How do I use lavender essential oil?
One of the most common questions we get at the farm is, “How do you use lavender essential oil?” Honestly, what *don’t* the lavendaughters use lavender essential oil for? #PutSomeLavenderOnIt.
This blog (and later follow-ups) will explore some of the most popular ways for you to use and enjoy lavender essential oil – from reducing stress to treating bug bites. Read on for ideas straight from someone out in the field testing it. Literally.
Lavender Essential Oil History & Overview
Lavender essential oil is one of the most versatile, widely used essential oils out there. Humans have used lavender and lavender essential oil for thousands of years, from mummification in ancient Egypt, to first aid kits in Roman wars, to a Victorian household cleaner. I could spend an entire blog on lavender history, but for now, here’s a link to a fantastic, sourced overview of the history of lavender: “A Love Letter to Lavender”. This article also has a well-written, scientific breakdown of the different ways lavender benefits us, including sourced links to specific studies.
What Is Lavender Essential Oil Good For?
So now we come to the fun part – what is lavender essential oil good for, actually? The primary thing that makes lavender so incredible (but perhaps overwhelming) is its versatility. While most people have heard that the smell of lavender is good for helping you relax, lavender essential oil can also be applied topically or even ingested.*
I’ll try to cover lavender’s multitude of uses more in-depth in future blogs, but here’s a quick list of popular and historical ways people use lavender essential oil, to get you started:
Lavender Essential Oil Uses
- Stress & Anxiety Relief
- Deodorization & Perfume
- Skin Irritation & Healing
- Natural Antibiotic & Bug Repellent
- Hair & Scalp Rejuvenation
- Minor Pain & Migraine Relief
- Nausea & Motion Sickness
- Gourmet Cooking
Lavender Essential Oil Popularity
The above list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives you a sense of the broad scope of uses for this incredible herb (and here you thought it was just a nice garden flower.) Pure lavender essential oil is experiencing a resurgence in popularity as modern culture moves away from synthetics and back towards more natural scents as perfumes, and natural herbs and oils for home remedies. Because of its myriad of uses, lavender essential oil has risen to the top of the essential oil “must have” list.
Once you smell true lavender essential oil, you’ll understand the hype (Hint: that $3 “lavender” hand wash from the drugstore that smells like synthetic air freshener probably doesn’t have actual lavender essential oil in it.) The true scent of lavender essential oil is a complex blend of floral, sweet, and spicy, with a medicinal base note that can be strong or very light, depending on the species. If you’re curious about that difference, check out my blog “Lavandula Angustifolia vs. Intermedia”. So in addition to being useful for a myriad of things that ail you, lavender just plain smells good.
Does Science Prove Lavender Essential Oil Benefits?
Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work! Obviously, no natural remedy you read about on a blog on the internet, including this one, should ever supercede advice from your doctor – so if you’re using lavender to treat something, please use this information as a jumping off place to explore rather than the end of the conversation.
The scientific community has taken notice of the resurgence in lavender popularity in recent years, so bring on the research! Studies are now being done (see the article linked above) trying to prove/disprove common beliefs about lavender – and even discovering some new benefits. There is mounting evidence that our ancestors knew what they were doing: lavender is a wonder plant, and lavender essential oil is a must have for your household.
*Disclaimer: As with anything you read on the internet, for the love of all that is lavender, please do your research. Proceed with caution before applying directly to your skin or guzzling down *any* essential oil. While lavender essential oil is topically safe for most people, a small percentage of people may experience skin irritation or even an allergic reaction. If you’ve never used it before, and/or if you know you have sensitive skin, please dilute the oil with a carrier oil like coconut or even olive oil before putting it directly on your skin. Cooking with lavender bud is as safe as any herb (assuming you aren’t allergic) but don’t ingest pure lavender essential oil for medicinal purposes without first checking with your doctor.
pssssst – Thanks for reading our blog! Want to smell for yourself if 100% pure lavender essential oil is worth the hype? Enter code n9vdvhby at checkout for 5% off all lavender essential oils!*
*1ml samples not included