Description:
Lavender is native to southern France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Croatia. Across the world, the major producing countries of lavender oil are France, Australia, Bulgaria, England, USSR, Yugoslavia, USA, Canada, Tanzania, Italy, Spain, and South Africa. The common method of essential oil extraction is the steam distillation of foliage (leaves).

Cultivation and Harvesting:
There are more than 400 species of lavender across the world with different aroma and analytical data. Most of them are extensively cultivated in temperate climates. The Lavandula angustifolia species are commonly cultivated worldwide and generally known as Lavender. All the species of lavender needs very less quantity or no fertilizer. For luxuriant growth of Lavender crop well-drained, dry, graveled, rocky, and sandy soils with pH 6 to 7.5 are required.

Lavandula angustifolia yields an oil with a sweet note whereas, Lavandin (Lavandula hybrid) yields a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of camphor, which gives a sharper note to the essential oil. Lavender essential oil is produced through steam distillation. The leaves of Lavandula angustifolia contain essential oil from 0.5 to 3.2%. In lavender oil, the major active constituents are linalool (20-47 %) and linalyl acetate (12-45 %). The world production of natural lavender oil is 350 tons per year. Lavender oil is produced worldwide, but Bulgaria is the leading player in this industry.

Odor profile:
Herbal floral spicy camphoreous balsamic

Major Constituents:
The lavender essential oil contains more than 100 constituents, most of them are present in very low quantity and some are in traces. The exact composition of a lavender essential oil varies from species to species. Some of the major constituents are mentioned below

Application:
~ Lavender essential oil is used to promote sleep and fight insomnia, antioxidant, Natural pain killer, antiseptic, Mood booster, Spasmolytic effects, Analgesic, Antibacterial, and Sedative effects ingredient.

Aromatherapy:
Asthma, Rheumatism, Acne, Allergies, Scars, Sores, Sprains, Strains, Anxiety, Bruises, Burns, Stress Stretch Marks, Cystitis, Depression, Dermatitis, Earache, Flatulence, Headache, Hypertension, Itching, Labor Pains, Migraine, Insect Bites. It is also used for Insect Repellent.