Many of our customers are big fans of lavender, and we receive many inquiries about this popular herb. So here's a little history about lavender, and some of our most sought after products.
"Lavender" comes from the Roman word 'lavare', which means "to wash". The Romans were among the first to notice the many medicinal & soothing properties of this ancient herb, using it for bathing, cooking and treating various ailments. One of the most popular accounts regarding the use of lavender is during the Black Plague, where people were thought to have worn lavender sachets to ward off the deadly infection. Grave robbers escaped the fatal contact with infected bodies by a bathing in a concoction with a heavy lavender base. Although personal hygiene has come along way since ancient & medieval times, lavender remains a solid favorite for perfume purposes, as in our own multi-purpose essential oil which can be used for home fragrance, personal scent or other aromatherapy purposes.
It has been reported throughout the ages that lavender has been instrumental in seduction & emotional well being. Apparently Cleopatra used the strong scent of lavender to win the affections of Julius Cesear and Mark Antony. Now that's a powerful herb! There are accounts of European royalty demanding lavender pillows & fresh lavender in every room. Young women were said to sleep with lavender sachets to reveal the identity of their true love. Even today, lavender is widely used for relaxation & romance, especially in bath products such as Dresdner's Lavender Bath Oil and Bath Salts.
Many homeopaths suggest lavender for anxiety, depression & insomnia. Our most popular non-bath related lavender products include the soy lavender travel candle from Way Out Wax and hand rolled natural lavender incense from Triloka.
