We all know that washing your hands with soap and water is the most effective way to stay healthy. But, sometimes you don’t have access to a bathroom to wash your hands.
You can buy hand sanitizers, but if you are like us, we like to know how to make our own products when possible, and we want to make them safe and effective. We found out that a hand sanitizer is easy to formulate. The important part is that it requires at least 60% alcohol.
Because that is a lot of alcohol you’ll want to find a way to reduce the skin-drying aspects of the alcohol. We put in glycerine and it still wasn’t quite enough, so for safety we left the hand sanitizer formula alone and recommend also using one of our lotions or creams (or one of your preference) to keep your skin soft and supple.
Here is a recipe for you to make your own Lavender Hand Sanitizer.
This is a basic recipe to use. It will make about four 2-oz. bottles.
Ingredient
Amount
Units
Alcohol
129.0
Grams
Lavender Hydrosol
49.0
Grams
Glycerine
9.0
Grams
Grosso EO
5.0
Grams
Peppermint EO
2.0
Grams
Clove EO
1.0
Grams
Cinnamon EO
1.0
Grams
Total
196.0
You will need a scale to weigh the ingredients. It’s much more accurate to do it that way, so we haven’t included the measuring equivalent in cups and spoons. Kitchen scales aren’t that expensive and you can use them for so many other things you want to create.
If you don’t have access to all these essential oils, that’s ok. Use what you have. The ones included here are commonly thought to have good anti-microbial qualities, but the reality is that the alcohol is the main ingredient for safety.
If you don’t have hydrosol you can substitute witch hazel or even water.
The other essential oils are available through many other sources.
After you have made your Hand Sanitizer, be sure to label the containers. Either make a cute sticker or write on it with a permanent marker. This is important!
Please contact us through this form if you want us to put together a kit for you. We’re not sure how we’d manage that yet, but we are willing to look into it. – March 1, 2020
How is it different than Lavender Essential Oil? A lot of lavender fans ask us, so what IS the difference between lavender oil and lavender hydrosol?
There’s a big hint right in their names. Hydro… Oil… Can you guess?
That’s right — water versus oil is main difference between lavender oil and lavender hydrosol. The first being ‘oil soluble’ and the second being ‘water soluble.’
Water is such an important part of hydrosols (which can be made from almost all distilled oil products) that a historic name for them is “flower water” or “floral water.”
Although, ‘floral waters’ is also a name used interchangeably for less rigorous production methods of a water-based aromatic. Simply soaking blossoms in water can create a lightly aromatic ‘water.’ Versus hydrosols, which are made via a steam distillation process.
Making Lavender Hydrosol
In the modern-day aromatherapy movement, hydrosols were a typically discarded by-product in the distilling process in favor of the more potent essential oil. For every few ounces of concentrated, pure essential oil created in distillation, there are also several large jugs worth of ‘essential water.’
That all changed, however, as aromatherapists and professionals began to understand the benefits offered by hydrosols themselves, particularly lavender hydrosol.
The process of steam distillation uses steam and heat to release lavender’s ‘essential’ components.
Watch the distillate come out of the still.
The process starts with the flowers, leaves and stem of lavender placed into a distillery chamber. Hot steam is put through the plant material and causes the plant to degrade and open up. The water molecules in steam pick up the plant’s constituents, forming a hot distillate that rises to the top of the still as steam. That condenses into liquid and runs into a separator.
Then, the layer of essential oil is skimmed off the top and preserved. What is left is the lavender hydrosol.
Lavender Hydrosol has Different Components than Lavender Essential Oil
Though they are made from the same process, hydrosols and essential oils also are comprised of different components.
Hydrosols contain constituents from the plant that dissolve in water. Essential oils are the constituents that dissolve in oil.
Hydrosol, which contains many of the herbaceous elements of the origin plant that essential oils do not, often are considered to have a ‘greener’ aroma than essential oil.
Lavender essential oil tends to have a sweeter aroma than the hydrosol from the same plant which some find more refreshing.
Why Use Lavender Hydrosol versus Lavender Essential Oil
Less concentrated is a not necessarily a bad thing.
After all the power of essential oils IS that they are so powerful (for instance, they are solvents which means they can dissolve oil-based paints)!
Hydrosols, and in particular lavender hydrosols, work in many (but not all) applications that essential oil does. They just do it in smaller, safer doses.
Because hydrosols are water soluble, they dissolve easily in water-based applications – like baths. Versus essential oils, which will float on top of water, not dissolve. In addition, therapists often will recommend applications of essential oils be applied (sparingly) into a ‘carrier oil’ first to dilute the effects.
