If you love the smell of Earl Grey tea as much as the taste, you’ll want to give this bergamot soap recipe a go! Infused with real tea and lavender, this creamy soap feels as luxurious as sipping a hot cup of tea on a crisp morning. For those who boil multiple cups a day, this tea soap is a must-try!
Have you ever had a London fog before? Originally from Vancouver, it was invented in the 1980s by Mary Loria who would request the drink while pregnant.
In the past couple of years, I see the drink listed at every café as its popularity grows. And I can’t get enough of it! It’s essentially an Earl Grey latte with a splash of vanilla syrup. And as I do with all my favourite things, I make soap out of it!
For this soap, I combined my love for London fogs and Earl Grey tea with another herbal fave, lavender. Together, you get a delicious aroma and ultra-moisturizing soap that feels so silky on the skin.
It looks as beautiful as it smells. Coloured 100% naturally with the herbs and tea, additional flecks of purple mica make this bergamot and lavender soap shine. On top, I added butterfly pea flower and lavender buds for the final pop of colour.
So, if you’re the type of person to start your day off with a cuppa tea, you’re going to love this Earl grey inspired tea soap.
This post covers…
How to Make London Fog Bergamot Soap
People (including me!) go crazy over the scent of Earl Grey, so I had to make a soap inspired by the tea! Combined with lavender and the sweet, creamy aroma of benzoin resin, it smells just like a lavender London fog.
If this is your first time making soap, find detailed instructions on how to make soap here before getting started. Then, come back to this post for this specific bergamot soap recipe.
Materials
Ingredients
For exact measurements, see the recipe card below.
Before you begin making your soap, you’ll want to infuse some of the oils. For this recipe, I infuse the Early Grey tea in some olive oil, and some dried lavender buds in the coconut oil. Do this in a double boiler over medium-low heat.
Once melted, add in your Earl Grey tea bags to your olive oil, and 1 cup of lavender buds to your coconut oil, and turn the stovetop down to low. Let the oil infuse with the tea bags and lavender for a few hours or until the smell is aromatic.
You can strain using a fine sieve first then a coffee filter or cheesecloth for a second time. Check out more on how to infuse oils with herbs.
After you’ve infused the oils, you’re ready to make some soap!
Note: You will infuse olive oil and coconut oil before weighing them for the recipe. If you weigh beforehand, you won’t have the right amount of oil for the recipe once you strain out the tea/lavender.
Make Your Bergamot Soap
Weigh your ingredients. Heat your oils and shea butter over medium heat until you’ve reached 115°F.
In a heatproof container, stir together your lye and water in a well-ventilated area. Stir until fully dissolved. Then, cool in an ice bath until it’s 115°F.
When both the oils and lye water are at the right temperature, combine the lye into the oils in a large bowl. Mix with an immersion blender until you’ve reached a light trace.
Add your bergamot essential oil, lavender essential oil, and benzoin resin. Blend again.
Pour your soap into the soap mold. Sprinkle your purple mica powder on top. With a chopstick, mix your mica through to give the soap little purple flecks.
Top the bars with butterfly pea flowers and lavender buds.
Let your soap rest for 48 hours wrapped in a towel and set on top of the fridge.
After 2 days, cut your soap into even bars. Let cure for 6 weeks in a cool, dark space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bergamot Soap
Why does Earl Grey smell so good?
Named after a British prime minister, Earl Grey, the tea is a mixture of black tea leaves either sprayed with bergamot extract or essential oil or mixed with bergamot rinds. So what you’re smelling is primarily bergamot oil! It’s slightly citrusy and floral, two very popular scents for the nose.
Is bergamot good for skin?
You can’t go wrong when it comes to bergamot and your skin. Full of antioxidants, bergamot fights against premature aging. The antibacterial properties also make it work as a natural cleanser to unclog pores and balance sebum (your skin’s natural oils). But perhaps its most well-known benefit for the skin is its ability to help with scarring, such as acne scars, stretch marks, and hyperpigmentation.
Is Earl Grey good for skin?
Also known as bergamot tea, Earl Grey is made from black tea leaves combined with fruit from the Citrus bergamia tree. Bergamot itself has plenty of health benefits, but most studies focus on essential oils rather than tea.
Luckily, this soap recipe has bergamot essential oil as well as tea! You can get a double dose of bergamot benefits, such as antioxidants, cleansing properties, and scar healing.
