Lavender Essential Oil: A Multipurpose Essential Oil

Essential oils have gained a lot of popularity for natural skincare and haircare remedies over the last few decades. Among them, lavender essential oil is one of the most widely used and versatile essential oils worldwide. Its widespread demand can be attributed to its many therapeutic properties and refreshing aroma. It is extracted from a perennial herb named Lavandula angustifolia, native to the Mediterranean regions, Arabian Peninsula and Russia. 

What is the history of lavender essential oil?

Lavender essential oil has a long history of use dating back to the era of ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians had used lavender plants for perfumery and mummification. Later the Romans had used lavender essential oil for scenting, beautifying, and therapeutic purposes. They would keep dried lavender flowers and buds under pillows to promote peaceful sleep and use the oil to scent baths, beds, clothes, and even hair. Beyond scenting purposes, people would also hang lavender plants above their doors to avert evil spirits in the era of ancient Romans.

Today, lavender plants are cultivated all around the world for commercial purposes. Lavender essential oil is often an active ingredient in many shampoos, soaps, lotions, moisturizers, and personal hygiene products. Besides exuding a refreshing and pleasant scent that deodorizes the atmosphere, lavender essential oil has many beautifying benefits. It is known to be soothing for irritated, itchy, and acne-prone skin. In haircare, lavender essential oil is used to promote scalp's health, calm itchiness, and soothe dryness. Moreover, the floral scent of lavender oil has a positive impact on the mind. Promoting relaxation, ease, anxious feelings, and restful sleep. 

What are the Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil for Aromatherapy?

The centuries-old practice of aromatherapy involves scent inhalation and essential oil massage. Lavender essential oil has been used in aromatherapy practices for about 2500 years. Its calming and soothing scent has a relaxing impact on the mind and senses. It comforts the agitated mind, helps uplift the mood, and creates an ambiance of peace and tranquility in your surroundings. Furthermore, due to its therapeutic properties and soothing scent, lavender essential oil calms headaches and promotes restful sleep.

In its chemical composition, lavender essential oil contains linalool, camphor, a-pinene, terpinene, limonene, and linalyl acetate. These compounds exhibit purifying, soothing, and relaxing properties that comfort sore and tensed muscles. It soothes inflamed joints, relaxes the aching body, and eases physical discomfort associated with tiredness.

How to Use:

To Calm Headaches and Improve Sleep Quality:

• Add the following essential oils to a diffuser
• 9 drops of lavender essential oil
• 2 drops of orange essential oil
• 2 drops of frankincense essential oil
• Diffuse the oils for 15-20 minutes before bedtime

To Relax Aching Body and Sore Muscles:

• In a small glass container
• Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil
• Add 2 drops of rosemary essential oil
• Add 4 tablespoons of your favorite carrier oil
• Mix the oils completely
• Massage the blend onto the desired areas of your skin
• Avoid direct contact with eyes while massaging
• Wash your hands thoroughly afterward

What are the Skincare Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil? 

Lavender essential oil is well-known for its purifying, detoxifying, hydrating, and clarifying properties. It soothes acne-prone and irritated skin, calms itchiness and redness, leaving the skin feeling healthier. It has antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals and environmental stressors. Its cleansing properties draw out impurities and dirt, improving the look and feel of the skin. Furthermore, due to its purifying and detoxifying properties, lavender essential oil helps fade the appearance of dark spots, blemishes, and scars. Its hydrating properties have the ability to promote a brighter, smoother, and younger-looking skin. In addition, lavender essential oil calms dry skin, soothes inflammation, and helps purify the skin from bacteria to prevent future acne breakouts.

How to Use:

To Soothe Acne-Prone Skin:

• In a small container
• Add 4-5 drops of lavender essential oil.
• Add 2 tablespoons of argan oil.
• Mix the oils thoroughly.
• Damp a cotton ball with the mixture
• Dab the cotton ball gently onto acne-affected areas
• Let it dry for 5-10 minutes
• Wash your face with lukewarm water
• Pat dry with a clean cloth
• You can use it once daily

To Calm Dry, Itchy, and Irritated Skin:

• In a small container
• Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil
• Add 2 drops of tea tree essential oil
• Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• Mix the oils thoroughly
• Apply the oil's mixture onto the desired areas of your skin
• Let it dry
• You can use it once daily.

What are the Hair Care Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil? 

Lavender essential oil is also an incredible oil for promoting the scalp's health. Its cleansing and purifying properties purge out dirt buildup, dead skin cells, and impurities from the scalp, leaving it refreshed and clean. Free radicals are responsible for exerting oxidative stress on the scalp, whicaffectsect the scalp's health and increases hair loss. Because of its antioxidant properties, lavender essential oil helps protect the scalp from the harmful effects of free radicals and soothes redness, itchiness, and inflammation. In addition, due to its hydrating properties, lavender essential oil calms dryness on the scalp and rejuvenates dull and damaged hair. Furthermore, lavender oil’s purifying properties help comfort troubled and irritated scalp.

How to Use:

To Promote Scalp's Health:

• In a small container
• Add 5-7 drops of lavender essential oil.
• Add 2 tablespoons of jojoba or coconut oil.
• Mix the oils thoroughly.
• Massage the oil mixture onto your scalp
• Let it sit for 25-30 minutes.
• Rinse it off with shampoo
• You can use it once weekly.