What is lavender?

Hello Lavender Lovers!  

We're keeping it simple today by answering the question 'what is lavender?' We like to think of lavender as one of the loveliest gifts from nature with the most intoxicating fragrance. It offers many benefits to the mind and body and can be used in multiple forms for many reasons. 

To get a little more scientific, Lavandula (lavender!), is a genus of 42 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Although it is native to the Old World, it is cultivated globally in temperate climates for gardens and landscapes, for use as culinary herbs, and for the extraction of essential oil.

Lavender is an herbaceous perennial plant that typically blooms in late June to mid July here in our Northeast climate. And it is when the lavender blooms that the magic happens! A delicate flower with a shade of purple, blue, violet or lilac emerges. This flower holds the essence of lavender. When the plants are in bloom, our North Fork fields are filled with the intoxicating aroma of lavender! With just a gentle rub of the flower bud, the lovely, relaxing scent of the oil is released. 

Lavender has been used for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans were known to have used lavender for its beneficial purposes. Today, lavender is widely embraced for its soothing and relaxing benefits which help with sleep. The potent smell of lavender is known to affect one's mood by calming the nerves and promoting relaxation. As one of the very few essential oils that is safe to apply directly to the skin, lavender can soothe burns, cuts, acne, and other skin irritations as it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

With many benefits and applications, here are a few of our favorite ways to use lavender this season from the experts at Lavender by the Bay:

Lavender Bath

Just as the ancient Romans were known to use lavender in public baths, its use in baths is still just as good today. Mixed With Epsom salt, Dead Sea Salt and lavender essential oil, our Lavender by the Bay Bath Salts soothe the mind and body for a refreshing bath experience, especially on a cold winter day! 

Lavender Sachets

The alluring fragrance of our Lavender by the Bay sachets comes from dried French lavender flowers. At Lavender by the Bay, all of our sachets are sewn and filled by hand, and they can be used to freshen up absolutely anything. Sachets are most commonly used as a way to refresh linens, closets, and dressers as well as a natural moth repellent. When winter is over, store your sweaters with a sachet or two to keep the bugs away and retain a fresh, delightful smell. Remember to give your sachets a gentle squeeze to reinvigorate the fragrance.

As always, we strongly advise using lavender with care and following proper instructions. We don't claim that everyone can experience the benefits. However, it's hard to argue with the therapeutic aroma of lavender. 

Thank you for reading! Check back for more and let us know in the comments what you'd love to hear more about from Lavender by the Bay. 

Have a lovely day!