Kitchen Stewardship | Real Food and Natural Living

Helping busy families get healthy without going crazy!

  • Home
  • About
    • About Katie and Her Mission
    • Overwhelmed? Start Here.
    • Free for Readers!
  • Recipes
  • My Products
    • eBook Store
      • Healthy Snacks to Go
      • Better Than a Box
      • The Healthy Lunch Box
      • The Healthy Breakfast Book
      • The Family Camping Handbook
      • The Everything Beans Book
      • Smart Sweets
    • Kids Cook Real Food eCourse
    • Free Resource
    • Affiliates
  • Contact
    • Email Me
    • Advertise/PR
    • Media Coverage
    • Guest Posting
    • Advertising Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • START HERE
    • Monday Missions Checklist – you can take baby steps to real food too!
    • Back to Basics Challenge
  • Green Living
    • Natural Cleaners
    • Natural Personal Products
    • Natural Sunscreen Reviews
    • Non-Toxic Insect Solutions
    • Cloth Diaper Reviews
    • Decreasing Disposables
    • Natural Living Archives
      • Mind the Microwave
      • Analyzing Aluminum
      • Natural Cleaning
      • Natural Personal Products
      • A Safer World
      • Reducing Waste
  • Real Food
    • Pack a Healthy Lunch
    • Grain-Free Resources
    • How to Use Healthy Fats
    • How to Source Real Food
    • Preparedness with Real Food
    • Soaking Grains Research
    • Special Menus
    • Kitchen Tips
  • Kids Cooking
    • How to Teach Kids to Cook
    • Teaching Kids About Food
  • Categories
    • Natural Health
      • Healing Through Food
      • Home Remedies
      • Prevention is the Best Medicine
      • Fighting Cancer
    • Real Food Roadmap
      • Finding Real Food
      • How-to Tutorials
      • Kitchen Tips
      • Personal Stories
      • Real Food Preparedness
      • Sample Menus
    • Save Time
      • Freezer Cooking
      • Organization
      • Planning Makes Perfect
      • Quick Hacks
    • Save Money
      • “How-to” Do it Yourself
      • Eat Well Spend Less
      • Food Preservation
      • Gardening
    • Save the Earth
      • A Safer World
      • Natural Cleaning
      • Natural Personal Products
      • Reducing Waste
    • Little Foodies (Kids and Babies)
      • Kids in the Kitchen
      • Natural Babies
      • Natural Pregnancy
      • Notes from School
    • Real Food Geeks
      • Understanding Disease
      • Understanding Your Body
      • Understanding Your Food
      • Understanding Your World
      • Deep Thoughts
    • Faith Nuggets
  • The Reviews
    • Top Natural Sunscreen out of over 40
    • Comprehensive Cloth Diaper Reviews
    • Bento Boxes for Lunch
    • Best Reusable Bags
    • Blendtec
    • Nutrimilll
    • Excalibur Dehydrator
    • All (old) KS Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
  • What to Buy
    • KS Recommends
    • Kids Cook Real Food eCourse
    • Kids’ Cooking Resources
    • Kitchen Gadget Wishlist
    • Grand Rapids Local Resources

Enrollment is OPEN for a Limited Time

Click the pic to learn more about the kids cooking course!
enrollment is open for the video cooking class for kids

Is Lavender Just a Pretty Smell or Something More?

June 20, 2013 (UPDATED: June 4, 2019) by Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship 10 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

lavender essential oil purity

Why are there so many different prices when you start shopping for essential oils?

There are lots of reasons, from prettier marketing jacking up prices to discount quality pulling them down, and you’ll find each brand has something to say about why their products are the best and/or why they are so expensive.

It can be hard to wade through all the information when it’s coming from companies with something to sell, so I’ll try to share just a little slice of fact with you today that can help you determine what you want to buy when shopping for lavender essential oil, one of the most popular and versatile oils out there.

