Botanical name Lavandula hybrida
Family Lamiaceae
Source Flower
Origin France
Processing Method Steam Distillation
Color/Consistency A thin, clear, pale yellow liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A top note with a strong aroma, Lavandin Oil has a strong, somewhat piercing, camphor-like smell with some light, floral undertones characteristic of Lavender.
Blends With Lavandin oil blends perfectly with essential oils of Bergamot, Citronella, Le,ongrass, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Pinem, Jasmine, Thyme and Patchouli.
Product Abstract
Lavandin is an aromatic evergreen shrub that is much larger than true Lavender. An evergreen woody shrub growing to 3 feet high with green, narrow, linear leaves producing violet-blue flowers, the entire plant is covered with oil glands, which are in the star-shaped hairs that cover the plant. The flowering heads are more compressed with a dull, gray blue color. This hybrid apparently evolved naturally near the seas in Spain, Italy and France. It is now commercially produced in these same countries. Lavandin is used almost exclusively for scent. Many commercial manufacturers use both Lavandin Grosso and Lavandin Abrialis as replacements for Lavender 40/42, but they have a much rougher, camphorous scent. It is a popular choice amongst both aromatherapists and massotherapists for its constituents and pleasant floral scent.
History
Lavandin is the Latin genus referring to Lavender. There are about 39 different recognized species of this plant. Countless variations have been produced due to the ability to cross pollinate with other members in the Lavender spices.Lavandula was thought to originate in Asia but the greatest plant diversity is found in the western regions of the world.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Essential oils are produced in the cells of aromatic plants and are held in specialized glands. They are released from the plant and collected (concentrated) most often through steam distillation (and sometimes hydro or water distillation or a combination thereof). Distillation is a method of separating components based on differences in volatile constituents in a heated mixture. Steam distillation involves bubbling steam through the plant material.
Common Usage
Caution
Due to the high content of camphor in this oil, please avoid it if under the care of a physician. Dilute before use; for external use only. May cause skin irritation in some individuals; a skin test is recommended prior to use. Contact with eyes should be avoided.
Key constituents
Linalyl acetate 26.2–37.5%
Linalool 22.5–28.0%
Camphor 6.6–12.2%
1,8-Cineole 5.2–10.2%
Terpinen-4-ol 0–3.3%
Borneol 2.4–2.9%
b-Caryophyllene 1.9–2.7%
Lavandulyl acetate 2.3–2.4%
(Z)-b-Farnesene 1.1–1.6%
b-Myrcene 0–1.5%
Geranyl acetate 0–1.2%
a-Terpineol 0–1.2%
(Z)-b-Ocimene 0.9–1.1%
Germacrene D 0–1.1%
Safety summary
Hazard Drug interaction; may inhibit blood clotting.
Cautions (oral) Anticoagulant medication, major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia, other bleeding disorders.
Regulatory guidelines Has GRAS status. According to IFRA, essential oils rich in linalool should only be used when the level of peroxides is kept to the lowest practical value. The addition of antioxidants such as 0.1% BHT or a-tocopherol at the time of production is recommended.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions Undiluted lavandin oil (type unspecified) was slightly irritating to rabbits, but was not irritating to mice or pigs; tested at 5% on 25 volunteers it was neither irritating nor sensitizing. It is non-phototoxic.
Cardiovascular effects Lavandin Grosso oil inhibited platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acidoil inhibited platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, U46619, collagen and ADP, with IC50 values of 51, 84, 191 and 640 mg/mL, respectively.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity Lavandin oil acute oral LD50 in rats >5 g/kg; acute dermal LD50 in rabbits >5 g/kg (Opdyke 1976 p. 447).
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential No information was found for lavandin oil, but it contains no known carcinogens.
Drug interactions Anticoagulant medication, because of cardiovascular effects, above.
Comments
Abrialis and Grosso are the two principal cultivars of lavandin grown for essential oil production. Lavandin Abrialis has the highest 1,8-cineole content, lavandin Super is the sweetest and most similar to the oil from Lavandula angustifolia, and Grosso has the highest essential oil yield. Lavandin is the natural and artificial hybrid of Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.