a drop or two into the plams of your hands rubbing them together and cupping them around your nose and mouth (taking care not to get any essential oil in your eyes) and taking a few deep breaths to promote feelings of relaxation and reduced stress.

Another way would be to place a drop or two of lavender oil on your bed sheets or pillows to relax the mind and body and promote a restful nights sleep.

​Topical Use

​One topical method of using lavender essential oil wold be to place a drop or two into the bath tub to help soak away stress.

Also before bedtime lavender oil can be placed on the bottom of your feet as part of a nightly routine to promote a relaxing night's sleep as it is renowned for it's calming and relaxing properties.

Lavender oil can be added along with Epsom salts to warm water to make a soothing foot soak and can help calm sore and tired feet.

Lavender can be added to shampoos or home made hair conditioners.

It can also be used topically to help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections.

If feeling stressed or tense Lavender oil can be placed on the back of your neck and to your temples, for a relaxing aroma.

A note of caution! Always use a carrier oil to see how your skin reacts to avoid skin sensitivity when applying essential oils directly on your skin.

​Make A Relaxing Foot Soak With Lavender Oil

Another fantastic way to use lavender oil would be to make your very own after sun spray to maintain healthy looking skin. Exactly what the family needs after a day out soaking up the sun by the beach or pool.

Here's the recipe:

​Get a glass spray bottle (do not use a plastic bottle) essential oils are so potent, pure and strong that if you were to use a plastic bottle or container the essential oil may erode the plastic inside the bottle and leach into your spray mixture and contaminate it with harmful plastic chemicals.

Place 20 drops of Lavender, 10 drops of Peppermint and 15 drops of Frankincense oil along with Fractionated Coconut Oil into your glass spray bottle to make a cooling and soothing after sun spray to refresh the skin.

​Make A Refreshing After Sun Spray With Lavender

Internal Use

​When first starting out using essential oils you may not be used to taking them internally and it may not be a method you prefer, which is totally fine. It is better to find a way you are most comfortable using essential oils.

A lot of brands are not of the same quality as dōTERRA essential oils and may not even be ingested so please be careful in what brand of oils you decide to use especially if thinking of using essential oils internally.

One way to take Lavender oil internally would be to place a drop or two into an empty veggie capsule and take with a glass of water at bedtime to promote a relaxing night's sleep.

Another way would be to add one drop of Lavender oil to 4 fl. oz. of liquid to help ease feelings of tension.

Lavender oil can also be used in cooking and has become a very trendy ingredient in recent times. There are many recipes out there that include lavender oil.

​If you are going to use fresh Lavender flowers as a cooking ingredient make sure you find and purchase culinary lavender as some plants can be sprayed with harmful chemicals. 

If you are going to make it easier on yourself and use a lavender essential oil in your cooking care must also be taken when choosing a brand.

Most lavender oils on the market may not be fit for human internal consumption and are filled with harsh chemicals that are only meant to be used as a fragrance and have no therapeutic benefits whatsoever.

doterra essential oils are safe for internal consumption as they are 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils, free from chemical fillers and harmful synthetic ingredients.

There are so many recipes online that use lavender that include everything from drinks recipes like tea's, lemonade drinks and cocktails.

Food recipes like potatoes, salads, meat grilling dishes, omelets, even jams.

There are also a lot of desert recipes using Lavender oil like cookies, cakes, chocolate fudge, sorbet's, and ice creams.

One last thing to remember is if you are choosing to use Lavender essential oil as a cooking ingredient Less Is More!!!!

Essential oils are highly concentrated and highly potent, therefore only a drop may be necessary to add to a dish or a drink. A higher amount may overpower other ingredients and ruin your creation, so please be careful and start small and add as necessary.

​Experimenting is half the fun, so put on that apron, roll up your sleeves, get stuck in and create a new culinary masterpiece.

​Lavender Recipe For Lavender Ice Cream Cake

​We thought we should add a nice recipe to get your creative juices flowing and to maybe inspire you to try Lavender as an ingredient with this very tasty treat.

Ingredients:

​For the exact recipe and how to make this very tasty looking ice cream cake check out the Food Networks link and follow the step by step instructions.

​Lavender Oil Usage Tips

1. ​Always use a carrier oil when using essential oils to avoid skin sensitivity and limit irritation. A great example of a good carrier oil would be a fractionated coconut oil which remains fluid when cold.
2. If you are under a doctor's care, pregnant or nursing  always consult with a professional medical physician.
3. Less is always more with any essential oil use!!! Start small, see how you personally react with small amounts and work up to what you think your body needs. There is a lot of advice out there, but remember everyone is different which leads to the next tip.
4. Find a method of essential oil use that suits your personal needs and a way you are most comfortable with do not be pressurized by anyone else's methods.
   
5. Avoid contact with your eyes, inner ears and other sensitive areas.
   

​If you are a total beginner and would like to know how and where to start your essential oil journey, read our beginners guide. Start here.

​Top 25 Lavender Oil Benefits And Uses

Get 25% Discount On Lavender Oil

​Lavender Essential Oil Caution

​As with any essential oil caution should be taken to find out how your body will react to it's use.

There is a possibility of sensitivity with any essential oil so we recommend to always use a carrier oil to dilute the essential oil and patch test you skin. 

A great example of a carrier oil would be fractionated coconut oil as we mentioned earlier, but there are many to choose from.

Lavender Oil may or may not be suited to you and your personal circumstances. Always seek professional medical advice if you are unsure if you can use essential oils.

Always avoid sensitive areas such as eyes, inner ears etc etc.

Consult your physician if you are pregnant or nursing.