I’ll do my best to avoid commercial sources, although honestly, that’s really hard to do since every variation of a Swagbucks search I can think of comes up with 90% essential oil companies in the results. Many of the journal articles I want to read are unavailable to me because I’m not affiliated with an educational/research facility, so I can only read the abstract and guess at the rest. Sad smile  (top photo source)

What is Lavender Good For?

2099029 842ddc 1ccc

(photo source)

Let’s start with the basics: why bother buying lavender essential oil anyway?

  • Antibacterial properties: this study proved lavender essential oil to be effective against 4 deadly bacteria, include e. coli and staph. It killed 100% of the bacteria once it was at a high enough concentration.
  • Calms nerves, decreases blood pressure – aromatherapy is a good stress management technique (source)
  • Anti-inflammatory properties (source)
  • Commonly known to be effective to soothe burns and insect bites
  • Antioxidant properties, one reason it’s great in natural sunscreen and for sunburn management when you screw up outside. (source)
  • Headaches, depression, colic, asthma, athlete’s foot, scars, whooping cough and more. (source)
  • Analgesic, deodorant, diuretic (source)
  • Essential oils in general, lavender included, are shown to be both effective at impacting humans physiologically, and also non-toxic – this article determined that essential oils are “interesting, pharmacologically active, nontoxic substances worthwhile for further investigation.” The abstract if from the International Journal of Essential Oil Therapeutics, which seems to be reputable according to stats here (although I feel like I’m reading Greek looking at the charts. English major, people!).

An opposing view: the National Cancer Institute shares research that demonstrates that aromatherapy has some impact, but they question that different oils can actually have unique impacts, or that pure EOs are any better than synthetic fragrances. Citing over 50 sources, they conclude that there is a “lack of significant research addressing this topic,” and therefore that much of the information about the effectiveness of essential oils on actual health is theoretical.

Do you know how to properly dilute essential oils?

Katie here, popping in to tell you how important it is to be sure you’re diluting those essential oils properly. Knowing you’re supposed to dilute essential oils for use on the skin is a good start – but as usual, I did it wrong for a few years before I got smart enough to find some resources and do the math.

I took a moment to make a one-page printable for you so you can snip an easy-to-read chart and tape it right onto your medicine cabinet door – wherever you keep your essential oils – so it’s always handy. It includes all the dilutions in drops of EO + tsp. or Tbs. of carrier oil for babies, toddlers, younger and older children, and adults. You shouldn’t have to do any math when you need a remedy now (you’re welcome).

HERE’S THE HANDY PRINTABLE

You can read more about why it’s so important to dilute essentail oils here, and be sure to grab the dilution chart so you don’t have to do math everytime you break out your oils. 

Many people, professionals and moms who have seen results, however, will say differently. I can’t imagine that synthetics would have the same effect, even aromatically but especially topically, since the compounds are completely different, and this source agrees.

This journal article comes to the conclusion that there simply isn’t enough continuity in lavender oil preparation, and that although “there does seem to be both scientific and clinical data that support the traditional uses of lavender,” we need to define what exactly lavender essential oil IS before we can rightly say what it does, scientifically, every time.

Is Lavender Essential Oil “Real?” Is it “Natural?”

7554421280 cc 4e 3657eb

(photo source)

The test for “real food” is usually two fold:

  1. Does it come from a source in nature?
  2. Starting with that source, can you make the food at home?

If we apply the same reasoning to oils, the answer is…pretty much.

You can make lavender extract at home or infuse oil with lavender and both will have the aromatic properties of lavender (they smell good) and also the antibacterial properties (although to a lesser degree, but perhaps good for cleaning).

When companies make a real essential oil, they steam distill the plant in question, capture the steam, and condense that down such that the oil floats on top of the water, creating a tiny bottle of very potent oil. With the right equipment, I think you could manage it at home…but I’d rather pay someone else to do stuff like that for me. Winking smile Note: some companies use solvent extraction processes instead of steam distillation, or they may distill the same plant multiple times, yielding a weaker and weaker product, which can be one reason the oils are less expensive.