Putting lavender hydrosol in spray bottles is a great way to use it.
Hydrosols, on the other hand, are a simpler, and safer way to venture into using aromatherapy and often recommended as the ‘first choice’ when experimenting with the effects of essential oils. This makes them safer for home and non-professional use and even aromatherapy professionals will often choose hydrosols as the first method in their treatments.
Lavender hydrosol can also be a way to get that “lavender” effect at a greatly reduced price as compared to the essential oil. Hydrosol is diluted by nature, and no need to further water down or mix with other agents.
Ways to Use Lavender Hydrosol
Minor Wound or Abrasion Care
While western medicine hasn’t taken hydrosols very seriously they are reported to have positive impacts on small wounds. Europeans traditionally keep a small bottle of lavender essential oil in their kitchens. Lavender hydrosol can be effective for rinsing, cleaning and promoting healing of skin abrasions and cuts.
Skin Itchiness from Sun or Wind Burns, or Eczema, Dryness and Aging
A refreshing tonic that soothes skin itchiness. Also works for diaper rash!
Skin Toner
Many people use lavender and other hydrosols to create a refreshing skin toner that is rejuvenating and rehydrating. Or add it to your homemade skin care creams for added benefits.
Baths and Showers
Lavender hydrosol can be added to bathwater (like lavender essential oil), with many of the same effects, providing a relaxing floral experience. Or use as a body spritz in the shower!
For General Household Cleaning including Windows
A mild disinfectant, lavender hydrosol is great for all hard surfaces. It is also non-streaking and does a terrific job cleaning windows, glass and computer and TV screens. Some drivers put it in their car’s window washing reservoir so every time they squirt their windshields they get a whiff of lavender and clean glass.
For Washing Fruit and Vegetables
Lavender hydrosol is a perfectly safe product to use on fresh fruit and vegetables.
Keeping Insects at bay
Lavender hydrosol is well-known for discouraging common insects include flies, fruit flies, spiders and ants in common areas like counters, sinks and garbage cans.
Plant Spray
Use lavender hydrosol on both indoor and outdoor plants to discourage aphids and mealy bugs in particular.
But our favorite thing about using lavender hydrosol – it smells GREAT. (Obvious we know, but so true!).
Check out Lavender Wind Farm’s selection of Lavender hydrosol products HERE.
P.S. We will soon have catnip and rosemary hydrosols available, so keep checking, sign up for our emails, or like our facebook page.
Learn more
Want to make your own hydrosols? Ann Harman’s book (Harvest to Hydrosol) is the best, but it’s hard to find as of this writing. Here is a podcast with Anne.
It’s pretty scary waiting in a hospital to be wheeled in for surgery, especially one like breast cancer.
Lavender essential oil can help with that.
A newly published study in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing found that sniffing a rag infused with lavender essential oil helped relieve the anxiety of women prior to breast cancer surgery. The study included eighty women undergoing breast cancer surgery in a university hospital in Adana, Turkey.
Close up of Folgate by Sarah Richards
The authors concluded that using lavender essential oil as a nursing therapy is an important tool for reducing anxiety, one of the most common psychological disorders observed in breast cancer patients.
The lavender oil not only helped reduce anxiety, but lavender essential oils are known to have a low risk of toxicity and allergic effects as compared to other herbal supplements, which are easy and inexpensive to administer and not overly sedating for the patients.
“Many studies have shown Lavandula angustifolia to reduce anxiety significantly, as well as reduce perceived levels of anxiety,” the authors stated.
Lavandula angustifolia is one of several lavender species used in essential oils. For more information about the various types of lavender essential oils – and how they are used – read here.
Lavender helps with many psychological complaints
For many lavender aficionadas, lavender’s anti-anxiety effects will come as no surprise. Lavender essential oils have been touted for their anti-anxiety effects since ancient times. A slew of studies in the last two decades have found lavender essential oil – in both aromatic and pill form – to help for many psychological complaints. General restlessness, post-partum depression, overall feelings of well-being, insomnia and even anxiety for dental patients awaiting surgery have all been successfully treated with lavender. (Although lavender had no effect on reducing anxiety in regard to future dental visits – apparently you need the REALLY strong stuff for that!)
In one six-week study patients with generalized anxiety were given an oral lavender oil preparation that was shown to be as effective as taking .5 mg daily dose of lorazepam, an anti-anxiety drug associated with many serious side-effects.
Lavender essential oil reduces anxiety before surgery
Photo by Sarah Richards
This most recent study is a follow-up on several others exploring the effects of lavender on postoperative surgical patients in particular.
