Lavender is an aromatic perennial evergreen shrub. Its woody stems bear lavender or purple flowers from late spring to early autumn, although there are varieties with blossoms of white or pink. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, but now cultivated in cool-winter, dry-summer areas in Europe and the Western United States (mountain rose herbs). Commercially, you can buy lavender as an oil, extract, infusions, lotions, soaps, teas, whole dried flowers, etc.
As a plant, lavender has many uses. It is often incorporated into teas, tinctures, baked goods, baths, medicine, ointments, makeup and much more. Because of its soothing fragrance, lavender is thought to help calm oneself and can be found in a variety of soaps, shampoos, oils, candles and other such things. Medicinally, lavender is thought to help with insomnia, anxiety/stress, and some levels of pain.
For the month of March, I would like for us to use this thread to post information about lavender. How it might be used, recipes you can incorporate it into, its magickal or spiritual properties, any experiences you have had with it and much more.
I'm a trained dog groomer,I apprenticed for a woman then out on my own. My 1st shop after they taught me a trick for clipper burn on a dog, 8 a small cut or knick.. Lavender oil,it soothes skin and somehow keeps it clean and ,it does feel better. Bactine numbs a bit,it's kind of like that. What a neat trick with the dogs though AND doubles as a stinky dog deterrent ...
How to Make Lavender Essential Oil
A non-distilling approach to make tincture of Lavender is easier than the boiling and steaming process. Youll need:
Lavender buds
Grain alcohol or cheap vodka like Popov (save the good stuff for Cosmos)
Mortar and pestle (although bowl and spoon will do)
Coffee filters
Two jars one with a tight-fitting lid
Place Lavender buds into your bowl or mortar, and crush lightly to release the aromatic oil. Just bruise the flowers with the back of the spoon or pestle. You are not making oatmeal. Too much agitation will give you Lavender soup and thats not how to make lavender essential oil.
Transfer the Lavender to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Cover entirely with the grain alcohol or vodka.Shake the jar to release more oil, several times a day, for several days in a row. A longer steep means more intense extraction.
After a week or so of this a short-cut during this phase of how to make lavender essential oil is to leave the brewing jar on a sunny kitchen counter for a weekend youre ready to refine.
Use a coffee filter to strain the liquid and into the second jar. (The pour-off is technically lavender-infused vodka, though we dont recommend drinking it.)Place a clean coffee filter or cloth on top of the jar of liquid and allow it to sit undisturbed for about one week. This will allow the alcohol to evaporate from the jar, leaving essential oil as the result.
There may be sediment at the bottom, which is no big deal. If it bothers you for instance, if youre gifting the jar, strain it again with a clean coffee filter into a lidded storage jar. We like using dark-colored glass (like a repurposed yeast jar) to protect the actives in the oil. Store it in your pantry or linen closet, out of direct sunlight.
I hope to have lavender growing this year in my itty bitty garden. I've also been working with my essential oils a lot this month. Lavender has several uses both magically and in the mundane.
heyyyy it's me :D
My therapist always had me use a lavender bubble bath and pillow spray before I went to sleep to help with my anxiety— the significance of this flower and this particular therapist is why I chose Lavender to be my first craft name. Because, I mean, Lavender sounds better than Chamomile as a name, another herb she had me use before bedtime xD
I have lavender incense that I use when I first get into bed. I sit and meditate or work on my tarot cards etc. with it going. I find it helps relax me so that I sleep better. I am hoping to grow some this summer so I have some on hand so I can try some of the many other things it can be used for. Looking forward to trying working with the dried version of it.
