All About Lavender Oil

Lavender Oil of Lavandula Angustifolia

The most common species of lavender is referred to as Lavandula Angustifolia (formerly L. officinalis or Lavendula officinalis). Lavender flower oil is pale yellow in color and usually has a fresh, herbaceous floral aroma. The majority of lavender is imported from France. However, other producers include England, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Australia, Japan, Canada, and the United States.

Why would I use Lavender Oil?

Lavender is one of the most beneficial of the essential oils and is one of the most popular aromatherapy scents on the market today. It is very safe to use and has many purposes. To name just a few, it is used for pain relief, relaxation, and for its pleasant floral aroma. Also, there are many medical properties of lavender such as: analgesic, antibacterial, antibiotic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antifungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, cytophylactic, decongestant, diuretic, hypotensive, insect repellent, sedative, and vermifuge. Read more about lavender oil benefits, lavender oil uses and lavender oil properties.

Lavender Oil: Shelf Life

Many people wonder how long lavender oil will last. The answer to this question will help determine how much lavender oil to buy, because in most cases you can get a much better discount if you buy lavender oil in bulk. So how long will it last?

Although there is not an exact answer that addresses the shelf life of lavender oil, it is safe to say that most lavender oils last at least a year and as much as 4-5 years or more from the distillation process. There are many variables when estimating the shelf life of the essential oil including the influence by external factors such as storage and temperature.

Lavender oil does not respond well to extreme changes in temperature. Therefore, when it is not being used, it should be stored in a dark, cool place away from any direct sunlight or any variation in temperature. This is why lavender oil is packaged in dark bottles which offer some protection against the suns ultra violet light.

The good news is that lavender oil does not turn rancid like vegetable oils and related oils. They degrade gradually into a state where the therapeutic properties become diminished. This often makes it difficult to detect if the oil has began to lose its therapeutic value. Here are three good guidelines to look for to know if the oil has begun to lose its therapeutic value:
" The aroma of the oil has drastically changed
" The essential oil has thickened
" The essential oil has become cloudy

Composition of Lavender Oil

The primary components of lavender oil are the phytochemicals linalool (51%) and linalyl acetate (35%). Other components of lavender oil include terpenes such as a-pinene, limonene, and monoterpenoid like cineole, cis-ocimene, trans-ocimene, octanone, as well as terpenoids like camphor, and various other compounds caryophyllene, terpinen, and lavendulyl acetate.

Next Page: Lavender Oil Uses