est when combined with other essential oils to create a more complex aroma. I have added it to earthy oils such as cedarwood and fir balsam, to other herbs such as peppermint, to spices such as clove and to citrus oils such as bergamot, all with great success.Lavender is truly one of nature’s greatest bounties. It has many properties that heal and uplift. It soothes the skin (of humans and animals), relieves aches, clears sinuses, reduces nausea and calms the nerves. It also increases blood circulation and aids in digestion. It is recommended for insomnia, for balancing hormones and increasing immunity to diseases. Of all the essential oils it is truly the most universal.
The recorded uses of lavender date back over 2,500 years. Known as nard in the ancient Middle East, it is mentioned in Song of Solomon (4, 14). The Romans added it to their bath water, thus the name lavender from the Latin lavanda (things to be washed). Lavender was used throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean when the Romans introduced it to northern Europe and Great Britain. It was used in Medieval and Renaissance Europe as a disinfectant and deodorant. Lavender is believed to have been introduced to North America by the Shakers, a strict religious sect, credited with the commercialization of lavender-based products in Great Britain.
Today lavender is grown commercially in France, Spain, Italy, England, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States. The hardiest lavenders are the English Lavenders (L. angustifolia) and Lavandins (L.x intermedia). Lavender oil is made by steam distillation using the flowers of the plant.
I use lavender oil in soaps: Lavender Mint for a crisp refreshing bath and Lavender Fields for a more floral scent (this is also a candle scent). I also use it in the Lavender Face and Body Wash and in Lavender Premium Lotion. I combine it with other essential oils to create the
effective Expedition Deodorant, the Chest Rub which gives relief from cold and sinus symptoms and stress relief and in several of the aromatherapy blends including Wellness. The uses for lavender are, in fact, endless.