Discover Lavender
Most people can identify lavender at a glance; with its tall flower spikes in purple hues and delicate evocative scent, it's been a popular garden plant for centuries.
Lavender and Lavandin - what is the difference?
There's another variety of lavender which is less well-known but still produces a high-quality essential oil and that's lavandin, or lavandula x intermedia to give this hybrid its full name. At Lavender Fields we farm the Grosso variety which, when distilled, produces the distinctive aromatic lavandin oil.
"So if they're both varieties of lavender and both produce essential oil, what makes them so different?"
Visual variation
Lavandin is often larger than lavender and has longer, more pointed flower spikes. It tends to flower later than its highly celebrated cousin.
Essential oils
Lavandin plants produce around 50% more oil than lavender plants. Although there are many similarities between the oils, they have different chemical compositions. Lavandin oil contains between 7-12% camphor, making it more powerful and uplifting than lavender oil and therefore great for colds. It can also act as a mild stimulant.
Making scents
Lavandin has more of a strong, medicinal scent because of the camphor, whereas lavender is floral, sweet and more delicate.
Burning up
Lavender and lavandin oils both have antibacterial properties but only lavender oil can help with burns. The camphor in lavandin oil means it's less suitable for burns, although the camphor makes it a stronger antiseptic.
Whether you use lavandin or lavender oil, you'll soon discover that both can bring a wealth of boosts and benefits to improve, enhance and heal the natural way.