It probably comes as no surprise to you that I have quite a growing collection of lavender essential oils. I often look back to one of my first posts and how I referred to just three types of lavender oil: French Lavender, Bulgarian Lavender, and Spike Lavender. Little did I know though they were just the tip of the iceberg!
In my defense, I referred to them as the “most common” types, which you are likely to find from pretty much any essential oil company. Once I started purchasing from different essential oil suppliers though, those offering an assortment of specialty or rare essential oils, I learned there were many more lavenders to experience and love!
In fact, there are about 20 some species of lavender and once you consider their varieties, different hybrids, the region they were grown in, growing conditions, how they were cultivated, etc. you can see there are many options.
I recently ordered a “sampler” from Eden Botanicals including 5 tiny vials of lavender essential oil, 2 lavindin essential oils, and an absolute which I have spent several days taking in their aromas, making notes, and such. It has been so interesting to notice the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences in each. I will be looking forward to especially hand choosing these lavenders for blends depending on which properties I think will vibe with the overall goal of the collective essentials in the blend.
In my defense, I referred to them as the “most common” types, which you are likely to find from pretty much any essential oil company. Once I started purchasing from different essential oil suppliers though, those offering an assortment of specialty or rare essential oils, I learned there were many more lavenders to experience and love!
In fact, there are about 20 some species of lavender and once you consider their varieties, different hybrids, the region they were grown in, growing conditions, how they were cultivated, etc. you can see there are many options.
I recently ordered a “sampler” from Eden Botanicals including 5 tiny vials of lavender essential oil, 2 lavindin essential oils, and an absolute which I have spent several days taking in their aromas, making notes, and such. It has been so interesting to notice the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences in each. I will be looking forward to especially hand choosing these lavenders for blends depending on which properties I think will vibe with the overall goal of the collective essentials in the blend.
Lavender, High Elevation [France]
I really enjoyed this lavender, similar to a lavender fine which I have seen from other companies. I found the aroma to be a very crisp and clean floral as what I would consider to be true to the actual herb’s scent.
Lavender, Wild [France]
I found this lavender to have a strong, but smooth floral aroma (if that makes sense). Again, I felt it was true to the actual herb’s scent.
Lavender, France [France]
This was quite comparable to the French lavender essential oils I have used in the past. It has a nice floral aroma with a hint of herbaceousness to it (if herbaceousness isn’t a word…it should be). Perfect for when you want that floral note without being too overpowering.
Lavender, Bulgaria [Bulgaria]
This essential oil was beautiful and I felt a much better quality that many Bulgarian lavenders I have used in the past. Its aroma is a nicely balanced sweet, but not too strong, floral.
Lavender, Maillette [France]
I was excited to try this variety as I have a friend who uses it frequently. I was pleased to enjoy it as well! I found the aroma to have just the right amount of floral and herbaceousness to make it soft and fresh.
Lavindin, Grosso [Spain]
I have only recently started using lavindin so I do not have a great basis for comparison. This sample to me has a very clean herbaceous aroma with just a hint of camphor to it.
Lavindin, Sumian [Italy]
This was my least favorite of the samples. I found its aroma to be quite green and grassy, with a hint of floral that was barely detectable. Upon first sniff I even picked up a bit of a medicinal aroma to it, but did not experience this the second or third time, so hard to attribute that to it.
Lavender, Absolute [Bulgaria]
This was quite a surprise being a very dark green in color with specks of plant material in it. The aroma was even more shocking! I found it to be a very heavy ad sweet floral and almost fruity. It is something that I liked, but a little would certainly go a long way.
I really enjoyed this lavender, similar to a lavender fine which I have seen from other companies. I found the aroma to be a very crisp and clean floral as what I would consider to be true to the actual herb’s scent.
Lavender, Wild [France]
I found this lavender to have a strong, but smooth floral aroma (if that makes sense). Again, I felt it was true to the actual herb’s scent.
Lavender, France [France]
This was quite comparable to the French lavender essential oils I have used in the past. It has a nice floral aroma with a hint of herbaceousness to it (if herbaceousness isn’t a word…it should be). Perfect for when you want that floral note without being too overpowering.
Lavender, Bulgaria [Bulgaria]
This essential oil was beautiful and I felt a much better quality that many Bulgarian lavenders I have used in the past. Its aroma is a nicely balanced sweet, but not too strong, floral.
Lavender, Maillette [France]
I was excited to try this variety as I have a friend who uses it frequently. I was pleased to enjoy it as well! I found the aroma to have just the right amount of floral and herbaceousness to make it soft and fresh.
Lavindin, Grosso [Spain]
I have only recently started using lavindin so I do not have a great basis for comparison. This sample to me has a very clean herbaceous aroma with just a hint of camphor to it.
Lavindin, Sumian [Italy]
This was my least favorite of the samples. I found its aroma to be quite green and grassy, with a hint of floral that was barely detectable. Upon first sniff I even picked up a bit of a medicinal aroma to it, but did not experience this the second or third time, so hard to attribute that to it.
Lavender, Absolute [Bulgaria]
This was quite a surprise being a very dark green in color with specks of plant material in it. The aroma was even more shocking! I found it to be a very heavy ad sweet floral and almost fruity. It is something that I liked, but a little would certainly go a long way.
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