Botanical name Lavandula latifolia
Family Lamiaceae
Source Flower
Origin France
Processing Method Steam Distillation
Color/Consistency A thin, clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A top note of strong aroma, Lavender Population has a rich floral scent that is somewhat fruitier, mellower and less camphoraceous than Lavender 40/42, and it smells more like fresh lavender.
Blends With Bay, Bergamot, Chamomile, Citronella, Clary Sage, Geranium, Jasmine, Lemon, Mandarin, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Pine, Thyme, Rosemary, Rosewood and Ylang-Ylang.
Product Abstract
Spike Lavender, and with a high percentage of 1,8- Cineole and Camphor, this species of Lavender stands out amongst the rest. These constituents are often likened to oils such as Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Ravintsara, and have similar benefits, such as helping to relieve coughs, clear congestion, and promote easy breathing. With its high percentage of Linalool, Spike Lavender is also frequently used for its stress relieving, pain reducing, headache helping, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aroma of Spike Lavender is a combination of both traditional Lavender, and the sharp, medicinal, camphoraceous aroma of Eucalyptus.
History
The term “Aromatherapie,” or Aromatherapy in English was created by French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, in the early 1900s. Gattefossé became the poster child of Lavender essential oil. His name and famous incident are well known amongst aromatherapists. One day, while Gattefossé was working in his lab, his hand was badly burned by an explosion that occurred. Gattefossé was able to successfully treat the gangrene that resulted from the burn with Lavender essential oil. Following this event, Lavender essential oil has been researched and studied a multitudinous amount of times.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Lavender oil is extracted mostly from the flowers of the lavender plant, primarily through steam distillation. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourri for centuries. Traditionally, lavender essential oil has also been used in making perfumes. The oil is very useful in
Common Usage
Caution
As with many other essential oils, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender essential oil. It is also recommended that patients with diabetes stay away from lavender oil. It may also cause allergic reactions to people that have unusually sensitive skin. Some people may also witness nausea, vomiting, and headaches due to excessive use of lavender oil.
Key constituents
Linalool 27.2–43.1%
1,8-Cineole 28.0–34.9%
Camphor 10.8–23.2%
Borneol 0.9–3.6%
β-Pinene 0.8–2.6%
(E)-a-Bisabolene 0.5–2.3%
α-Pinene 0.6–1.9%
β-Caryophyllene 0.5–1.9%
α-Terpineol 0.8–1.6%
Germacrene D 0.3–1.0%
Quality Spike lavender oil may be adulterated with Spanish sage oil, eucalyptus oil, lavandin oil, and fractions of these and other cheap oils.
Safety summary
Hazards May be mildly neurotoxic, based on camphor content.
Contraindications None known.
Maximum daily oral dose 603 mg
Maximum dermal use level 19%
Our safety advice
Our oral and dermal restrictions are based on 23.2% camphor content with camphor limits of 2.0 mg/kg/day and 4.5%.
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 spike lavender oil was moderately irritating to rabbits; tested at 8% on 25 volunteers it was neither irritating nor sensitizing. In a study of 200 consecutive dermatitis patients, one (0.5%) was sensitive to 2% spike lavender oil on patch testing. Oxidation products of linalool may be skin sensitizing, but 1,8-cineole has antioxidant properties.
Reproductive toxicity The low reproductive toxicity of linalool, 1,8-cineole and camphor suggests that spike lavender oil is not hazardous in pregnancy.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity Spike lavender oil acute oral LD50 in rats 3.8 g/kg; acute dermal LD50 in rabbits >2 g/kg. Camphor causes epileptiform convulsions if taken in sufficient quantity.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential: No information was found for spike lavender oil, but it contains no knowncarcinogens.
Comments
Camphor content is significantly higher than that of true lavender oil. Spike lavender is slightly more toxic and more irritant. Since linalool is anticonvulsant, it may mitigate the neurotoxity of camphor in spike lavender oil.