Why? Well because surgery is scary. As the authors note;
“Presurgical patients can experience anxiety of different reasons, such as fear of the unknown, fear of waking after anesthesia, or fear of death, loss of control, pain, isolation, separation from a loved one, and being deprived from social life. Complementary therapies are often used to reduce anxiety before surgery.”
The study involved 80 women who were tested on their anxiety levels while being prepped for breast cancer surgery. Forty women were placed in a control group and treated to normal pre-operative care. The other 40 were given a gauze bandage with three to four drops of lavender oil from a popular Turkish brand and asked to inhale the scent for 20 minutes prior to their surgery.
The woman’s anxiety levels were measured by a commonly used tool, a “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory” (STAI). The STAI measures two traits of anxiety, how does one feel at the moment and how does one feel in general. In both groups, the women were given the test 24 hours before surgery, and then right before they were transferred to the operating room.
The anxiety levels “significantly decreased” in the study group supporting the author’s hypothesis that “preoperative inhalation aromatherapy decreases anxiety levels.”
Convincing your doctor to use lavender essential oils
So what does this mean for you or your loved one going in for surgery?
Unfortunately, the western medical system is still coming up to speed when it comes to natural therapies especially when it comes to what many perceive as ‘woo-woo’ medicine like aromatherapy and using essential oils. But it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Have your doctor read this Mayo Clinic article on the benefits or aromatherapy (and the reference links below) to start.
And if all else fails, it’s awful easy to bring a small bottle of lavender essential oil and a rag to sniff it from. If nothing else lavender will make your hospital experience smell a lot better!
To reference this Turkish study yourself go here. For a more inclusive look at the overall benefits of lavender essential oils in many psychological applications check out this study “Lavender and the Nervous System.”
For a great, recent round-up of much of the more recent research done on lavender for anxiety and the reasons doctors are still reluctant to use it, check out this informative piece on the www.BenzoFree.Org website site.
There are issues around using scented products in hospitals. This article, by Robert Tisserand, is a deeper dive into that.
Lavender essential oil is a lot more complicated than its name implies.
More than just a pretty purple plant with a pleasing scent, the ‘essence’ of lavender – the oil distilled from lavender’s aromatic flowers – is increasingly becoming the first choice for problems as wide-ranging as menstrual cramps, respiratory ailments, burn treatment and even used to repel insects.
And the more times therapists, scientists and even laypersons put the ‘power’ of the oil to the test, the more evidence documents not only the wide variety of uses for lavender essential oil but how different species and even different varieties of lavender offer very distinct benefits. Knowing the right choice of lavender essential oil has become increasingly more important in finding the right solution for a specific scent, ailment, or issue.
The Lavender Basics – Family, Genus and Species
To understand the complexities of lavender essential oil, let’s start off by going back to high school science class and talk a little bit about biological classification. We’re going to skip down toward the bottom of the inverted ‘taxonomic rank’ triangle and start with “family.”
Lavender is a member of the “Lamiaceae” family. Aka – the ‘mints.’ Lavender’s great-great-great-great (and many more) ancestors were a bunch of smelly mint plants! Both mints and lavender produce large quantities of various constituents including ‘linalool’ and a bunch of other (for chemistry geeks these include perillyl alcohol, linalyl acetate, camphor, limonene, tannins, triterpenes, coumarins, cineole, and flavonoids and about 100 more.) Along with having delightful names, these constituents do all sorts of cool things like fight off bacteria, block and relax chemical receptors in the brain linked with pain, epileptic symptoms and a lot more!
And while the mints marched off in their own direction, sticking with a more culinary theme – chocolate, orange, pineapple and more – lavender decided it had a good thing going with that gently smoothing aroma packing a powerhouse of therapeutic use. And so those plant we all associate as uniquely being ‘lavender‘ evolved. Eventually, scientists arrived on the scene, decided they were all enough similar to have their very own “genus” and hence “Lavandula” was named, characterized, categorized and subsequently cataloged. Go science!
But…because evolution is amazing, that ONE genus of Lavandula, branched off in many different directions creating 47-known ‘species’ within the genus. Each with unique differences in growing habits, scent, oil production, flower appearance and most importantly when we consider essential oil – having distinct chemical properties in their oil useful for varied applications.
Lavender Species Used in Oil Production
In essential oil production, there are four main Lavandula species that are traditionally used in oil production. They all naturally produce varying amounts of different chemical compounds which, in turn, create differences in scent and even more interestingly, differences in application. These chemical properties can be measured via a GC/MS (Gas/Chromatography/Mass Spectrum) report which can help determine the best therapeutic properties of different Lavandula species and varieties.
