What is lavender oil good for?
Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils and is known for its many uses and its bright, floral scent. Lavender is a common addition to beauty and relaxation products like facial scrubs, candles, and massage products. Proponents believe that it promotes relaxation and sleep, and relieves tension and anxiety.
What is Lavender Oil?
Lavender oil is a popular essential oil known for its versatility and uses, from aromatherapy to topical use in the kitchen.
There are two commonly used types of lavender. Everyone has a slightly different chemical profile and therefore different properties. Choose which lavender essential oil to use based on your desired effects and results.
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
Lavandula angustifolia, commonly called English lavender, is a shrub native to the Mediterranean region. This is the type of lavender that consumers are looking for when purchasing lavender essential oil. You need to check the label of each lavender oil to make sure it has the Latin name Lavandula angustifolia. Otherwise, you could buy an unexpected or unwanted plant.
English lavender is often applied topically to the skin, added to teas, or used in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety, treat mild insomnia, and promote relaxation.
Clinical studies have shown that English lavender:
Lavandula latifolia (prickly lavender)
The second commonly used type of lavender is Lavandula latifolia, or prickly lavender.
Spike lavender has a spicier aroma than regular lavender and has the following benefits:
- Spike lavender has antiviral properties, which makes it useful for fighting the flu, curing scratches, fighting acne, and sanitizing surfaces.
- Effective in treating sinus infections as well as bronchitis by diffusion and inhalation.
What should I look for in lavender oil?
Always check the label on your lavender essential oil bottle to make sure the oil you buy is 100 percent Lavandula angustifolia essential oil.
Look for diluted, cheaper oils with carriers like coconut oil and sweet almond oil. While acceptable for topical applications, you shouldn’t use these oils in a diffuser. Usually it is better to buy pure, high quality essential oils and dilute them at home to your own standards.
Always buy essential oils in dark amber or cobalt bottles, as exposure to light can affect the effectiveness of the essential oils.
What does lavender oil do?
The options for using lavender oil are virtually limitless, which makes it like a medicine cabinet in a bottle. If you use essential oils frequently, consider buying a quality brand in bulk to save money.
Banish unwanted odors in your home by adding lavender oil to a spray bottle (mixed with water) and misting the spray into rooms in your house, car, bedding or mattress that have a pungent smell and need cleaning and freshening up.
Add lavender oil to a carrier oil like almond oil or jojoba oil and keep it in a rollerball bottle next to your bed. Apply it to your temples before bed to help you fall asleep faster and sleep soundly. It is also helpful to carry lavender oil in your purse to help relieve anxiety or to lift your spirits on the go.
Diffuse lavender in an essential oil diffuser around your office to help keep you calm and energized during your work day.
Add lavender essential oil to your bath to add that extra element of calming relaxation to your self-care routine. You can also find lavender oil in bath products such as bubble bath, bath salt, or lavender oil shampoo and conditioner for easy application.
Is Lavender Oil Safe To Use?
As with all essential oils, different people react differently to lavender essential oil. Before applying a lavender essential oil topically, apply a drop, diluted in a carrier oil, to a small area of your skin and watch for irritation or reaction.
Avoid using lavender oil near sensitive areas such as the eyes, nose, or inner ears.
If you use lavender oil and experience nausea, vomiting, or a headache, stop using it immediately. Never take lavender oil without medical advice as there is a risk of poisoning.
Never use lavender essential oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding without consulting your doctor.
Best lavender essential oil
Top lavender oil
Pranarom lavender essential oil
What you need to know: This is a therapeutic grade lavender essential oil harvested from France and intended for diffusion and topical use.
What you will love: It is a clean, refreshing floral fragrance that promotes calm and relaxation. It is certified organic, carefully harvested and extracted by steam distillation. It contains no additives and can be used independently or diluted with a carrier oil.
What you should be aware of: It’s a little more expensive than some lavender oils, but it’s worth spending more on natural, organic ingredients.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
Top lavender oil for the money
Now Foods Lavender Essential Oil
What you need to know: This option is 100% pure, responsibly sourced and steam distilled Lavender Essential Oil at a cheaper price than oils of similar quality.
What you will love: It’s organic and tested for purity and high quality. It can be used for aromatherapy or diluted with a carrier oil for topical application.
What you should be aware of: Some users have expressed concerns that the scent of this oil is intense and different from the scent of more expensive oils, but it receives mostly positive reviews.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
Worth considering
Sky Organics Organic Lavender Essential Oil
What you need to know: This is a USDA organic certified and 100% pure lavender essential oil.
What you will love: It has not been tested on animals, has a soothing, floral scent, and is designed to be dispensed or used in natural home improvement products such as making lotions or candles. It does not contain any synthetic ingredients, fillers or additives.
What you should be aware of: Some users reported an uncharacteristic odor.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Evelyn Waugh writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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