This journal article describes how lavender’s properties change by the season and year, one reason you won’t always find lavender essential oils smelling the same. There was also a full page of over 40 chemical compounds determined in lavender essential oil. Mind-boggling. Clearly, when  you seek a natural life, you can’t avoid chemicals. It’s just the wrong word to use.

However, that chart does prove that there are definite compounds in an essential oil, many of which have proven benefits in the body.

Unlike many things, getting a great deal isn’t always the way to go if it means something synthetic or less potent.

The Difference Between the Lavenders

1100691735 ecef 9a 0088

When shopping for lavender essential oil, you can get all sorts of prices, from $16 for 4 fl. ounces to to $30 for 15 mL (one ounce is about 30 mL, so the second example is about 15 times more expensive than the first).

What’s the deal?

Sometimes, it’s as simple as what plant is used or how it’s blended. (Other times it has to do with a carrier oil being added or a synthetic oil.)

You can get Bulgarian, French, Spanish, and South African lavenders. If you’re looking for a consistent scent, like for making soaps or lotions, you want to look for “40/42 lavender.” It is a mix of different lavenders, balanced to get a consistent fragrance. It has some therapeutic properties, but not as much as “lavender population,” which Plant Therapy also sells for just a bit more money.

For me, even if I was making soap or homemade lotion, I’d use the population oil because why NOT get the additional benefits of an oil delivered as it is in nature? Most people readily admit that we don’t know all that much about the balance of properties in the natural world and how they might work together, which is why most of the time, when we try to extract just one quality and take it in a supplement, for example, it doesn’t work as well as the whole food.

I am pleased that Plant Therapy is very up front about the difference between 40/42 and population lavender. On the site, they say, “its therapeutic levels are the lowest.” All their lavender is sourced from France, and 40/42 is the most popular, but perhaps we kitchen stewards can change that, now that we are a bit more knowledgeable!

I like this gal’s explanation of natural, standardized, or synthetic oils.

Does Lavender Essential Oil Cause Hormonal Problems in Boys?

Although the 2007 study that will forever put lavender and tea tree oils in question is not the purpose of this post, it can’t really be ignored.

You can read about the initial National Institute of Health description of the issue here, and I draw the same conclusion that Heather at Mommypotamus draws: Not a large enough research sample and not enough information about either the other ingredients in the suspect products or the quality/source of the essential oils themselves.

Ultimately, even if the research is true, there were no permanent effects whatsoever, so if you’re not seeing breasts on your boys already, you are probably not in the “risk” group for avoiding tea tree and lavender.

Thanks again to Plant Therapy for spreading the information via Kitchen Stewardship!

Plant Therapy essential oils

There’s still so much I still don’t know about essential oils…

…and so many readers are hungry for more information!

This 10-Part Video Masterclass that will give you the confidence that you need to make healing remedies for your body & non-toxic natural recipes for your home with essential oils.I’ve often been sent to other blogs or blog posts about EOs, but so many sources are from a particular brand and/or someone who isn’t a certified aromatherapist. It’s hard to know who to trust.

Dr. Eric Z and his wife have a great reputation for reliable, high-quality information, and they’ve filmed a 10-Part Video Masterclass that will give you the confidence that you need to make healing remedies for your body & non-toxic natural recipes for your home with essential oils.

Their Essential Oils for Abundant Living Masterclass distills down what takes aromatherapists months and even years to learn and delivers an easy-to-follow roadmap so you can start to use essential oils in your home with confidence.

