genevieve.malarkey If you know me, you know I love lavender. It’s the logo on my blog, my favorite flower for many reasons which I will get into shortly, and I even tattooed it to my body as a tribute to my lifelong pursuit of all things French.
If you know lavender, you know that about this time of year is the very best time to visit the iconic lavender fields of Southern France. This is one of the few places I have left on my “must-see” bucket list for France; although I have traveled throughout Provence, I have yet to frolic amongst the bees in the beautifully cultivated, fragrant fields of the Luberon or Valensole. Being the lavender lover that I am, it is somewhat surprising that I have not yet been to these places, but I feel it won’t be long until I make the journey. In the mean time, I thought I would write all about my favorite flower this week as a tribute to the purple fields of Provence. And in doing so I have learned several interesting facts about the history and uses for lavender that I thought I would share with you. I was so inspired that I convinced my family to visit a local lavender farm to capture some images and to buy out their supply of calming body butter.
It’s no secret that lavender is a very popular herb in aromatherapy, essential oils, and bath and body products. It’s soothing, herbal aroma makes you feel as if you’ve walked into a spa, instantly relaxing and mood altering. But did you know that lavender has been used for these things, and many more, since the Ancient Roman times? Not only is this flower emblematic of the beautiful fields of Provence, it is an industry-leading aromatherapy tool, an ancient medicinal ingredient, and the source of France’s deeply-rooted perfume industry. Its uses throughout time have been for topical application to promote scarring from burns our wounds, as a disinfectant in cleaning the home, and as medicine to help fight infections and soothe a sore throat. These days we may have some things that work better for medical needs, but lavender remains a very useful and delightful natural ingredient to help solve some basic daily problems. So, for our modern tastes, how can we use lavender to our benefit? Read on for 9 ways lavender can improve your health and well-being.
A natural scent for fresh laundry. Along the lines of living more sustainably and with less waste, invest in some wool laundry balls to use in your dryer instead of disposable dryer sheets, add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the balls, and toss them in with your wet clothes. The dryer balls will continuously fluff your clothes and keep them from wrinkling, and the lavender oil will lightly scent your fabrics with its naturally soothing aroma. If you’re like me and have someone in your home with sensitive skin (my daughter seems to have a wool allergy), you can buy silicone dryer balls instead of the wool variety- most have hollow centers for you to add some oils into for adding scent or softener.
Diffuse into the air to calm the mind. Diffuse the calming scent of lavender in a room of your home (or throughout!) using essential oil and an oil diffuser to create an anxiety-free mood. Not only will you feel like you’re in a spa without leaving your home, it’s possible the scent will help you drift off into a peaceful sleep, or calm an anxious mind. Scent memories carry a lot of weight in our minds, and diffusing into the air is a great way to evoke a certain mood or energy into our homes. Diffusing is also a good alternative to burning candles that may be overly perfumed or contain unnatural ingredients that may affect your health.
Rub oil onto your temples to relieve head aches. I tend to have recurring tension, where the muscles in my neck and shoulders become so tense that they become stiff and the pain radiates up into a headache. Tension head aches need relief through massage or the relaxation of muscles, and the scent of lavender can help. Rub a few drops of essential oil on your temples- the scent will carry to your olfactory senses and help calm your tense muscles, and the oil itself will soothe the pain.
Add a few drops to your pillow at night for a soothing sleep. This is my favorite way to use lavender oil, and I do it every night! Right before laying my tired mama head down on my pillow, I shake 2 or 3 drops of lavender essential oil onto my pillow near where my nose will be. Then I lay down, get comfy, and breathe in the beautiful scent. It instantly calms my mind, and I swear it is partially why I tend to drift off to sleep quickly (it might also have something to do with chasing my small children around all day). If the scent is too strong for you in its pure form, you can make a linen spray by adding several drops to a spray bottle filled with water, shaking, and lightly misting your linens. Or, keep an oil diffuser on your bedside table and diffuse the mist into the air while you sleep.
