Small history

The wonderful little blue and violet flowers carpet the fields and give off an unforgettable scent in summer! The Romans used lavender to perfume their bath water and their fresh laundry. Prized by doctors and perfume-makers, lavender also plays a supporting role in cooking – whether it is traditional or an innovation of cutting-edge chefs is open to debate. One thing is certain: in the kitchen, lavender is part of a subtle balance that has to be handled with a light touch.

Etymology
From the Latin "lavare," (to wash) since it was long time considered a medicinal plant.

Description
"True" lavender flowers in July at 600 to 1500 m heights between the mountain and sky in the Vaucluse, the lower Alps, the Luberon and Upper Provence. It is characterized by its smaller tufts, with each stem bearing only one spikelet.

These wonderful blue-violet flowers carpet the fields in summer and fill them with an unforgettable scent. Too often thought of only for its medical and antiseptic qualities, the word "lavender" is actually derived from the Latin for "wash" or "cleanse."

Medicinal properties

• Its delicately-scented essential oil is sought out by perfume-makers and laboratories for its finesse.
• Popular medicine attributes to lavandula officinalis sedative, antiseptic, healing, stomachic and relaxant properties.