Your Lavender Essential Oil Questions Answered

Lavandula angustifolia, or lavender oil for short, is an essential oil derived from the lavender flower. This flowering plant is part of the mint family and is known for its calming, soothing, cooling, sedative and antibacterial properties.

Lavender essential oil is the most popular essential oil, and with all that praise, also comes many questions. Here we’re going to answer some of the top questions about lavender essential oil, so keep reading.

How Does Lavender Essential Oil Smell?

Lavender oil definitely has a unique and pleasant scent, there’s nothing quite like it! It’s scent profile makes it classified as a top and middle note fragrance; therefore, it’s not as robust as deep base notes like cedarwood. People describe lavender as floral, fresh, herbaceous, and slightly sweet with a hint of fruitiness.

What’s Lavender Essential Oil Good For?

When mixed with a base oil such as grapeseed, lavender can be used topically for burns and sunburns, cuts and scrapes, insect bites and stings, rashes, muscle aches, cramps and spasms, blemishes, fungal flare-up’s, as a chest rub for respiratory congestion, bruises, tension headaches, or used in a diffuser to help cold/flu symptoms, nervousness and feelings of anxiety, and insomnia.

Which Lavender Essential Oil is Best?

The best lavender oil will be pure and potent. Look for a high-quality, therapeutic-grade oil that’s labeled as 100% pure or undiluted (this means it does not have any carrier oils or fragrances added). A quality lavender essential oil will also have its Latin name displayed, either Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis. Since essential oils are light sensitive, look for lavender oil in a dark blue or amber-coloured bottle.

Does Lavender Essential Oil Help You Sleep?

Scientific research has confirmed that lavender oil can help you sleep. Several studies have demonstrated the positive effects that lavender oil has on sleep, including helping to stimulate deep, slow-wave sleep. In fact, more than 50% of lavender is made from an active ingredient called Linalool which plays a part in its sedative effects. So not only will its aroma transform your bedroom into a dreamy lavender meadow, it will help you feel more rested.

How to Use Lavender Essential Oil for Sleep?

Lavender oil can be used in a few ways to promote deep, restful and slow wave sleep. Try adding lavender oil to a warm bath before bed, treat yourself to a lavender oil neck or foot massage (be sure to dilute lavender oil with a carrier oil before using), use in an essential oil diffuser, or try sprinkling a few drops onto your pillow before you hit the hay.

Can Lavender Essential Oil Be Used On Hair?

Yes! Lavender oil has been used successfully to promote hair health and regrowth. You can add a few drops to your shampoo and/or conditioner, or follow this formula to regrow hair lost to alopecia areata:

•       3 drops of lavender oil

•       3 drops of rosemary oil

•        2 drops of thyme oil

•       2 drops of cedarwood

•       All mixed into jojoba (carrier) oil and 20ml of grapeseed oil.

Massage this mixture onto any bald spots every night. Some people reported seeing effects after a few weeks.

Can Lavender Essential Oil Be Used on the Skin?

Lavender can add beauty-boosting benefits to your skin care routine. Lavender oil can be used topically on dry, blotchy or wrinkled skin. Simply add two to three drops to your favourite moisturizer or carrier oil such as tamanu or argan oil and apply to the skin for added benefits. Lavender essential oil can also help support eczema or psoriasis flare-ups when diluted with a carrier oil and applied to the affected area.

Is Lavender Essential Oil Safe for Pets?

When used in the proper concentration and with care, lavender is probably the safest essential oil to use with your pet. When an essential oil is used, it needs to be diluted and applied appropriately. Generally, the more concentrated the product, the more dangerous it can be to your furry friend. Therefore, use a 1% dilution, or 1 drop essential oil for every 5ml of carrier oil.

Where Can I Buy Lavender Oil?

You can find quality lavender oil online or in store. Canadian brands Now and Naka offer a range of top-notch essential oils. Naka 100% Pure Lavender Essential Oil is aromatic to support relaxation, steam distilled, sourced from France and is also available in an organic formula. Whereas Now Lavender Oil is expeller pressed, hexane free and promotes hydrated skin when mixed with avocado oil. Now Lavender Oil can also be found in a certified organic version depending on your preference or use.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your practitioner prior to taking herbs or nutritional supplements.