Lavandula Latifolia
Lavandula latifolia
L. latifolia is a grass-like lavender plant of Mediterranean origins sometimes called “Spike” lavender.
The oil from this lavender species has a sharper aroma than many other lavenders, with a higher concentration 1,8 cineole (the dominant compound in eucalyptus) and of ‘camphor’ (a compound typically distilled from the camphor tree and commonly used in products like Vick’s VapoRub to treat respiratory and skin issues). With these more stimulating compounds in its make-up, L. latifolia has traditionally been used as a therapy for circulatory, muscular and respiratory issues, useful when strong anti-bacterial action is needed and particularly useful in healing burns.
Lavandula stoechas
L. stoechas is a beautiful compact hedge plant with butterfly-like bracts on the top of the flower head. It is often called both French or Spanish lavender. Chemically speaking this species has a much different profile than other lavenders with a lower concentration of linalools and by far, the highest concentration of camphor and 1,8 cineole. It is excellent for anti-microbial and respiratory uses but is powerful enough that if used for therapeutic reasons, it is best done so under the direction of a trained practitioner.
Lavandula angustifolia
L. angustifolia is a stockier plant with a full flower and is commonly known as “English Lavender”. This is the species that produces a sweeter, softer aroma that is preferred by perfumers and aromatherapists and many lavender fanatics will consider it as the only ‘true’ lavender essential oil. The L. angustifolia oil is high in both linalool and also linalyl acetate which is another powerhouse chemical compound known for supporting a healthy immune system and response. Together these two compounds combine to create what is called in the essential oil world a ‘monoterpenol-ester synergy.’ A fancy way of saying, this is some GOOD stuff!
L. angustifolia is considered the best choice for calming the nervous system in many ways. Headaches, stress, anxiety, calming high emotions, enhancing sleep, regenerating skin and also very useful for respiratory concerns including seasonal irritants.
Lavender x intermedia
L. x intermedia is a human-made cross between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia which produces sterile plants. They are often called “Lavandin” plants and the hybrids are a much larger species that create a lot more oil than other species making them a preferred by growers and distillers. Lavandin oil is not considered as fine for aroma therapeutic applications as L. angustifolia, but with a still lovely aroma yet a lower production cost, it is the oil most commonly used in the production of soaps, detergents and skin care products.
Don’t Forget the Lavender Varieties!
And because lavender essential oil truly IS more complicated than most people think, the four main categories of lavender species typically used for oil get broken down into an even further characterization as different ‘varieties!’
Varieties, sometimes called ‘cultivars’, are plants that show slight differences even though they are really quite closely related. So in lettuce, a good comparison would be iceberg lettuce versus romaine lettuce versus red leaf lettuce. These are all the same species but different ‘varieties.’
When we start geeking out about lavender essential oil, there is more and more anecdotal and scientific evidence being discovered that oils produced from specific varieties are useful in different ways as well. So perhaps that L. angustifolia “Hicote Pink” oil is a better choice for treating burns than the oil from the L. angustifolia ‘Loddon blue.’ Or, maybe you are a professional masseuse and you find that certain clients react better to L. x-intermedia “Grosso” versus L. x-intermedia ‘Super.’ In some cases, one varietal scent will just appeal more and be a more pleasant experience to one person than another.
How to Choose Lavender Essential Oil? Talk to a Lavender Farmer!
Gathering Lavender at Granery photo by Arthur Meyerson
With all the complexities between species and varieties, the best place to go if you are looking to purchase essential oil for a specific application is straight to the source – a small ‘boutique’ lavender grower and distillery. When you talk directly to these lavender experts, you will get the benefit of their first-hand experience in working with the different oils they have grown and used themselves. And, you can even explore smelling and experiencing each of the oils on their own as you enjoy the samples they produce.
Big-scale oil operations are typically purchasing oils not growing it themselves. In large-scale lavender growing regions – such as southern France – cooperatives take all the lavender grown from the various farmers and distill the crop altogether. They keep some of the oil and return the rest to the grower. The grower is not receiving back the oil from the plant they specifically tended, but a mix of the oil from their plants AND all their neighbors.
Within the international market, big distributors will blend various oils and even add specific constituents and compounds to ensure that they are creating the exact same compound from year to year.
