Lavender oil is an essential oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of

lavender ''Lavandula'' (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found in Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, and from Europe across to northern and easte ...

. There are over 400 types of lavender worldwide with different scents and qualities. Two forms of lavender oil are distinguished, ''lavender flower oil'', a colorless oil, insoluble in water, having a density of 0.885 g/mL; and ''lavender spike oil'', a distillate from the herb '' Lavandula latifolia'', having a density of 0.905 g/mL. Like all essential oils, it is not a pure

compound Compound may refer to: Architecture and built environments * Compound (enclosure), a cluster of buildings having a shared purpose, usually inside a fence or wall ** Compound (fortification), a version of the above fortified with defensive struc ...

; it is a complex mixture of phytochemicals, including linalool and linalyl acetate.

Production

Pure lavender essential oil is produced through steam distillation. This generates a greater amount of oil compared to other methods due to reduction of polar compound loss. Harvest of lavender blooms is typically between late June and August. The cut lavender flowers and stems are compacted into a lavender still. A boiler is then used to steam the bottom of the lavender flower filled still at a very low pressure. The lavender flower pockets containing oil are broken from this heating process and a pipe of cold water is run through the center of the still. The hot lavender oil vapor condenses on the cold pipe with the cold water and is collected into a holding tank where it is allowed to settle. Due to polarity and densities of the water and oil, these two will separate in the holding tank whereupon the water is piped out, leaving just lavender essential oil. Lavender oil is produced around the world, with Bulgaria, France and China leading its production.

Uses

In the United States, lavender oil is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for its intended uses. Lavender oil has been used as a perfume,

aromatherapy Aromatherapy is based on the usage of aromatic materials including essential oils and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological and physical well-being. It is offered as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative ...

, and skin application, but these uses have no clinical benefit. Lavender oil is used in

massage therapy Massage is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pain. In Eu ...

as a way of inducing relaxation through direct skin contact, although allergic reactions may occur. There is no good evidence to support the use of lavender oil for treating dementia. A 2021 meta-analysis included five studies of people with

anxiety disorders Anxiety disorders are a cluster of mental disorders characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear such that a person's social, occupational, and personal function are significantly impaired. Anxiety may cause physi ...

. All five studies were funded by the manufacturers of the lavender oil capsule used, four of them were conducted by one author of the meta-analysis, and blinding was not clear. In this analysis, an oral 80 mg dose of lavender oil per day was associated with reduced anxiety scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. According to the

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is a United States government agency which explores complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It was initially created in 1991 as the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), ...

, the effectiveness of using oral lavender oil for treating anxiety remains undetermined due to the limitations of these studies. Oil of spike lavender was used as a solvent in oil painting, mainly before the use of distilled turpentine became common.

Possible adverse effects

Many essential oils, including lavender oil, can be poisonous if swallowed. In general, of a diluted essential oil may cause toxicity in adults, whereas can be toxic in children. Over 2014-18 in

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, there were 271 reported cases of lavender oil poisoning mostly in children accounting for 6.1% of all essential oil poisoning cases. The main toxic constituents of lavender oil are linalyl acetate and linalool. Symptoms of lavender oil poisoning by ingestion include blurred vision, difficulty breathing, burning pain in the throat, burns to the eye, confusion, decreased level of consciousness, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and rash.

Topical application A topical medication is a medication that is applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical medication means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments via a large range of classes ...

of lavender oil may cause

contact dermatitis Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are ...

. Ingestion of lavender oil may cause interactions with prescription drugs, including anticoagulants,

statin Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are a class of lipid-lowering medications that reduce illness and mortality in those who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. They are the most common cholesterol-lowering drugs. Low ...

s, and anticonvulsants.

Environmental impact

A 2018 study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found four of the constituent chemicals (

eucalyptol Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of eucal ...

, 4-terpineol,

limonene Limonene is a colorless liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic monoterpene, and is the major component in the oil of citrus fruit peels. The -isomer, occurring more commonly in nature as the fragrance of oranges, is a flavoring a ...

and alpha-terpineol) are endocrine disruptors, raising concerns of potential environmental health impact from the oil.

Phytochemicals

The phytochemical composition of lavender oil varies from species to species (table), consisting primarily of monoterpeneoid and sesquiterpeneoid alcohols. Linalool (20-35%) and linalyl acetate (30-55%) dominate, with moderate levels of

lavandulyl acetate Lavandulyl acetate is the acetate ester of lavandulol. It is a component of lavender oil Lavender oil is an essential oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender. There are over 400 types of lavender wo ...

, terpinen-4-ol and

lavandulol Lavandulol is a monoterpene alcohol found in a variety of essential oils such as lavender oil. The term refers to either of two enantiomers. The (''R'')-enantiomer is natural and has an aroma described as "weak floral, herbal odor with slightly ...

1,8-cineole Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of eucal ...

, camphor,

, and tannins. Lavender oil typically contains more than 100 compounds, although many of these are at negligible concentrations. The composition of lavender essential oil as obtained by

chromatography In chemical analysis, chromatography is a laboratory technique for the separation of a mixture into its components. The mixture is dissolved in a fluid solvent (gas or liquid) called the ''mobile phase'', which carries it through a system ( ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lavender Oil Essential oils