Herbs in Focus: Lavender

Tea. Cookies. Pastries. Syrups. Chocolates. Candy. Throat lozenges. Shampoo. Deodorant. Dish and laundry soap. Body wash and creams. Bubble bath and soaks. Skin balms. Candles.

How’s that for versatility? Even if we hadn’t titled this blog, you might have guessed, given that list, that the herb we're focused on is lavender. We find and see it everywhere and that’s for good reason.

Quick Links:

• What is Lavender?
• A Brief History of Lavender in Herbal Traditions
• Lavender Benefits
• What Is Lavender Good For and Who Benefits?
• Choosing a High-Quality Botanical with Lavender

What is Lavender?

Most of us are familiar with lavender, from the products we use daily to its flower form. It is a flowering herb, but many may not know that it’s actually in the Lavandula genus, which is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). 

It’s well known for its purple blooms and its highly recognizable scent. This woody, perennial plant thrives in warm, sunny climates and well-drained soils. While lavender is native to regions near the Mediterranean, it’s cultivated worldwide, including parts of the western United States, where the climate and growing conditions are similar.

One reason it’s so successful worldwide and perhaps so widely used is its resilience. It’s highly tolerant of everything from heat and drought to poor soils. It’s also low-maintenance and water-wise, making it a favorite among gardeners.

Like many flowering herbs, it’s both ornamental and functional, but its most recognizable feature is its flowers, which are most commonly purple and may also be blue, pink, or white.

A Brief History of Lavender in Herbal Traditions

Many of us are familiar with lavender because it’s been used in household and personal products for nearly a century. Its history, however, runs much deeper. In fact,  lavender has one of the longest and most consistent histories in herbal traditions. The recorded use of lavender dates back thousands of years, spanning multiple cultures and time periods. It is now, and has long been, an apothecary staple.

For many of us, our first introduction to lavender may have been in bath or laundry products, and this tracks as its name actually comes from the Latin lavare, meaning “to wash.” It earned this name because in ancient Rome and Greece, it was used for both bathing and washing rituals.

It was also commonly added to bathwater, used to freshen clothing, and incorporated into daily hygiene practices. We still see it used this way today.

The Egyptians used lavender in early perfumery and preservation practices. It was widely used throughout the  Mediterranean as a common household and medicinal herb.

In the Middle Ages, lavender, which was widely cultivated, was also used by herbalists across Europe. Its documented use begins at this time, appearing in written plant guides and noted as an herb that supports general wellness.

Traditionally, lavender was used in:

• Sachets and bundles to freshen spaces and linens
• Infusions and teas
• Oils and salves for topical application
• Aromatic preparations for relaxation and ritual use

In the modern world, lavender is used in many of the same ways, and this well-documented history is one reason modern herbalists and naturopathic doctors understand and value its benefits. 

Lavender Benefits

One reason lavender is used in so many products is simply its scent, but truthfully, lavender is a multi-functional botanical. Beyond its aroma (and also because of it), it may help support everything from relaxation to skin health, depending on how it’s used.

Promotes a Sense of Calm & Relaxation- Lavender may be best known for its calming properties, which is why you find it in so many bath soaks and salts.  Still, whether used aromatically or topically, as in lotions and creams, they’re all designed to help ease tension, including in sore muscles, and promote relaxation.

You’ll often find lavender in:

• Wind-down, evening, and relaxation routines
• Aromatherapy blends and aromatic diffusers
• Products focused on rest and relaxation or stress relief

Supports Restful Sleep- It should come as no surprise that, given its long use as an herb that promotes relaxation, lavender is also frequently used to support restful, easier sleep. For many, winding down and relaxing before bedtime is a struggle, and while lavender won’t put you to sleep, it’s not about sedation; it can help create the conditions that make sleep easier.

For that reason, you may find lavender in:

• Pillow sprays or sachets
• Bedtime/Sleep-focused herbal teas 
• Creams, oils, or topicals applied to pulse points

Skin-Soothing Properties- Nighttime creams may contain lavender to promote relaxation, and massage therapists may use lavender oils for the same reason; as an added bonus, lavender also supports skin comfort.

It’s often included in balms (like our hemp balm), salves, and oils designed for:

• Dry or stressed skin
• Minor skin irritations or closed wounds
• Post-sun or post-exercise care

Because it’s highly compatible with other botanicals, it’s often used as a base note or component in multi-ingredient formulas. This means it can play multiple roles in a single product, supporting relaxation, skin health, and overall well-being.

What Is Lavender Good For and Who Benefits?

By now, you’ve likely seen lavender used in everything from your dish soap and clothing detergent to teas and treats at the bakery. That’s some serious versatility and what makes it so valuable.