​Learn How dōTERRA Source Lavender Essential Oil

​In June 2016 doterra opened up their very first distillery in Bulgaria and they called it Esseterre. Bulgaria is one of the foremost producing countries of essential oils, particularly for Lavender and Melissa.

​The Esseterre distillery is closely situated to a town called Varna, which is the third largest city in Bulgaria and is located very close to the Black Sea. It boasts a perfect climate and rich sandy soil which is ideal for growing a wide assortment of aromatic plants.

The distillery at Esseterre is one of the largest and most technologically advanced in the country.

Bulgarian farmers have a rich history in growing and harvesting aromatic plants going back a couple hundred years.

Local farmers are thought how to grow the plants to doterra's high specifications and are often given seedlings to plant these crops and even given the use of farm harvesting machinery to help them to cultivate these plants directly for doterra's use. 

doterra have an initiative in place called co-impact sourcing, whereby they deal directly with local harvesters and farmers to cut out the middlemen, paying a fairer price for their hard work and helping local communities and local charitable organisations.

In the future doterra hope to eventually distill other types of essential oil at this distillery in Bulgaria such as: Juniper Berry, Coriander Seed, Fennel Seed, and Blue Chamomile to name but a few.

​Check out this video about the new distillery in Bulgaria and learn how doterra work with the local farmers to produce the very best quality of essential oil on the market today.

​Watch an interview by Emily Wright and Esseterre distillery General Manager Plamen Nikolov about the opening of the facility back in June 2016.

​How I Personally Use Lavender Oil

​Hi this is Des here,

​I have a very deep affinity to Lavender Essential Oil as it is the very first essential oils that I have tried. It is still today one of my favourite essential oils that I use on a regular basis.

​To start off I have to give a big shout out and to say a big thank you to my sister for introducing me to essential oils and making me try them.

I will admit I was a huge skeptic about essential oils in the beginning and it was just due to my lack of knowledge and lack of experience with them. I thought like many people they were just for massage purposes.

For many years I had trouble sleeping due to my job, working long irregular hours and traveling constantly to different countries, the jet lag and frequent changing of time zones played havoc with my sleeping pattern and overall health. 

​Normally I would just survive on 4 -5 hours of sleep a night, and it was something I had just gotten used to. 

I have tried many remedies from the pharmacy some natural and even tried prescription medication to help improve my sleep, nothing would really work long term for me until I tried essential oils.

​My sister has been a wellness advocate for essential oils for some time and had suggested to me on a number of occasions to try essential oil to help me with my sleep issues and I foolishly refused her suggestion many times before I gave in and tried them.

In my ignorance I thought I've tried everything to try help me sleep better, how could essential oils possibly help me?

I was so wrong!!!! I gave in one time and I told her ok I would give them a go to see if they could help me.

​My sister gave me her essential oil diffuser with some lavender essential oil to try. That night I followed her instructions (which were so simple) fill the diffuser with water and add 4 drops of lavender oil.

I turned on the diffuser in my bedroom about 30mins before I went to bed that night. The room filled with a lovely calming lavender scent, which I found very relaxing.

Normally I wake up at night after 4 - 5 hours of sleeping and usually lay awake and find it very difficult to try get back to sleep, but that night I tried the diffuser and lavender oil I slept straight for seven and a half hours! This was like a personal miracle for me!

I was like WOW this stuff is amazing! I woke up well rested and felt refreshed. I thought to myself this could just be a one off thing, so I used the diffuser for a second and third night just to make sure it was the essential oil that was the cause of this amazing change, and it was!!! 

​From that moment I thought to myself I must investigate these oils a little further and see what other ways I could possibly use them. 

My first purchase of essential oils was a Touch kit as I still wanted to see if other essential oils were right for me. ​The Touch Kit came with 9 Essential Oils in roller bottles premixed with fractionated coconut oil for easy topical application.

When I started experimenting and using the other types of oils that came in the Touch Kit such as Peppermint, DigestZen, Frankincense, OnGuard and Lavender (of course) I was completely hooked!  

Today I use essential oils every single day and I still use Lavender essential oil to help me sleep better and I can't recommend them enough, hence why I started this blog you are reading now.

​Here are some ways I like to use Lavender Essential Oil:

• As I mentioned above I love to diffuse Lavender Oil at bedtime to help me relax and calm down after a long day. It helps me to have an unbroken and restful night's sleep, which I am so thankful for.
  
• I am usually on the go most of the time and get very little time to relax and take a time out. So the odd occasion I get a moment to myself I like to place a couple of drops of lavender oil along with some Epsom salts into a bath after a workout or long run to help soothe aching muscles.
  
• ​I have always suffered with acne for as long as I can remember, I use Melaluca Essential oil to help me with this and if I have a particularly bad breakout I find Lavender oil also helps reduce the appearance of my skin blemishes.  
  
• I have in the past used Lavender oil to help cool minor burns and I find it works a treat.
  
• If I am feeling a little stressed out I always reach for my Lavender roller bottle, I find it works great to help ease feelings of tension.
  
• I also like to use my Lavender roller ball as an after shaving cooling oil. I can get razor burn sometimes especially if I am shaving every morning during my work week. I like to apply the oil directly to my neck area where I shave and it helps reduce skin irritations and blemishes from appearing.
  

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​We hope you have liked our article on Lavender Essential Oil and we hope we have answered some of your questions about the many Lavender Oil uses and benefits.

Please leave us a comment on how you like to use Lavender Oil in the comment section below, we are always looking for other success stories and other ways to use this amazing essential oil.

Stay Healthy Folks

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