A scent familiar to almost everyone, lavender is well established in tradition as a folk remedy. It has been used to comfort the stomach, as an insect repellent, to scent linen, and as a general "reviver." Lavender is an evergreen, woody shrub that grows up to three feet tall. It has pale green, linear leaves and flowers on blunt spikes - a beautiful violet-blue. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the fresh flowering tops. An absolute and concrete are also produced by solvent extraction in smaller quantities. The oil is colorless-pale yellow, with a sweet-floral-herbaceous scent. Lavender is used pharmaceutically in antiseptic ointments and as a fragrance. It is used extensively in all kinds of soaps, lotions and perfumes.

Lavender's properties have been claimed to be analgesic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, deodorant, diuretic, hypotensive, insecticide, parasiticide, sedative, stimulant, tonic, and vermifuge. This oil may help with acne, allergies, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, diaper rash, hair loss, herpes, high blood pressure, nausea, scarring, stretch marks, tachycardia, insect bites, and sunburns.

Lavender is indigenous to the Mediterranean but grows all over the world. The essential oil is mainly produced in France.

Chemical constituents are monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, non-terpene alcohols (45%), esters (linalyle acetate 42-45 %), and coumarines.