How To Use Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil is one of the most widely used essential oils in the world. Long heralded for its calming and soothing properties, it is also known as English Lavender or Common Lavender. Lavender essential oil is generally non-irritating to skin and is Generally Accepted As Safe. (GRAS.) However, there are some safety considerations when using lavender essential oil.

How to Use Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil contains high amounts of a compound called linalool. Linalool is a somewhat unstable molecule and can oxidize when exposed to light and heat. When it comes to sensitization risks, lavender is generally accepted as a low-risk sensitizer. However, the oxidation products of linalool may be skin-sensitizing as well as allergenic. Fresh lavender essential oil, however, has been found to be in some cases an anti-allergen (helping to ease allergic dermatitis.)

Tips:

• When formulating with lavender essential oil, using Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols, aka tocopherol) or rosemary extract (oleoresin) in your carrier oil will help to keep it fresher for longer and reduce the risk of skin reactions.

• Store your essential oil in dark glass and keep away from light and heat.

• Buy oil that is as fresh as possible. Ask your supplier for expiration and shelf-life data.

• As with all essential oils, avoid ingesting unless under the supervision of a licensed medical aromatherapist.

• Choose certified organic essential oils to ensure they are not adulterated with synthetic fragrances.

Use Ideas:

• Diffuse lavender essential oil in your home for a relaxing sensory experience. Around infants or toddlers age 2 and below, don’t diffuse for more than 30 minutes at a time and make sure that the room has adequate air flow.

• Use in lotions and massage oils in a dilution rate of up to 2%. This equals about 12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil (sweet almond, jojoba, sunflower, grapeseed, olive, etc.)

• Add 5 drops of lavender essential oil in to a tablespoon of carrier oil, mix and add to a bath for a skin-soothing and stress-relieving experience.

• Blends well with: spearmint, peppermint, lemon, orange, lime, vanilla absolute.