Lavender Essential Oil: Uses and Aromatherapy Benefits
Lavender has a long history, from ancient times to today, and its name is often linked to the Latin lavare, "to wash", because it was used to scent bathwater. Today lavender essential oil is one of the most popular oils in aromatherapy, baths, massage and natural skincare.
In this guide we explain what lavender essential oil is, what is in it, the everyday ways people use it, and how to use it safely, from a farm that grows and distils its own lavender in the Waikato.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of plant essential oils for their scent: in a diffuser, a bath, a massage oil or a room spray. Many people use it as part of a relaxing routine at home. Lavender is one of the most popular aromatherapy oils because its scent is soft, familiar and easy to like.
What is Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender essential oil is the aromatic oil steam-distilled from the flowers of the lavender plant. Steam passes through the flowers, carries the oil into a condenser, and the oil is then separated from the water. The water left behind is lavender flower water (hydrosol).
Our oil comes from Lavandin, Lavandula × intermedia 'Super', which we grow and steam-distil on our farm in Newstead, Waikato. We distil in late summer, after our open days. 'Super' gives a fresh, herbaceous lavender scent. You can see how we distil our lavender oil here.
What's in Lavender Oil?
Lavender oil is made up of many natural aromatic compounds. The two main ones are linalool and linalyl acetate.
| Compound | What it brings to the scent | What researchers have looked at |
| Linalool | A soft, floral note | The lavender compound most studied for relaxation. The work is still going. |
| Linalyl acetate | A fresh, slightly fruity note | Often studied alongside linalool as part of lavender's scent. |
Lavender essential oil is not a medicine. Most people simply enjoy its scent as part of a calm routine.
5 Everyday Ways to Use Lavender Essential Oil
- In a diffuser: add 5–6 drops to your diffuser with water to fill a room with a fresh lavender scent.
- For massage: mix 6–12 drops into 30 ml of a carrier oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond oil. Always mix with a carrier oil.
- In the bath: mix 5–6 drops into a tablespoon of bath salts or carrier oil first, then add it to the bath. Essential oil does not mix with water on its own.
- In skincare: choose a ready-made lavender body oil or balm, or add 1–2 drops to a teaspoon of carrier oil for a small area. Patch test first.
- At bedtime: put a drop on a tissue and tuck it near your pillow for a soft scent while you wind down.
Using Lavender Oil Safely
- Never put undiluted essential oil straight onto your skin.
- Patch test a small area of skin first, and stop if you notice any redness.
- Do not drink essential oil or add it to food.
- Keep away from eyes, and out of reach of children and pets. Don't use around babies or cats without advice.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a health condition, check with your doctor or midwife first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lavender essential oil have healing properties?
Lavender oil isn't a medicine, and we don't sell it as one. Researchers have studied linalool, one of the main compounds in lavender, for its effect on relaxation, and the work is still going. Most people simply enjoy lavender's scent as part of a relaxing routine. For any health condition, talk to your doctor.
Can I put lavender oil straight on my skin?
No. Always dilute lavender essential oil in a carrier oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond oil, before it touches your skin, and patch test a small area first.
What's the difference between Lavandin and English lavender oil?
Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia) is a natural cross of English lavender and spike lavender, and it is widely grown for its oil. 'Super' gives a fresh, herbaceous scent and a generous oil yield, which is why we grow it for our essential oil. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a softer, sweeter scent; we grow 'Pacific Blue' for our teas.
Try our award-winning lavender essential oil, distilled on our farm.
