In the month’s ‘Abi Speaks’, Abi Weeds, co-founder of Odylique shares her enduring love of Lavender and why it features so highly in so many of our certified organic formulations.
Lavender, whilst deeply relaxing, is just for old people and mothballs, right? Wrong!
Lovely lavender is having a resurgence across the beauty-sphere with brands for all ages and types taking advantage of its many beneficial properties. And I couldn’t be happier that it is.
As a child many happy hours were spent creating little lavender sachets for Christmas fayres. As a teen I relied on it as part of one relaxation blends to get through exams (made by my mother Margaret and now our ‘Relax’ essential oil blend).
In my twenties I traveled around Eastern Europe and visited lavender fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Thick swathes of purple punctured by pollen-drunk happy bees. The scent blew my mind.
In my 30s, growing Odylique, I wondered again at the power of lavender as test after test, and client after client affirmed how very effective it was at tackling broken skin and stressed minds.
Now, as a parent and a woman in my 40s, I’m handing the same benefits to my own children and rediscovering it as a sleep and relaxation aid. I have almost a pavlovian response to the smell these days, dropping off in minutes.
If you’ve avoided it until now, perhaps caught up in the ‘moth ball’ lavender myth, it’s time to give it a revisit.
The myriad lavender benefits include:
May Help Improve Sleep
Lavender’s benefits include aiding relaxation and rest. Lots of you report loving it added to a diffuser or on a pillow.
Lavender is best absorbed through the skin, making direct application the most effective way to use lavender to help you drop off.
Apply two drops on your temples or on the soles of your feet, diluted in a vegetable oil if you have sensitive skin.
Lessens Menopausal Symptoms
According to medical news today, In 2016, researchers looked at the efficacy of lavender on hot flushes. Fifty women were asked to inhale the scent of lavender for 20 minutes, twice a day for 12 weeks. Fifty others had a placebo.
Those exposed to lavender all reported significant benefits in stress reduction, fewer hot flushes, and a reduction of menopausal hot flushes.
Helps Skin Repair
Lavender is often used in skin care designed for sensitive or inflamed skin (including our very own multi-award winning Spot On Serum).
It has antibacterial, soothing properties that can calm acne breakouts, as well as redness and swelling. Studies on burns patients have also demonstrated the power of lavender (not one to try at home though).
Eases Headaches & Pain
There’s plenty of clinical evidence to support the use of Lavender in reducing and preventing headaches, migraines, and other types of pain.
In 2013 researchers reported headache sufferers showing a significant reduction in following fifteen minutes of breathing in lavender essences.
A further study published in the European Neurology Journal explored the benefits of inhalation of lavender essential oils to treat migraines.
They confirmed that inhaling lavender essential oil may be an effective relief for migraines.
Promoting Healthy Hair Growth
Lavender oil can speed up hair growth, thanks to properties that reduce stress and increase cell turnover. It’s also antimicrobial so great for scalp health.
It’s so powerful we launched our brand new Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner as a result.
Our uniquely 'clean' conditioner formulation is certified organic, all-natural, silicone free and also quat-free. It smooths, repairs and detangles with essential amino acids and a prebiotic chicory extract that contributes toward a healthy-looking scalp by balancing the skin microbiota.
Alongside these benefits, lavender can also help:
- reducing blood pressure
- supporting healthy breathing
- reducing fungus growth
- as a natural way to repel nits
- supporting muscle relaxation post exercise
- to aid sexual dysfunction
You can take advantage of lavender by making your own infusion with dried lavender flowers in a base oil, or enjoy one of the many modern formulations that harness the benefits of true pure lavender essential oil.
How to Choose Your Lavender Oil
When choosing a lavender essential oil, it’s important to look for the following:
- Quality: Look for pure blends to avoid weak or fake ingredients that lessen efficacy
- Organic: Certified organic lavender is not only unadulterated and better quality, but works harmoniously with nature, for happy bees and better sustainability .
- Packaging: Essential oils should be in dark bottles and kept out of sunlight to protect their beneficial properties.
TRY OUR BRAND-NEW LAVENDER SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER HERE >
TRY ODYLIQUE CERTIFIED LAVENDER ORGANIC ESSENTIAL OIL HERE >
TRY SPOT ON SERUM HERE >