Throughout time, it has continued to show up in a wide variety of practical ways, across a wide range of products, to meet a range of needs. In short, there are quite a few uses as well as people who may benefit.

Those Looking to Unwind

Who doesn’t have daily stress? Whether your days are high-stress, high-output, or overscheduled, lavender can help ease the transition, moving you from “on” to “off” or more relaxed.

Some people:

• Add it to evening rituals or routines to create consistency
• Use it aromatically or topically to help create calm
• Incorporated into simple rituals, like a bath or incense during meditation, to help support decompression

For a Better Sleep Routine Support

As we mentioned, lavender won’t put you to sleep, but it can help create the conditions that promote better sleep, mainly by helping you relax and, again, transition to bedtime.

Many people use it to: 

• Build a more consistent nighttime routine or ritual
• Pair it with other calming botanicals in teas or blends
• Use it in sprays, oils, or sachets near their beds or linens

For Skin & Topical Use

Lavender is often added to topical products because it’s easy to work with and pairs well with other skin-supporting ingredients.

You may find it in:

• Balms and salves, especially for areas that feel dry or overworked 
• Post-workout creams or balms
• Sprays or topicals for time spent outside

It’s often simple and targeted, meaning you don’t need sustained use to feel a benefit. That said, when it’s used in products like our hemp balm, the goal may be sustained use, and in this way, it can actually promote healthy, calm skin as well.

For Everyday Support

Because lavender doesn’t have a protocol, or at least a lengthy one, people who want something simple and approachable often find lavender works, especially for stress and tension relief.

One of the best things about it is this low-lift support, meaning it’s versatile and accessible:

• It can be used throughout the day without major effects or adjustments to routine/schedule
• Multiple formats and ease of use. You’ll find it in food, tea, oils, topicals, or aromatics
• It’s easy to layer into existing routines or add it to other regimes without major adjustments

Who Typically Benefits Most?

Everyone! Well, that’s the simple answer. In fact, there’s an argument to be made for it helping the people around the people who are using lavender. Who doesn’t like a more relaxed friend, family member, or co-worker?

That point made, lavender tends to resonate with people who are looking for:

• Consistency over intensity – gentle support, repeatable results
• Multi-use solutions – one ingredient that serves several roles and comes in multiple accessible forms
• Simple routines – one ingredient requiring, often, minimal effort

Choosing a High-Quality Botanical with Lavender

As we say with all of our ingredients and products, not all things are created equal, and this goes for lavender as well. When it comes to herbal formulations, quality makes a significant difference in how a product performs and how consistently it performs.

• Start with the Source
  All high-quality herbs, including lavender, begin with how and where it’s grown. Factors such as climate, soil conditions, and harvesting practices influence lavender's aromatic compounds and overall integrity.
  
  Look for lavender:
  • Grown in appropriate climates (dry, sunny regions)
  • Harvested at peak for potency
  • Handled carefully to preserve its natural compounds
    
    
• Pay Attention to Processing
  How lavender is processed, whether dried, infused, or distilled into oil, obviously plays a major role in the quality of the final product.
  
  Lavender oil should be distilled to maintain its natural profile
  • Look for dried lavender that has retained its natural color and aroma (dull and scentless often signals lower quality)
  • Infusions and extracts should be made with minimal processing. As always, watch for fillers and additives.
    
    
• Formulation Matters
  In most modern products, lavender is rarely used in isolation. Instead, it’s usually part of a broader formulation with multiple ingredients, so ingredient quality and balance matter.
  
  A well-formulated botanical product will:
  • Use each of the components in a way that they complement one another
  • Not have an overcomplicated or excessively long ingredient list
  • Focus on purpose-driven ingredients and combinations rather than fillers
    
    

When lavender is sourced and products are formulated thoughtfully, this often translates into practical, real-world benefits. This is especially true for topicals where consistency, texture, and overall feel matter just as much as the ingredient list.

This is exactly how we approach lavender in our formulations.

In our hemp balm, we layer in lavender alongside other ingredients to support how the product feels on your skin. In addition to the benefits of CBD, we want to create a soothing, well-rounded topical.
Rather than relying on a single ingredient, our formulation is designed to work as a whole, with each component playing a role and working alongside the other components.

Lavender, in this context, isn’t the headliner. It’s part of an ensemble cast. And, when combined with high-quality CBD and other carefully selected plant extracts, it helps deliver a balm that’s simple, effective, and easy to use as part of your everyday routine.

Ready to check it out? Head over to the shop! If you’ve got more questions, please feel free to reach out to our team!