Lavender: calm in bloom

Blue fields swaying under the Provençal sun, lavender (Lavandula) is the flower of calm. Its fragrant spikes, distilled into essential oil and floral water, bring a seemingly soothing scent and inimitable floral freshness to skincare products. This Mediterranean plant encompasses several species — true lavender, spike lavender, lavandin — which we detail below for informed cosmetic use.

Described by botanist Miller, true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller, formerly known as officinalis) is a perennial plant from the Lamiaceae family. It thrives in full sun, well-drained calcareous soils, and tolerates drought. In France, its emblematic cultivation is concentrated in Provence and on the plateaus of Haute-Provence, where altitude refines its fragrance.

Lavender is propagated by seeds or, more reliably, by cuttings to preserve the qualities of a variety. Each year, the plant forms clumps from which long spikes emerge. Flowering, from June to August depending on the species, colors the fields of Provence with mauve waves that attract butterflies and bees. Besides true lavender, there is spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia), lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia, the most cultivated hybrid), and French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) with erect bracts — not to mention the many ornamental horticultural varieties.

The finesse of the material depends on this diversity of species and terroirs: altitude, soil type, sun exposure, and production care all shape the character of each harvest.

Known worldwide as lavender, the plant has spread far beyond the Mediterranean. Sown from seeds in spring or propagated by cuttings, it requires little: well-drained soil, sun, and patience. It often takes two to three years for a young plant to produce full blooms and flower-rich spikes.

Lavender is harvested at maturity, when the flowers contain the highest concentration of aromatic compounds. The flowering tops, cut spikes, then undergo steam distillation: steam passes through the plant, carries away volatile molecules, and then condenses. Two treasures are collected — lavender essential oil, which floats on top, and hydrosol (floral water) filled with fragrant traces.

It is this distillation, a savoir-faire deeply rooted in the Provençal terroir, that yields the raw materials for perfumery and skincare. Fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) produces an essential oil renowned for its delicate scent, while lavandin, being more productive, provides a generous oil for common perfumed uses. Among Mediterranean species, each distillation has its own profile.

Quality depends on small details: the species and variety (true lavender rather than lavandin for fineness), cultivation altitude, soil type, and the care taken in production. These are all benchmarks we follow to select our ingredients.

Few plants have left such a mark on perfumery as lavender. Its scented water, soaps, and sachets of dried flowers are part of the sensory heritage of Provence and France. In modern cosmetics, this floral note remains a signature: it imbues skincare products with an unmistakable scent, both fresh and enveloping.

Beyond its fragrance, lavenders are appreciated for their seemingly soothing sensory properties. Derived from the distillation of Lavandula flowers, lavender essential oil and hydrosol extend, in a skincare product, this ancient link between the plant, the skin, and well-being — an invitation to slow down the ritual.