These are good techniques for large lavender growing areas, and for large companies that need product stability. But, they sacrifice the specific chemical make-up that the individual species and varieties each produces. And that dilutes the therapeutic benefits that lavender can impart. Those benefits can only truly be gleaned by sourcing distinct, single species and variety oils, sourced from small, custom-grown and distilled, boutique lavender farms and essential oil distilleries.
Keep checking for the next installation of our Lavender Essential Oil Series.
You have grown your lavender, picked it, and dried it. Now what?
Making attractive lavender bundles is easy if you are just making one or two, but how about if you are making 20 or 200? This video shows how we make them at Lavender Wind Farm.
Did you know that hugging has health benefits? Having warm human contact improves both psychological and physical development in babies. Hugging makes people just feel happier and loved. It can help build a robust immune system, decrease heart disease and stress responses.
So we have some great ways to get hugs into your life.
Huggable animals are perfect for hugging when you are alone and needing some comfort, or sharing hugs when you show your beautiful little critters to others. We have several cute ones!
Give lavender presents
When you give someone who loves lavender a beautiful basket full of lavender goodies, you are most likely to get a huge hug back! We make it easy for you to send a scented hug. We can ship, or you can come into the store and pick one up. You can create your own Hug in a Basket, too!
Who’d think about Lavender being useful against Bedbugs? On the other hand, since it’s so useful against so many insects – why not? Read about it
If you just want to cut to the bottom line: use twenty drops of lavender essential oil into a spray bottle filled with about 2 cups of denatured alcohol and spray onto the affected area.
Ria and her husband came into my shop today. I’ve known them for years since Lavender Wind Farm was so small we just went to a few farmers markets and didn’t have anyone coming onto the farm. Her husband has gone downhill significantly due to progressive Parkinson’s Disease. However, today they were excited to tell me that they had read that lavender tea made a big difference to the problem of sweating that he had been experiencing. They said each night she padded the bed with several towels over and under him and in the morning all the towels and bedding were soaking wet. Sometimes, she’d have to get him up in the middle of the night to replace his wet clothing and towels.
So, about week ago, after reading about lavender helping with sweating associated with Parkinson’s Disease, they came to the farm to get some lavender to test this theory. They report that on the first night after sipping a couple of cups of lavender tea during the day he had dramatically reduced sweating, and the second night the bed was dry. Ria said it made a difference in his energy level, too, because his body doesn’t have to cope with the loss of the fluids from the extreme sweating he had been suffering.
I’m not able to find scientific studies that prove or even test that lavender helps with sweating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. So, this is definitely an anecdotal testimonial. However, you wouldn’t have dared suggest there’d been a mistake to this relieved couple that have enough on their plate in dealing with the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease.
Tires smelling like lavender? You’ve got to be kidding, right?
Not at all. Apparently, Kumho Tires has come out with a lavender tire that can be smelled inside and out of the car. They’ve found a way to imbed the rubber with heat resistant scented oils – this can’t be REAL essential oils…. I’ve been seeing mentions about this product for over a year, but it hasn’t seemed to take hold of the public’s imagination or desire as far as I can tell. But, I’m not in the tire business so I really don’t know.
Kumho TiresECSTA DX tire is described on the company’s site. It’s amusing, really, the company’s site is done with typically male design – hard edges, lots of black, and tons of description about the performance of the tire. It just doesn’t go with an aromatherapy product… I have to wonder who they are marketing to? It can’t be women – not that we don’t like solid facts about tires, but if you’re trying to add a floral aspect to a product wouldn’t you put a picture of flowers somewhere in there?
What do you think? I’m really curious about how this will play out.
I’m in one of the hottest art capitals in the country – Chicago. The art community here is very strong, galleries everywhere. And for me, a friend who I’ve known since I was 11 years of age who teaches are at a local university.
Do you know how many products are packaged nicely and labeled “lavender” in downtown Chicago (or any other city) that don’t have a drop of real lavender essential oil? No? Neither do I. However the fragrance industry is awash with mixtures of artificial scents combined with natural ones. There probably isn’t enough lavender essential oil in the world to provide all the producers with enough to go around, so I guess we shouldn’t complain. I wonder if people who have allergy problems to scents are reacting more to artificial oils or to true essential oils. Anyone know?
Did you know that lavender oil is an ingredient in varnishes that artists use on their paintings?
“It can be used as a medium to give body to the color as well as a certain amount of bite, which improves adhesion to the lower layers. It can have the effect of either increasing or decreasing dry time, depending upon the other ingredients it is mixed with. If pure, it also works as a diluent, and was widely used in the middle ages. It Dries more slowly than Turpentine, allowing the artist to work wet in wet.”
