Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
“As rosemary is to the spirit, so lavender is to the soul.”
Plant Profile
Lavender is a silvery-green, evergreen shrub known for its fragrant purple-blue flower spikes and its soft, woody presence in any garden. She thrives in sun-drenched, well-drained soil and brings bees in swirls when in bloom. Native to the Mediterranean, lavender holds her shape even when parched — a survivor in rocky soil, her flowers swaying like tiny flags of peace.
Origin Story
The story goes that French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé burned his hand in a lab accident in the early 1900s and plunged it into the nearest liquid — lavender essential oil. The healing was so remarkable that it changed his life’s direction and gave rise to what we now call aromatherapy. Whether the story is myth or fact, it’s told again and again because it feels right: lavender as rescuer, restorer, remedy.
Long before this, Roman soldiers carried lavender to treat wounds in the field, and washerwomen scattered it through linen to keep moths — and misfortune — away.
Soul Notes
Lavender is a soft hush. A steadying hand. The breath before sleep.
She carries the scent of freshly laundered sheets, quiet evenings, and the subtle safety of repetition. If rosemary wakes you, lavender settles you. She is twilight in plant form — never shouting, but always present.
Stillroom Notes
Uses: Calms anxious minds, soothes burns and insect bites, aids digestion, relieves headaches, eases tension
In tea: Gentle on the gut and the nerves, perfect for late afternoons
Essential oil: A staple of first-aid kits and sleep blends alike
Dried: Lovely sewn into sachets for pillows, drawers, or bath soaks
Ink Blot
Lavender has always made its way into my drawers — sometimes tucked between socks, other times hidden in pillowcases. Once, I found an old pouch that had lost its scent, and I felt a quiet grief, like losing a whisper.
I remember opening my great-grandmother’s linen cupboard and asking her why she hid little bags of flowers between the sheets. “To keep the moths out,” she said, matter-of-factly. I wrinkled my nose and told her it smelled like old people. She just smiled — the kind of smile you grow into.
Now, decades later, I find myself reaching for lavender again. Blended into oils, gently infused into sleep masks, or tucked inside hand-stitched sachets, it feels like I’ve inherited a ritual without realising it. A scent passed down, not unlike memory.
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Lavender oil is used in pharmacology for mild burns, stress relief, and acne treatments. It's also found in sleep aids, capsules, and clinical aromatherapy. The French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé first wrote about its burn-soothing powers in 1937 — a moment often described as the start of modern aromatherapy...
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Ideal growing conditions:
Full sun, well-drained soil, low fertility — thrives in Mediterranean climates.Best time to plant:
Spring or early summer once frost danger has passed.Watering needs:
Low — prefers dry conditions once established.Pruning:
Light pruning after first bloom helps maintain shape and encourages new growth. Hard pruning in late summer or early autumn (avoid cutting into woody stems).Harvest tips:
For essential oil: harvest just before buds fully open.
For drying: harvest in the morning when oils are most concentrated. Tie in small bundles and hang upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space.Types of lavender:
Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender): sweet scent, best for culinary and sleep uses
Lavandula x intermedia (Lavandin): stronger scent, higher camphor content — great for cleaning blends
Lavandula stoechas (French/Spanish lavender): showy and beautiful, less oil-rich
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Planetary correspondence: Mercury
Elemental association: Air
Polarity: Feminine
Chakra alignment: Third Eye & Crown
Magical uses:
Protection during sleep
Dream recall and psychic clarity
Attracting peaceful love
Cleansing negative energy from a space or object
Ritual uses: Burned in small bundles to purify; tucked under pillows to ward off nightmares; blended into oils for calming spellwork
Mythical resonance: In ancient Greece, lavender was associated with Hecate and the threshold between sleep and death — a scent at the boundary of realms.
When to Reach for Lavender
For Stress & Overwhelm
Racing mind? Tension behind your eyes? A swipe of our roll-on blend at the temples or wrists can help ground you fast — perfect for mid-day meetings, crowded trains, or long to-do lists.
For Restful Sleep
Our lavender-scented eye pillow helps ease you into sleep, with gentle weight and a calming aroma that signals to your body: it’s safe to let go now. Tuck it over your eyes or under your pillow.
For Sunburn & Insect Bites
Lavender’s natural soothing and anti-inflammatory properties make it a time-tested friend to minor skin irritations. Our essential oil blend is gentle and calming — just what skin needs after a bit too much summer.
For Soothing Children (and Adults)
Whether it’s a restless nap time, a night terror, or a fidgety car ride, lavender helps restore peace. Add a drop to a diffuser, spray it on bedding, or roll a bit onto a beloved soft toy.