Rub on skin for a natural insect repellent. I live in the South and have small children, and DEET (the most commonly used insect repellent with harsh chemicals and questionable health effects) is kind of out of the question when it comes to bug repellent. Lavender is a tried and true bug repellent, and therefore a great plant to keep in your garden near your patio or wherever you like to spend time outdoors. Instead of using harmful DEET on your skin to repel insects, try rubbing a bit of lavender oil on your pulse points, which will give a strong enough lavender scent that bugs won’t want to go near you. You can also use the spray you made for your linens as a natural bug spray for your skin. Other methods include washing with lavender scented soap or using a lavender scented moisturizer or body lotion before going outside, or burning lavender-citronella candles on your patio to keep the bugs at bay.
Add to bath water along with epsom salts for a soothing soak. Another easy and simple method for creating a calm body and mind is to soak in a hot bath with lavender and epsom salts. A luxurious bath is my favorite way to unwind after a busy day- once the kids are in bed and the kitchen is cleaned up, I love to draw a bath, pour in some epsom salts, and soak with a good book. It is my go-to relaxation tool after a long day. My favorite epsom salts are affordable and already come scented in lavender. I keep them in a pretty jar on a shelf above my bathtub and scoop about about a half cup’s worth into the bath water. Combined with the warm water you will instantly feel your body relax thanks to the epsom salts, which are known to soothe muscles and stiff joints, and your mind will calm with the calming scent of lavender.
Add dried blooms to a small pouch to scent your dresser drawers. Not only does this make your delicates feel and smell fancier (always a plus), but it is a cheap and easy souvenir to take home from your next trip to France (especially common in any shop throughout Provence). My 4 year old daughter loves to keep one in her dresser drawer, pull it out, and smell it every time she gets dressed, and it keeps her clothes smelling fresh too. I keep one in my intimates drawer for the same effect, and it works wonderfully.
If you’re not going to France any time soon to take one home as a souvenir, create a sachet with dried lavender flowers by pouring the blooms into a small cotton pouch, cinching closed, and nestling it amongst your delicates. It is common in France to use sachets in drawers where your intimates and lingerie are kept, and any other clothing you wish to keep smelling fresh and luxurious (so… all of them?).
Steep in hot water for a relaxing night time cup of tea. You can use dried lavender in a loose leaf tea infuser, or buy tea bags already made for you (I like chamomile and lavender tea). Either way, steeping the flower in hot water will evoke that same lovely, calming scent and taste as you sip the tea. This is a great herbal tea to enjoy before bedtime as it will prep your mind and body for sleep. Use a pretty tea cup and saucer for an even more luxurious and contented pre-bedtime routine.
Use culinary-grade lavender for adding unique flavors when cooking. Although I have enjoyed lavender flavored ice creams or lemonade for a while now, cooking with it in my own kitchen is a fairly new concept for me. I recently made lavender macarons with a vanilla buttercream, which turned out amazing. I also have a bottle of olive oil infused with herbes de provence (of which lavender is a key ingredient), and I used it to marinate meats sometimes, or for dipping bread at the table. There are many other ways to incorporate lavender in the kitchen, such as when making sugar cookies, short bread, lemonade, or lemon bars. Lavender and lemon are a classic combination of citrus and herb, and are often found together in baked goods. You can also enjoy lavender sparkling water or soda, or use these liquids in a cocktail. Get creative and share other ways you might use lavender in your cooking!
All this being said, how do you find a good quality lavender oil to use in all of these ideas? Don’t be fooled by cheaper options- generally speaking, the oils found at your local supermarket or big box store may not have the purest ingredients and therefore will not have the desired strong effects you are hoping for. Plan on spending around $10-$15 for a small bottle, or more depending on from whom you buy. I like to buy locally-made oils if I can find them- check your local farmer’s market or visit a local lavender farm if you live somewhere that has one. Otherwise, you can find good options online, here are some excellent choices:
You’ve probably already known about the benefits of lavender for anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress, but have you tried it? Having a bottle of essential oil on hand to diffuse into the air, or drop on your pillow, or soak in a hot bath with can feel like such a simple luxury only the French could have cultivated it. If you haven’t tried it yet, I encourage you to purchase a bottle next time you are able, and give it a try. If you already have some on hand, have you tried any of these tips? What other ways do you use lavender oil to improve your wellbeing?
À la prochaine-
geneviève
