Historic essential oil distillation equipment in the Lavender Museum
There are few herbs that have as many uses as lavender. Lavender is used in herbal medicine, in aromatherapy, in perfumes, in cosmetics and even in cooking. Although lavender grows around the world, French lavender is often believed to be of especially high quality.
Not so long ago I had an opportunity to visit a lavender museum in Ardèche, France. Lavender grows wild on the Plateau de Gras in the Ardèche region, but it has also been cultivated in the area since the 1920’s. The Musée de la Lavande is located near the Ardèche Gorges, a popular destination for kayaking, canoeing and camping. The small and pretty museum stands in the middle of its own lavender fields, surrounded by the stunning scenery in the Ardèche Gorges national park.
Types of French Lavender
Several types of lavender grow in France: fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), spike lavender (Lavandula spica) and lavandin (Lavandula hybrida) – a hybrid combination of fine and spike lavenders. All have slightly different properties and different scents.
Lavandula angustifolia is the lavender you will usually think of when you think of lavender. Fine (also called true) lavender essential oil has a delicate scent that makes it very popular in aromatherapy and in natural cosmetics. It is one of the most commonly used oils in aromatherapy, thanks to its wide range of therapeutic properties. Spike lavender has a more camphor-like scent. Its oil can be used to relieve respiratory conditions and muscle aches and pains.
Lavandin is the hybrid variety. It was originally created naturally by cross-pollination between spike lavender and fine lavender, but today it is cultivated in many parts of France. The main reason for its popularity is that it can produce more essential oil per each plant than fine lavender. I had always thought that lavandin was just a cheap substitute for lavender, but in the museum it was also recommended for some therapeutic uses.
Because it is cheaper, lavandin is often used in perfumery as a substitute for true lavender. Lavandin oil is, unfortunately, sometimes sold as “lavender” essential oil. When buying essential oils, it is always important to check the botanical (Latin) name to know what you’re buying.
The Production of Lavender Essential Oil
The Lavender Museum also has a collection of essential oil distillation equipment from the 20th century and guests are invited to see a demonstration of the modern distillation process. The steam distillation method produces lavender essential oil and, as a by-product, lavender flower water (lavender hydrolat) which is used in natural cosmetics and in room fragrances. Lavender water was traditionally sprinkled on bed sheets and other household textiles to give them a beautiful, clean and fresh fragrance and to keep moths away.
In this part of France lavender generally starts to flower in June and it is harvested by the end of July. If you visit the museum during the summer months, you can see the lavender fields in full bloom. The museum also has a small botanical garden that grows several different varieties of lavender. The adjacent boutique sells a wide range of lavender products, and it is incredible what you can do with lavender: bath salts, soaps and body creams, lavender honey and candy, and of course locally distilled lavender essential oil.
If you ever get a chance to travel to the stunning Ardèche region in France, pay a visit to this lovely museum. The Musée de la Lavande is located around 15 kilometres from the town of Vallon Pont d’Arc on Route des Gorges D490, near the village of Saint-Remèze.
Photo: Enzo Coribello