Click HERE to Save Your Seat!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. See my full disclosure statement here.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • shares

More From Kitchen Stewardship:

Get the Baby Step Missions

Filed Under: Natural Health Tagged With: antibacterial, essential oils, natural body products

« Previous Post Real Food Road Trip {Eat Well, Spend Less}
Next Post » How to Evaluate New Nutritional Philosophies Through a Critical Thinking, Traditional Foods Lens

About Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship

Katie Kimball, CSME is a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks. She is passionate about researching natural remedies and making healthy cooking easier for busy families. She’s been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine as well as contributing regularly on the FOX Network.

See more of Katie Kimball, CSME in the Media.

Over the last 10 years, Katie has spoken prolifically at conferences, online summits and podcasts and become a trusted authority and advocate for children’s health.

Busy moms look to this certified educator for honest, in-depth natural product reviews and thorough research. She often partners with health experts and medical practitioners to deliver the most current information to the Kitchen Stewardship community.

In 2016 she created the #1 bestselling online kids cooking course, Kids Cook Real Food, helping thousands of families around the world learn to cook.

Certified Stress Mastery Educator BadgeA mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is a Certified Stress Mastery Educator and member of the American Institute of Stress.

See all blog posts by Katie Kimball.

10 Bites of Conversation So Far

  1. Halena Soltow says

    February 24, 2016 at 6:12 pm

    I’ve been looking for Lavender Essential Oil, with a truly lavender scent.
    They all smell funny and not like lavender. Please, please help.

    Halena

    Reply
  2. Bar says

    September 15, 2015 at 11:37 pm

    Lavender oil is really good for having a deep sleep and relaxation, I personally use it in a diffuser and it puts me straight to sleep 🙂 I used many different lavender oils, but my favorite so far is ‘Bali Botanic’ organic lavender oil, its amazing! They have a great deal on Amazon now too : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010D304WC

    Looking forward to read more of your articles on essential oils 🙂

    Bar

    Reply
  3. Tracy Spangler says

    February 12, 2015 at 1:01 am

    Katie,

    I can’t thank you enough for your incredibly well written, extensively researched article! I made the mistake of signing up as a distributor with one of the major companies that charge an outrageous amount for their essential oils. In retrospect, I feel quite foolish, as the fact that my family and I have been struggling financially and I have had severe health problems for the past 3 years was used as a reason to convince me to join the company. It would help my health, and if I sold enough I could pay my bills too. The problem is that I could not afford the oils, even with a discount, and none of my family or friends could either!

    Since then I have done much more research on my own, and I support companies that are committed to educating consumers about essential oils, who answer inquiries about where the oils are sourced, etc. I came across your article because the Population Lavender Plant Therapy is selling is not something I have seen before. Thank you for your thorough explanation of how it differs from Lavender 40/42.

    I hope to get my aromatherapy certificate once my health is more stable. I had dreams of getting my own equipment to properly distill essential oils until a kind couple at the local farmer’s market shared how many hundreds of pounds of an herb go into a single bottle, and that I would likely pay more for the correct equipment than I would a new home. Thankfully, a few brilliant students at Oregon State University have created a small, microwaveable distiller that is actually affordable, and creates a good quality oil from the herbs grown in home gardens or windowsills. I’m delighted to know there is an option for aspiring aromatherapists and natural living mamas! I have been happy with Plant Therapy’s essential oils and their affordable prices, so I will be a customer until I can learn how to keep herbs alive in the heat of the Southern Arizona desert (along with keeping our clever chickens from eating them no matter how many layers of chicken wire I put up around the most hardy veggies and herbs!)

    Thank you again for all the wonderful information you shared! I enjoy your blog very much, and I was so glad to read your thoughts on the price variances and oil quality from numerous companies. Be well!

    Tracy

    Reply
  4. Kim says

    June 28, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    One consideration I didn’t notice in your article is the source of lavender and whether it was grown in certified organic fields and using organic methods. Young Living is the only one I know of who does this, and who actually owns all their own lavender to insure its pure quality. A year ago all the lavender in France was ruined by a blight, yet we never saw production by other essential oil brokers go down, so that causes me to seriously wonder where the oil is truly being harvested and how it is being extended. (Companies who buy distilled oils are merely brokers, not truly essential oil companies.)

