Lavandula angustifolia aka officinalis flower head, steam distilled, from Bulgaria. Other names: Lavendula officinali, L. vera, true lavender, lavandulae aetheroleum, oelum lavandulae
This lavender is grown on high-altitude land in Bulgaria.
Aroma: Warm, sweet, floral, fresh, slightly fruity. This complex lavender has none of the camphoraceous aromas of cheaper oils.
Common Uses: Properties of Lavender Essential Oil include analgesic, anti-convulsive, anti-depressant, anti-phlogistic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, bactericide, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, decongestant, deodorant, and as a diuretic. Lavender Bulgarian is the most therapeutic grade. The high-altitude soil, temperature, precipitation, etc., contribute to subtle changes in scent.
Herbalists regard Lavender as the most valuable 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. The scent of Lavender is said to have a calming effect on the body and can be used to reduce anxiety, and stress and promote sleep.
Possible Uses: Acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma, athlete's foot, bruises, burns, chicken pox, colic, cuts, cystitis, depression, dermatitis, dysmenorrhea, earache, flatulence, headache, hypertension, insect bites, insect repellant, itching, labour pains, migraine, oily skin, rheumatism, scabies, scars, sores, sprains, strains, stress, stretch marks, vertigo, whooping cough. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]
Colour: Clear with a Tinge of Yellow
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong
Constituents: Linalyl Acetate, Linalol, Terpineol, Cineole, Beta-Caryophyllene, Farnascene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]
Main Constituents:
Linalool: 25 - 45%
Linalyl acetate: 20 - 40%
Camphor: Max 0.6%
Safety Information: Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 207.]
Cautions: Lavender Bulgarian Essential Oil is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Photo thanks to Radio Tonreg from Vienna, Austria, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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