The 3 Commonly Used Lavandula Species
True Lavender is often adultered with hybrid lavender (Lavandin), synthetic linalool and linalyl acetate, or synthetic fragrance chemicals like ethyl vanillin. It is therefore suggested to check the constituent and composition of the “Lavender Essential Oil” when you get yours from shops and over-the-counter and be careful of your usage because of the variations in compositions in different brands and suppliers.
In the previous chapter of this series, we covered the "Basic Knowledge of Lavender" (click to read). In this chapter, we are going to introduce to you The 3 Commonly Used Lavandula Species and explain the differences and why we have to be cautious in choosing our Lavandula.
Recap: Today, lavender may be enjoyed simply for its wonderful fragrance but it also is used to induce sleep, ease stress and relieve depression. But other than its relaxing aroma, Lavender also has a lot of other useful uses and effects, and has a lot of many other varieties which may not be as curing as the one we usually use to calm and cure. It can be used as a tea, to make compresses for dressing wounds and to apply to the forehead to relieve congestion on sinuses, headaches, hangovers, tiredness, tension and exhaustion and in many other ways. It is one of the most popular and versatile essential oils used in aromatherapy.
In researching about “Lavender”, we have studied a lot of interesting materials and have written a very long essay. In the coming few weeks, we will extract some interesting information from the essay, and take you through our Lavender garden, hoping to show you the wonderful effects of Lavender, its varieties, and their different uses. If you are an history person, do not miss the last episode of the series which we will explore how "Lavender" has become widely used from ancient times to the modern era.
Lavender Series
Chapter 2: The 3 Commonly Used Lavandula Species
To grasp the difference and similarity between different types of Lavender, it is helpful to know a little regarding plant classification. The most important levels of classification are family, genus, and species.
Family
In the case of Lavender we are going to discuss in this article, all belong to the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family.
Genus
Genus is a more specific subdivision within a family, it is usually the name we use when we informally talk about a plant. The genus that we are interested in in this article is Lavandula, and all plants within this genus are considered to be "lavenders".
Subdivisions / Species
Within this genus, there are many subdivisions and species. There are one or more species of plants within a genus and these species are essentially the different varieties of one type of plant.
Of these many species, the varieties which are most used to produce essential oil are Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Lavandin (Lavandula intermedia aka Lavandula hybrida). The different species of Lavender has different chemical constituents and has different uses and benefits.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – aka True Lavender
True lavender grows at higher altitudes of over 2,000 ft. and has small purplish-blue flowers which gives off a sweet floral-herb fragrance. It is a widely grown garden plant, and produces an essential oil that is delicate, floral, and a bit sweet. Its content mainly consists of linalyl acetate, and that makes it a powerful anti-bacterial remedy for infections, inflammation and viruses. True lavender is usually the popular choice for evoking a relaxing and calming vibe, it is also preferred over Spike lavender for its efficacy in healing cuts, scrapes and light burns.
Medical properties: Antiseptic, antifungal, analgesic, antitumoral, anticonvulsant, vasodilating, relaxant, anti-inflammatory, reduces blood fat / cholesterol, combats excess sebum on skin.
Caution: True Lavender is often adultered with hybrid lavender (Lavandin), synthetic linalool and linalyl acetate, or synthetic fragrance chemicals like ethyl vanillin. It is therefore suggested to check the constituent and composition of the “Lavender Essential Oil” when you get yours from shops and over-the-counter and be careful of your usage because of the variations in compositions in different brands and suppliers.
Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia)
Lavandula latifolia, known as broadleaved lavender, Spike lavender or Portuguese lavender, is a hybrid in the wild with True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Their flowers are often a greyish-blue tint. This species of Lavender has higher levels of cineole, a compound that is also found in camphor essential oils. Because of its high camphor content, it has a stronger scent, and more pungent than True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).
Fragrance Influence: Spike Lavender has a cool floral fragrance, with a dry wood base note. The fragrance is thicker, longer lasting, stronger and more stable. Because its natural chemistry contains more eucalyptol, camphor, and borneol, and less linalyl acetate, therefore, it has a more obvious camphor smell, with less ester and floral fragrance, it therefore smells less floral and not as soft as the other lavenders. Its smell appears more like a mix of True Lavender and Rosemary. The difference between the fragrance influences of Spike Lavender and True Lavender is that Spike Lavender does not have the calming effect but is refreshing and wakening.
Medical properties: Although Spike Lavender has a stronger camphor smell, its medical efficacy is still similar to True Lavender. Therefore, it can also act as a bactericidal antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antitoxin, antirheumatic, choleretic, wound healing, stimulant, cell protectant, deodorant, diuretic, menstrual adjuster, blood pressure lowering agent, insecticide, insect repellant (in vitro), sedative, diaphoretic, tonic, insect repellant (in vivo), wound medicine. And because of their similar curative effect but Spike Lavender is comparatively cheaper, so, it is often used as a substitute for True Lavender when used for medical purposes.
Lavandin (Lavandula intermedia aka Lavandula hybrid)
Lavandin is a hybrid plant developed by crossing two lavender species True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia). It is predominately made up of Linalyl acetate and Linalool, making it the strongest among the other two in stimulating the immune system and keeping the body free from viruses and bacteria. It is therefore a stronger antiseptic than True Lavender and has the medical properties of antibacterial and antifungal. Lavandin has been used to sterilize the animal cages in veterinary clinics and hospitals throughout Europe.
Its greater penetrating qualities make it well suited to help with respiratory, circulatory, and muscular conditions. However, its camphor content invalidates its use to soothe burns, and that it does not have strong calming, cell-regenerating and balancing properties.
Fragrant Influence: similar calming effects as True Lavender
Caution: Avoid using for burns, instead, use True Lavender (lavandula angustifolia)
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Continue reading the whole Lavender series:
The 12 Uses and Benefits of Lavender
Lavender Diffuser Blends
History
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