It's often said that if you only needed one essential oil, it would be Lavender Fine. Certainly because of its wide range of uses for the whole family, and its non-restrictiveness for children under normal conditions of use.

However, there are several species of lavender which, after distillation, produce very different essential oils. In fact, each species has a different biochemical composition and specific properties. So it's best to be familiar with lavender to choose the right essential oil.

General characteristics of Lavender

"Lavender" comes from the Latin lavare, meaning "to wash". In the past, washerwomen used this plant in their laundries to perfume clean linen. Lavenders, otherwise known as "sun plants", grow spontaneously in the south of France, but also in other countries around the world. Depending on geographic origin, the chemotype of lavender essential oils can vary, playing an important role in their quality.
The best-known varieties of lavender are

• True lavenderLavandula vera syn. Lavandula angustifolia(which is a female flower).
• Aspic lavenderLavandula spica(which is a male flower).
• LaLavande stoechadeLavandula stoechas

True Lavender has two subspecies: Lavender maillette and Lavender mathérone, which are difficult to differentiate. They can be found at altitudes of between 700 and 800 meters. Stoechade lavender grows in maritime environments.
Bees have contributed to the creation of natural hybrids, Lavandins, through pollenization. Lavandins, richer in 1.8-cineole and camphor, have a less delicate fragrance than fine Lavender, but quite similar properties. Wild Lavandins are grosso, super or abrial. Two other types of Lavandin that are propagated by cuttings are Lavandin reydovan, rich in geraniol and linalool, and Lavandin sumyan, an old hybrid from the south of France with a powdery fragrance.

Lavender essential oil, Lavandin essential oil

Lavender essential oil - which one to choose ?

Lavender Aspic essential oil

Properties :

Lavender aspic essential oil is known for its analgesic, local anesthetic, healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, expectorant and mucolytic properties.

Use in aromatherapy :

Lavender aspic essential oil is used for the following conditions:
Skin disorders (burns, mycosis, acne, insect stings, jellyfish, viper, scorpion)
Infections, especially viral (hacking cough, bronchitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, otitis, sinusitis, shingles, herpes...)

Practical advice for using Lavender Aspic essential oil

• Insect sting, jellyfish, viper bite... : Immediately apply 1-2 drops of Lavender aspic essential oil to the affected area, avoiding contact with mucous membranes. If necessary, repeat 2-3 times over the next 30 minutes.
• Irritated skin : Lavender aspic essential oil is best known for its soothing properties when applied to the skin. Dilute 5-15% of Lavender aspic essential oil in vegetable oil or aole vera gel and apply this mixture 3 times a day.
• Respiratory well-being: In a 30 ml bottle, pour 30 drops of Lavender aspic essential oil with 60 drops of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil and top up with vegetable oil or aloe vera gel. Apply a few drops to the chest and massage 2-3 times a day for one week.

Precautions for use :Do not ingest Lavender aspic essential oil.
Not for use by pregnant or breast-feeding women or infants.

Lavender Fine essential oil

Properties :

Fine Lavender essential oil is known for its relaxing, anxiolytic, sedative, analgesic, anesthetic, antispasmodic, healing, regenerative, antiparasitic, antiseptic, refreshing and anti-infectious properties.

Use in aromatherapy :

Lavender essential oil is irreplaceable in cases of:
stress, irritability, anxiety, sleep disorders, migraines, cramps, contractures, digestive spasms, burns, insect bites, skin irritations.

Practical advice for using Lavender Fine essential oil

• Relaxation : Pour a few drops of fine lavender essential oil into a diffuser, breathe in and enjoy the relaxing benefits. As a skin application, massage feet with a few drops of fine lavender essential oil diluted in a vegetable oil.
• Difficulty falling asleep : in the evening, diffuse a few drops of True lavender essential oil in your bedroom.
  Lice (prevention): Put a few drops of fine lavender essential oil on the comb before you comb your hair. Repeat every morning.

Precautions for use :Not for use by pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Lavender Stoechade essential oil

Properties :

Lavender stoechade essential oil is known for its anti-infectious, bactericidal, antifungal, mucolytic, balancing and brain-boosting properties.

Use in aromatherapy :

Lavender stoechade essential oil is used in particular for chronic respiratory and ENT infections caused by bacteria, stomatitis, eczema or wounds.

Practical advice for using Lavender Stoechade essential oil

• Ear disorders (to alleviate symptoms) :Mix 45 drops of Lavender stoechade essential oil with 10 ml of St John's Wort vegetable oil and massage 3 to 4 drops of this mixture around the ear and earlobe, once a day.
• Wounds :Mix 5 ml of the following essential oils in a bottle: lavender stoechade essential oil + helichrysum essential oil + rosemary essential oil. Apply 2 or 3 drops of this mixture directly to scars, up to 3 times a day for 2 weeks if necessary.
• Itching/redness :Organic stoechade lavender essential oil + thyme essential oil + palmarosa essential oil. Dilute 1.5 ml of each essential oil in 20 ml of vegetable oil or aloe vera gel. Apply a few drops of the lotion to the areas to be treated twice a day.

Precautions for use :

Do not use on pregnant or breast-feeding women, babies or children, as lavender stoechade essential oil is highly neurotoxic and abortifacient!

ATTENTION:Before using essential oils, be sure to read the precautions for use, which you can consult under "Everything you need to know about essential oils".

Lavandin essential oil - which variety to choose ?

• Lavandin grosso essential oil
  Lavandin grosso is widely cultivated (80% of crops) and yields a high percentage of essential oil, which is of no interest for aromatherapy. It is mainly used by industry to perfume cosmetics and soaps.
• Lavandin super essential oil
  Lavandin super essential oil accounts for 10% of crops. Its biochemical composition is similar to that of fine lavender. As it is less expensive, it can replace Fine Lavender essential oil for diffusion.
• Lavandin abrial essential oil
  Lavandin abrial essential oil, also cultivated in France at around 10%, is widely used in aromatherapy, particularly for muscle massage, thanks to its relaxing properties.