Lavender Absolute
Origin: France

• Details and product description

  Introduction:

  Lavender is a small perennial shrub 30 to 70 cm in height, smaller than lavandin (hybird lavender). It has long, spindly stems with a square contour and a greyish color. After maturity, a woody stock forms at the base. The greyish-green leaves are narrow, opposite, lanceolate and evergreen. The labiate flowers are bluish-purple (the famous blue lavender) with a tubular calyx rising in spikes or shoots that are 12 cm long and have a very aromatic fragrance. The high-altitude variety (fine lavender or small lavender) is valued more than varieties of the plains, which when hybridized with spike lavender, result in grosso lavender or fat spike (grosse lavande), bastard lavender (lavande bâtarde), spigoure or lavandin. The Lyon botanist Jordan distinguishes two types of true lavender: Delphinensis Fragrans The Fragrans variety has branches that are spindlier and more numerous than the Delphinensis, and the leaves are greener and flatter. Delphinensis leaves are narrow and curled, the calyxes are more purple, the branches, short and rigid. Delphinensis favors cold and humid soils on north facing slopes, called ubacs. Fragrans grows in warmer and sunnier places on southern slopes in soil that is drier. This makes it a xerophile, a plant that likes dry soil.

  History:

  Lavender has been known since antiquity. The Romans already used it for its unique fragrance to scent linen and it was used in their baths. Dioscoride, in his De Materia Medica, classified it as one of the precious plants. Since the 13th century, it has been used for therapeutic purposes. The plant is often found in medicinal plant gardens in monasteries. The word “lavande” appeared in the Middle Ages. The name has a Latin root “lavare,” which means to wash or purify, referring to the habit at the time of using lavender as a bath purifier or cleanser. Since the glove-makers from Grasse, who used lavender essence to perfume leather, were spared from the plague, they encouraged their fellow citizens to use lavender. The beneficial powers of love, chastity, happiness and peace are attributed to it. For a long time, the Romans put packets of lavender in chests and cupboards while making vows of love. They were reputed to protect from a spouse’s physical abuse. Writing paper used for love letters was perfumed with lavender.

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