Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a floral essential oil with a soft, floral, herbal aroma and a heart note. Steam distillation from flowering tops, it is a versatile blending oil that pairs well with Cedarwood (Atlas), Bergamot (FCF), Frankincense (Carterii). It has no specific dermal-use limit, but everyday blends are typically kept around 1–3%.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a floral essential oil, steam-distilled from the flowering tops, produced in France and Bulgaria. Its aroma is soft, floral, herbal, sitting as a heart note in a blend. It's commonly paired with Cedarwood (Atlas), Bergamot (FCF), Frankincense (Carterii), Geranium. It has no specific dermal-use limit; everyday topical blends are typically kept around 1-3%.
Aroma & character
Aroma
Traditional aromatherapy associations
Traditional associations only — not medical claims or evidence of efficacy.
Properties
| Perfumery note | Heart |
| Aroma family | Floral |
| Chemical family | Ester |
| Material type | Essential oil |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Plant part | flowering tops |
| Origin | France, Bulgaria, UK |
| Blending factor | 7 |
| Volatility index | 3 |
| Tenacity (hours) | 6.0 |
| CAS number | 8000-28-0 |
Safety & dilution
| Max topical dilution | No specific limit (keep ≤3% adult body) |
| Max facial dilution | No specific limit (keep ≤1% adult face) |
| Pregnancy | No specific caution recorded |
| Nursing | Generally suitable when properly diluted |
| Children | Generally suitable, well diluted |
| Cats | Generally suitable when properly diluted |
| Dogs | Generally suitable when properly diluted |
Evidence: Strong — Koulivand et al., 2013 -- published lavender research review.
For education only — not medical or veterinary advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always patch-test and consult a qualified professional before use during pregnancy, on children, with pets, or with a health condition.
Not sure how much to use? Try the free dilution calculator.
Blends well with
Used in these blends
- Panic Attack →
- Social Ease →
- General Stress →
- Uplifting →
- Deep Calm →
- Calming Floral Soak →
- Warming Winter Soak →
- Anti-Aging Body Butter →
- Defying Age Regenerative →
- Rose & Geranium Luxury →
- Good Digestion →
- Sea Breeze Wellbeing →
- Sunshine Soother →
- Happy Place →
- Cuts & Scrapes →
- Bruise Comfort →
- Bug Bite Stick →
- Burn Comfort →
- Sting Relief →
- Tension Neck →
- Rapid Temple Ease →
- Floral Calm Compress →
- Stress Headache →
- Hair Vitality Four-Oil Blend →
Compare Lavender with
Frequently asked questions
What does Lavender smell like?
Lavender has a soft, floral, herbal aroma, classed as a floral oil with a heart note.
What is the safe dilution for Lavender?
Lavender has no specific IFRA dermal limit, but for everyday topical use keep it around 1–3% for the body and about 1% on the face. Always patch-test before wider use.
Is Lavender safe to use during pregnancy?
Our dataset records no specific pregnancy caution for Lavender. That is not the same as it being established as safe — always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any essential oil during pregnancy.
Is Lavender safe to use around children?
Lavender is generally considered suitable for children when well diluted. Consult a professional for young children.
Is Lavender safe around pets?
For cats — generally lower-risk when well diluted and diffused sparingly; dogs — generally lower-risk when well diluted. Diffuse only in ventilated spaces and consult a veterinarian.
What does Lavender blend well with?
Lavender pairs well with Cedarwood (Atlas), Bergamot (FCF), Frankincense (Carterii), Geranium, Blood Orange.