Lavender:

Lavender belongs to the botanical family of flowers which also include camomile, geranium, neroli and rose; it blends well with the exotics (patchouli sandalwood, and ylang ylang) as well as the citrus family (grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass and orange); it is used for the mid-note of a blend; and is extracted from the plant by distillation.  It's "re-discovery" in modern times has been attributed to Rene-Maurice Gattefosse who, whilst working working in his family’s perfumery business, burnt his hand & plunged it into a vat of lavender to soothe it. The burn healed rapidly and left little scarring. During WW1 Gattefosse used essential oils on soldiers’ scars and was the first to use the phrase ‘aromatherapie’ in a paper delivered in 1928.

Lavender good for:

• acne, allergies, bruises, burns, dermatitis, psoriasis, insect bites & stings, sunburn
• rheumatism, aches and pains
• shock, hypertension, depression, insomnia, headaches
• PMT
• asthma, catarrh, throat infection
• nausea and cystitis