Lavandin Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

Lavandin essential oil (Lavandula x intermedia) is produced from a plant that's a hybrid of true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia).

Basic Lavandin Facts

Easier and cheaper to grow than true lavender, lavandin is often used to adulterate lavender essential oil. Sometimes lavandin is mislabeled and sold as lavender, an important reason to find a trustworthy supplier of essential oils.

Many different cultivars of lavandin exist. The main ones used in aromatherapy are lavandin grosso, lavandin abrialis, and lavandin super. Their chemical compositions vary, though the main components in all three are linalool, linalyl acetate, camphor, and 1,8-cineole, according to Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Ed.

Note: Lavandin contains more camphor and 1,8-cineole than lavender and less than spike lavender. Camphor gives an oil a sharper scent and makes it more stimulating than relaxing.

Plant family: Lamiaceae.

Production: Steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant. A lavandin absolute is also available.

Aroma: Fresh, sweet, floral—somewhat more herbaceous and camphorous than true lavender but less sharp than spike lavender. Scent varies depending on the cultivar of lavandin: Grosso has a more camphor-like smell, while abrialis has a hint of spice, and super has the sweetest scent with a fruity hint, according to The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Top to middle.

System affinities: Skin, musculoskeletal, and emotions, according to The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy.

Is lavandin safe to use during pregnancy? Consult a professional.

Is lavandin essential oil safe for children? You might not want to use it with kids under age 2. Consult a professional.

Caution: Do NOT use lavandin on burns—it may worsen irritation.

Lavandin Essential Oil Benefits

Lavandin helps relieve mental and emotional conditions when diffused, used in a full-body massage oil, or applied to acupoints, according to Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol. I. Although lavandin uses are similar to true lavender, lavandin is more stimulating and can help address hypotonic (weak) conditions.

This essential oil is balancing and cleansing, according to The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art suggests using the oil as a disinfectant and deodorant.

Lavandin helps relieve conditions of the respiratory, muscular, and circulatory systems, according to The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition). Specific benefits and uses often mentioned include:

• Circulatory: helps improve circulation when used in full-body massage blends.
• Respiratory: helps relieve and expel mucus and phlegm.
• Muscle: reduces muscle stiffness, pain, cramps, spasms, injuries, and inflammation.
• Nervous: reduces stress, tension, and nervousness.
• Pain relief: relieves pain such as backache, sprains, rheumatism, menstrual cramps, and migraines.
• Skin care: helps heal skin infections, including acne and fungus such as candida and athlete's foot.

Additional sources: The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, and Original Swiss Aromatics.

To help relieve muscle and joint pain, Aromatherapeutics Blending suggests blending lavandin with marjoram, nutmeg, or rosemary essential oil.

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Lavandin enhances awareness and intuition for dreamwork, clairvoyance, and all forms of psychic work. The oil also supports concentration for clarity and inspiration for divination, contact with spirits, and communication in general. The oil is grounding and purifying.

Lavandin Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Common uses of lavandin oil include lotions, soaps, room sprays, cleaning products, and perfumes.

You can use lavandin in hair care, according to Eden's Garden. Add 12 drops of the essential oil to one ounce (2 tablespoons) of unscented shampoo.

To make a hair oil treatment, blend:

• 6 drops lavandin essential oil
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 tablespoons argan oil

Massage the blend into your scalp. Wait at least 30 minutes. Wash your hair.

Foot Care Blend

Blend the following essential oils in a small dark bottle:

• 9 drops lavandin
• 6 drops rosemary
  
• 6 drops manuka
  
• 4 drops thyme linalool
  
• 2 drops peppermint
  

To use the blend for foot massage, dilute 3 to 5 drops in 1 teaspoon carrier oil.

Source: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Calming Diffuser Blend

• 2 drops lavandin essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops palmarosa essential oil
• 1 drop sweet orange essential oil

Use according to your diffuser's instructions.

Everyday Face Cream

• 6 tablespoons unscented moisturizing cream for sensitive skin
• 1 teaspoon rosehip oil
• 3/4 teaspoon rose hydrosol
• 7 drops lavandin essential oil
• 7 drops palmarosa essential oil
• 4 drops sandalwood essential oil

1. Put the moisture cream base into a 4-ounce glass jar and stir.
2. Stir in the rosehip oil.
3. Mix in the hydrosol.
4. Drop in the essential oils. Stir well.
5. Put on the lid, label, and store in a cool, dark place.

Use twice daily, morning and night.

Adapted from Penny Price.

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About the Author

Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer with a deep interest in essential oils. She uses her experience and knowledge, along with research, to bring you information about aromatherapy and massage and links to more resources.

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Photo Credit: David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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