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Lavender Essential Oil
The Timeless Essence of Calm
Lavender essential oil is a soft, floral and fresh oil steam-distilled from the flowering tops of the lavender plant, one of the world’s best-loved aromas for relaxing evenings, baths and natural blends.
Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia
Aroma: Soft, floral, fresh and gently herbaceous
Note: Middle
Main growing region: Mediterranean region, now grown widely across Europe
Typically extracted: Steam-distilled from the flowering tops
Blends well with: Bergamot, Geranium, Cedarwood, Roman Chamomile and Sweet Orange
Top 3 benefits:
- Evening calm: its soft floral scent is a long-standing favourite for winding down at the end of the day.
- Soothing body rituals: a classic choice for baths and gentle massage blends when well diluted.
- Versatile blender: a balanced middle note that pairs easily with citrus, florals, woods and herbs.
Safety first: lavender is gentle for most people, but keep skin use to 2% or less, patch test first, and take care around cats and very young children. Read the full safety information.
What Is Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender essential oil is steam-distilled from the flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia, the plant often called true or English lavender. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is now grown in many parts of the world. Other lavenders, such as lavandin and spike lavender, have a sharper, more camphorous scent, so it is worth checking the Latin name on the label.
Its soft, floral aroma comes mainly from linalyl acetate and linalool, which give lavender its smooth, rounded character, with a little lavandulyl acetate and camphor adding a fresh, herbal edge. It is a middle note that blends well with almost anything, which is one reason it has become one of the most popular oils in aromatherapy.
Benefits and Traditional Uses
The science: lavender is one of the most studied aromatherapy oils, and many people find its scent relaxing at the end of the day. Research results are mixed, so enjoy it as a pleasant part of a bedtime routine rather than a treatment for sleep or anxiety.
How to use (the bedtime wind-down): diffuse 4 drops of lavender with 2 drops of Roman Chamomile in a ventilated bedroom for 30 to 60 minutes before bed, then switch the diffuser off.
The science: lavender has a long tradition in baths, soaps and body care, and its linalool and linalyl acetate content gives it a smooth, comforting aroma. Well-diluted, it makes a gentle massage oil.
How to use (the soothing soak): mix 4 drops into a tablespoon of bath salts or unscented bath base before adding to warm water, or blend 3 drops into 15ml of carrier oil (about 1%) for a calming shoulder massage. Patch test first.
The science: lavender has long been used to scent linen cupboards and bedrooms, and it has shown antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies. Its clean floral aroma makes it a classic choice for home fragrance.
How to use (the pillow mist): mix 20 drops with 100ml of distilled water and a tablespoon of witch hazel in a glass spray bottle (about 1%). Shake well, mist lightly over linen from a distance, and test on a hidden patch of fabric first.
How to Use Lavender Essential Oil
| Method | Instructions | VivaForte tip |
|---|---|---|
| Diffusion | 4 to 6 drops in an ultrasonic diffuser, in sessions of 30 to 60 minutes. | Ventilate the room and keep pets out, especially cats. |
| Inhalation | 1 to 2 drops on a tissue or pillow corner, kept a little distance from your face. | Keep it off your skin and away from children. |
| Topical | Maximum 2% dilution (about 4 drops per 10ml, or 6 drops per 15ml of carrier oil). | Patch test first and avoid broken skin. Use 1% or less for sensitive skin. |
| Bath | 4 drops mixed into 1 tablespoon of bath salts or a bath base, then added to the water. | Never add oil straight to bath water, as it floats and can irritate. |
| Home and surfaces | 20 drops in 100ml of distilled water with a tablespoon of witch hazel (about 1%). | Shake before each use and test a hidden area first. |
| Blending | 1 to 3 drops added to diffuser or perfume blends as a middle note. | Pair with bergamot, geranium or cedarwood. |
Lavender Safety Information
- Dilute and patch test. Use no more than 2% on the skin (about 6 drops per 15ml of carrier oil), and 1% or less for sensitive skin. Lavender may cause an allergic skin reaction in some people, so patch test first and stop using it if irritation occurs. Avoid the eyes and broken skin.
- Keep the bottle fresh. Oxidised lavender oil is more likely to irritate the skin. Keep the cap tightly closed and store the bottle somewhere cool and dark.
- External and aromatic use only. Do not swallow essential oils.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and health conditions. Speak to a healthcare professional before use, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have asthma or sensitive skin, or take regular medication. Lavender can make some people feel drowsy, so take care before driving.
- Children. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use on or near the face of babies or young children, and avoid regular, long-term use of lavender on young children without professional advice.
- Pets. Lavender oil can be harmful to pets, particularly cats, which struggle to process linalool. Ventilate the room, let animals leave freely, and never apply it to them.
- Chemical profile. High in linalyl acetate and linalool, with lavandulyl acetate and a little camphor.
For general guidance on dilution, patch testing and sun safety, read our Essential Oil Safety guide.
History and Heritage
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region and has been valued for thousands of years. Its name is often traced to the Latin lavare, meaning “to wash”, and it is thought that Roman bathers used it to scent their baths and laundry.
Through the Middle Ages, lavender was grown in monastery and cottage gardens across Europe, where it was dried for scenting linen and strewing floors. Later, lavender fields became part of the landscape of southern France and England, supplying the perfume and soap industries. Today it remains one of the most widely grown and recognised aromatic plants in the world.
Lavender Essential Oil FAQs
Is lavender essential oil safe to use on the skin?
Yes, when diluted. Keep skin use to 2% or less (about 6 drops per 15ml of carrier oil), and 1% or less for sensitive skin. Patch test first, avoid broken skin, and stop using it if irritation occurs.
Is lavender oil safe around pets?
Take care. Lavender oil can be harmful to pets, especially cats. If you diffuse it, use a ventilated room, let animals leave freely, and never apply it to their skin or fur.
Is lavender oil safe in pregnancy or for children?
Speak to a healthcare professional before using it in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. For children, keep it away from the faces of babies and young children and avoid regular long-term use without advice.
What does lavender smell like and what blends with it?
It smells soft, floral and fresh with a gentle herbal edge. It blends well with Bergamot, Geranium, Cedarwood and Roman Chamomile.
Can I put lavender oil on my pillow?
A single drop on a tissue tucked near the pillow, or a light mist of a diluted linen spray, is gentler than putting oil directly on fabric. Keep it away from your face and wash linen regularly.
Continue Exploring
- Roman Chamomile: a soft, apple-like floral that pairs naturally with lavender for evenings.
- Bergamot: a bright citrus that lifts lavender’s floral calm.
- Geranium: a rosy floral that rounds out soothing body blends.
- Essential Oil Safety: dilution, patch testing and sun safety explained.
- All Single Essential Oils: browse the full VivaForte botanical range.