    Reply
    • Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says

      June 28, 2013 at 2:34 pm

      That’s a very good question, Kim…I wouldn’t have thought to doubt when a company says their lavender is “French” or whatever. Hmmm…

      🙂 Katie

      Reply
  5. Wendy says

    June 24, 2013 at 12:43 am

    I didn’t see mentioned, so thought I’d pipe in, lavender oil is also good for bruising. I’m kind of clumsy, so when I whack myself on something, I rub on some lavender oil. Depending on how bad the bump is, I may have no bruising or relatively little. The spot is still somewhat tender, but no discoloration is sure nice!

    Reply
  6. Julie says

    June 21, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    How do you enter the giveaway for the essential oils?
    Also, the Camping book is showing $0.99 on Amazon…not free…and I used the link in the email that I received.
    I thought you would like to know.

    Reply
    • Katie Kimball @ Kitchen Stewardship says

      June 22, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      Julie,
      The giveaway isn’t up yet – Monday most likely. I am waiting on one piece of information from the sponsor.

      The camping handbook was human error (mine), such a bummer, BUT it is free all day today, Saturday June 22nd. Thanks for your interest! 🙂 Katie

      Reply
  7. Christina says

    June 21, 2013 at 9:36 am

    I love lavender. I have very curly hair and don’t use shampoo on it. I often cleanse it with lavender water. It’s excellent for that, but I now spritz it on everything else, including the dog when she needs to freshen up but I don’t have time to give her a bath:)
    (If there are any other curly heads out there, I strongly recommend the natural hair treatment found in Curly Girl: The Handbook. It’s saved my hair:)

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      June 21, 2013 at 10:00 am

      I’ve read that book too. It’s why I only use conditioner on my curly girl’s hair. And use a lavender spritz to freshen it up.

      Reply

Take a Bite (of conversation) Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Looking for something?

About Kitchen Stewardship
Rookies Start Here
Grab the Freebie!
Stuff I Use

My Cooking Class

We teach kids to cook - Kids Cook Real Food online course has over 4,000 members and growing
Healthy Snacks To Go eBook

Stay Connected!

Follow on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Instagram
Subscribe by Email

Shop at Amazon

Real Food at your Fingertips

Kitchen Stewardship eBooks

Readers’ Favorite Posts

  • How to Make Easy Homemade Yogurt (Photo Tutorial)
  • How to Make Timeless Homemade Chicken Stock
  • How to Cook with Dry Beans
  • Easy Homemade Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • How to Make Yogurt Cheese and Whey
  • Homemade Hamburger Helper
  • How to Dehydrate Fruits
  • How to Dehydrate Vegetables
  • 10 Basic Instant Pot Techniques (including hard-boiled eggs)
  • How to Sprout Seeds & Legumes
  • How to Bake with Coconut Flour
  • Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
  • How to Dilute Essential Oils
  • Cream of Potato Soup Recipe
  • How to Stop Bug Bites from Itching
  • Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (Grain-free!)
  • Homemade Electrolyte Drink
  • How to Store Fresh Ginger
  • How to do a Parasite Cleanse
  • How to Make Slow Cooker Recipes in the Instant Pot

Please remember that I’m just a gal who reads a lot and spends way too much time in her kitchen. I’m not a doctor, nurse, scientist, or even a real chef, and certainly the FDA hasn't evaluated anything on this blog. Any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please talk to your health professional (or at least your spouse) before doing anything you might think is questionable. Trust your own judgment…I can’t be liable for problems that occur from bad decisions you make based on content found here.

Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links which generate commission if you purchase anything starting with those links. KS also accepts private sponsorships and we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. More info here.

Contact · affiliates · ad disclosure · privacy policy · ebooks
Copyright © 2019 Kitchen Stewardship