Essentail Oil Highlight: Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) Oil

Essentail Oil Highlight: Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) Oil


Lavender essential oil remains as popular today as it has been historically. Among the 47 recognized species of lavender, the most commonly known for its fragrance is Lavandula augustifolia, also referred to as True Lavender or English Lavender. This species features a sturdy and robust plant with fuller flowers, primarily harvested from agricultural regions in Bulgaria. The harvested flowers are subsequently transported to distillation facilities, where they are compressed and subjected to steam distillation to extract the essential oil. The resulting oil is characterized by its colourless, transparent appearance and its rich, full-bodied, sweet-herbaceous, floral aroma1.

Typically, the primary constituents of lavender oil include linalool, linalyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, β-ocimene (both cis- and trans- isomers), terpinen-4-ol, and camphor1. At Plant’s Power, our lavender essential oil, which is directly sourced from Bulgaria, contains reduced levels of camphor and higher concentrations of linalool and linalyl acetate1. This composition makes it an ideal choice for use in aromatherapy and cosmetic formulations due to its distinctive aroma profile.

In addition to its pleasant aroma, lavender essential oil is recommended as a cosmetic ingredient due to its various beneficial properties. It possesses antiseptic and purifying qualities, demonstrated by its effectiveness against a range of bacteria and fungi. Similar to tea tree oil, its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are comparable, indicating lavender essential oil’s potential role in preventing and treating topical infections1.

When using essential oils, concerns about skin irritation or allergic reactions are common.  is considered a mild skin irritant and has shown no significant evidence of skin sensitization. Additionally, it has been observed to reduce UV-induced skin damage relative to other oils1. These effects are attributed to phenolic compounds present in lavender oil, which provide antioxidant properties beneficial in cosmetic formulations2.

Another significant advantage of lavender oil is its anti-inflammatory effect, which has been shown to help alleviate skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema2. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the treatment for sensitive or irritated skin2. It is important to note that, during formulation, the recommended inclusion rate for lavender oil is between 0.5% and 5.0%2.

Given its numerous clinically supported benefits, it is unsurprising that the Lavender essential oil derived from Lavandula augustifolia continues to be highly regarded within the cosmetics and aromatherapy industries.

References:  

1. Cavanagh, H. M., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2002). Biological activities of Lavender essential oil. Phytotherapy Research, 16(4), 301-308. doi:10.1002/ptr.1103  

2. Lavender. (2011, July 3). Retrieved August 8, 2017, from http://www.centerchem.com/Products/DownloadFile.aspx?FileID=6802

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