10 benefits of Lavender

Lavender has been a part of domestic life for so long that its name comes from the Latin lavare (to wash): Romans used it to scent their bath and thermal spa waters. Since then, it has moved from grandmothers' wardrobes to today's diffusers without ever going out of style. Here are ten uses for which it is appreciated, ranging from folk tradition to perfume and cosmetic uses. A necessary clarification: we are talking about the plant, its history, and its traditional and cosmetic uses, not about therapeutic indications.

1. The scent associated with rest

In the imagination of almost everyone, lavender is the fragrance of the evening. This is no coincidence: it is one of the plants most associated with the ritual of rest, that moment when one slows down. A few drops of lavender essential oil on the pillow or in the diffuser before bed is a gesture that many people know and repeat, precisely because of the scent and the atmosphere it creates in the room.

2. Scents the home without synthetics

A bag of flowers in wardrobes, essential oil in a diffuser, hydrolate sprayed on curtains and cushions: three ways to have a clean scent in the house without chemical air fresheners. The difference is noticeable, because the natural scent of real lavender is rounder and less pungent than that reconstructed in a laboratory.

3. Keeps moths away from wardrobes

This is perhaps the oldest and most proven domestic use: lavender sachets among wool sweaters for winter. Moths don't like its scent, which is why lavender can still be found in laundry drawers across half of Italy. A grandmother's remedy that works without mothballs.

4. An ingredient for skin care

Diluted in the correct percentages (typically 1-2% in a neutral base or vegetable oil), lavender is used in creams, oils, and soaps. It is one of the most used notes in homemade cosmetics because it pairs with everything and is well tolerated. Our lavender essential oil is specifically designed for these types of preparations.

5. The refreshing touch of lavender water

Lavender water, or hydrolate, is obtained from the distillation of the officinal oil, preserving its aroma in a delicate form. As a morning facial toner or a refreshing spray in warmer months, it is practical and gentle even on sensitive skin.

6. Scents laundry in the washing machine

Two approaches. A few drops of essential oil on a wool dryer ball to put in the dryer, or hydrolate sprayed on clothes before ironing. In both cases, laundry comes out scented without artificially fragranced fabric softeners, which are often the primary cause of laundry-related irritations.

7. It is a bee-friendly plant

Lavender fields in bloom hum with pollinators: bees, bumblebees, butterflies. Here, harvesting is specifically done in the last two weeks of July, when the bees have finished foraging, so as not to take away their work. Buying well-cultivated (and organic!) lavender also means supporting this balance.

8. Beautiful to look at, fresh and dried

A bouquet of dried lavender lasts for months, retains its color, and scents the room it's in. It's both a decoration and a freshener, without needing anything else. One more reason to keep it at home just for the pleasure of looking at it.

9. The base for DIY perfumes and cosmetics

Those who start making soaps, candles, or perfumes at home almost always begin with lavender. It's versatile, forgives dosage errors better than more aggressive oils, and pairs well with citrus, mint, sage, and a thousand other notes. It's the "school ingredient" for self-production.

10. A scent that tells of a territory

Not all lavenders are the same. Lavandula angustifolia cultivated at high altitudes, like ours at 900 meters, has less camphor and therefore a more delicate and refined scent compared to hybrid lavender (or lavandin). This is the character given to it by the mountains.

The lavender we cultivate

At La Bendessa, we have more than 18,000 plants grown from organic seeds in 2021, distilled with steam immediately after cutting to preserve their aroma. If you want to see how the oil is made, read how lavender is distilled step by step.