If you love Earl Grey tea as much as I do, then you’ll want to make sure to make a batch of this bergamot soap. It smells just like the real thing! Let me know how it goes for you in the comments below.
More Ways to Make Soap
Creamy Earl Grey Infused Bergamot Soap Recipe
Made with real Earl Grey tea, this creamy and beautiful bergamot soap recipe smells just like the real thing.
Make your infused oils, making more oil than you need for the recipe (you’ll lose some when it strains). Heat your olive oil over medium-low heat. Add in your tea bags and set to a simmer. After a few hours, strain your oil using a fine sieve and then again with a coffee filter or cheesecloth.
Repeat the same steps, this time infusing the coconut oil with lavender buds.
Weigh your ingredients for soap making.
Combine all the oils and shea butter over low heat until 115°F. While heating, add your lye to the water in a heatproof container. Stir until completely dissolved. Place in an ice bath until it also reaches 115°F.
In a large mixing bowl, add your lye water to your oils. Use an immersion blender to blend until it reaches a light trace.
Add in your essential oils and benzoin resin. Blend again.
Pour into a soap mold. Sprinkle the purple mica powder on top and use a chopstick to mix through the soap.
Sprinkle butterfly pea flowers and lavender buds on top.
Let soap rest for 48 hours wrapped in a towel.
After 48 hours, cut the soap and let it cure for 6 weeks in a cool, dark location.
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Iconic for its lush wisps of beautiful vibrant purple flowers and calming, intoxicating earthy floral scent, lavender (a member of the mint family, nicknamed the “herb of love”) isn’t just bee-friendly eye candy in the garden. This gorgeous herb is also a culinary treasure that transforms simple cookies into something extraordinary.
These light and buttery lavender cookies are the epitome of elegant simplicity. With their delicate floral flavor, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and sophisticated appearance, they’re perfect for afternoon tea, bridal showers, Mother’s Day brunches, or any occasion that calls for something a little more refined than your standard chocolate chip cookie.
What makes these lavender shortbread cookies special: The recipe is incredibly easy (just 15 minutes of hands-on time!), yet the results look and taste like they came from a French bakery. The subtle lavender flavor pairs beautifully with the buttery richness of classic shortbread, creating cookies that are never overwhelming or soapy – just perfectly aromatic and delicious.
⏱️ Quick Stats: 15 min prep + chill time | Makes 24-30 cookies | Freezer-friendly dough | Stores for weeks | Perfect for gifting
Why Lavender Cookies Deserve a Place in Your Recipe Box
Lavender is so much more than a beautiful garden plant or aromatherapy essential oil. When used correctly in cooking and baking, culinary lavender adds an elegant floral note that’s both distinctive and surprisingly versatile. It works beautifully in everything from teas, syrups, and extracts to liqueurs, chocolates, baked goods, and cocktails. It’s even wonderful in cold drinks like lavender lemonade and iced tea.
But we especially love lavender in cookies. These buttery lavender shortbread cookies showcase exactly why lavender has been prized in European baking for centuries. The gentle floral flavor complements the rich butter and vanilla without overpowering them, creating a sophisticated taste experience that feels special without being fussy.
✨ Perfect Occasions for Lavender Cookies:
Afternoon tea parties and garden parties
Bridal showers and wedding favors
Mother’s Day and teacher appreciation gifts
Baby showers (especially spring/summer themes)
Easter and spring celebrations
Hostess gifts that show you put in effort
Care packages (they ship beautifully!)
Weekend brunch with coffee or tea
The Secret to Perfect Lavender Cookies: Choosing the Right Lavender
This is the single most important tip for success with lavender cookies: you must use culinary-grade lavender. This isn’t optional or being picky – it’s absolutely essential for both safety and flavor.
⚠️ CRITICAL: Never Use Craft Store Lavender
Lavender sold at craft stores, garden centers, or in the potpourri section is NOT safe for consumption. These products may have been treated with pesticides, chemicals, or preservatives that are toxic when ingested. Additionally, they’re often harvested at the wrong time or from varieties that taste bitter or soapy.
Only use lavender specifically labeled “culinary grade” or “food grade.” The package should clearly state it’s meant for cooking and baking. We strongly recommend organic culinary lavender for the cleanest flavor and peace of mind.
Best Lavender Varieties for Baking:
English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): This is your best choice for baking. Varieties like “Munstead” and “Hidcote” have a sweet, delicate flavor without bitterness. Most culinary lavender sold is English lavender.
French Lavender (Lavandula dentata): Has a slightly more camphorous flavor – use sparingly or stick with English.
Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas): Generally too strong for baking; avoid this variety for cookies.
How Much Lavender Should I Use?
Less is more with lavender! Too much and your cookies will taste soapy or like perfume. Our recipe uses 1-2 tablespoons of dried culinary lavender buds for a full batch, which provides that beautiful floral flavor without overwhelming the butter and vanilla. You can always adjust slightly based on personal preference, but start conservatively – you can’t un-lavender a cookie!
💡 Pro Tips for Working with Lavender:
Grind dried lavender buds slightly in a mortar and pestle to release more flavor
Steep lavender in warm melted butter for 10 minutes, then strain for a more subtle flavor
Mix lavender with sugar and let sit overnight for lavender sugar (great for sprinkling on top!)
Store culinary lavender in an airtight container away from light to preserve flavor
Lavender pairs beautifully with lemon, honey, vanilla, and white chocolate
How to Make Perfect Lavender Shortbread Cookies
The beauty of these lavender cookies is their simplicity. This is a classic shortbread recipe – just butter, sugar, flour, and flavorings – elevated by the addition of culinary lavender. The technique is straightforward, making this an excellent recipe even for beginner bakers.
The Simple Method:
1. Mix the dough: Beat softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy (this takes about 3-4 minutes and is crucial for texture). Add vanilla extract and dried lavender buds, then gradually mix in flour until just combined. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
2. Chill thoroughly: This is non-negotiable for shortbread! Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days. Chilled dough is easier to roll and holds its shape beautifully when baked.
3. Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters in your desired shapes – we love hearts, circles, or floral shapes that complement the lavender theme.
4. Bake until just set: Bake at 325°F for 10-12 minutes until the edges are barely starting to turn golden. The tops should remain pale. Don’t overbake – shortbread should be tender and buttery, not crunchy.
Why Shortbread Is the Perfect Base for Lavender:
Traditional shortbread has a high butter-to-flour ratio, which creates that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture. The rich, pure butter flavor is the ideal canvas for delicate lavender because there’s nothing else competing – no eggs, no leavening, no chocolate chips. Just butter, sugar, flour, and lavender in perfect harmony.
This simplicity also means every ingredient matters. Use the best quality butter you can afford (European-style butter with higher fat content makes an even more luxurious cookie), and always use real vanilla extract, not imitation.
Lavender Cookies Make the Perfect DIY Gift
Here’s what makes these lavender shortbread cookies absolutely perfect for gifting: they last for weeks when stored properly, they hold up beautifully in shipping, and they look incredibly impressive despite being easy to make. Unlike many cookies that go stale quickly, the high butter content in shortbread actually helps preserve them.
Gift Packaging Ideas:
🎁 Simple Yet Stunning Presentation:
Clear cellophane bags tied with lavender ribbon and a fresh lavender sprig
Small white bakery boxes lined with tissue paper
Mason jars layered with cookies and a fabric lid cover
Vintage tins lined with parchment paper
Cookie boxes with individual dividers to prevent breaking
Create a Lavender-Themed Gift Basket:
For a truly memorable gift for the lavender lover in your life, pair these cookies with complementary items to create a luxurious lavender experience:
Complete Lavender Gift Basket:
Lavender cookies (of course!)
Lavender tea blend or Earl Grey with lavender
Lavender-infused honey for drizzling over the cookies
Package everything in a woven basket, vintage tin, or reusable storage container tied with a beautiful ribbon.
Storage Tips for Maximum Freshness
📦 How to Store Lavender Cookies
Room Temperature Storage:
Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Keep away from heat and humidity.
Refrigerator Storage:
Not recommended for baked cookies (can make them soggy), but unbaked dough can be refrigerated wrapped tightly for up to 1 week.
Freezer Storage:
Baked cookies: Freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Unbaked dough: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before rolling and cutting.
Shipping Cookies:
Shortbread ships beautifully! Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, pack tightly in a sturdy box with crumpled parchment paper to prevent movement, and ship via 2-3 day shipping. They’ll arrive fresh and delicious.
Flavor Variations and Creative Twists
While classic lavender shortbread is perfection on its own, here are some delicious variations to try:
🌟 Creative Flavor Combinations:
Lavender Lemon: Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest and 1 teaspoon lemon extract. Perfect for spring!
Lavender Honey: Replace half the sugar with honey for a more complex sweetness.
Lavender Earl Grey: Add 2 teaspoons finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves for a sophisticated twist.
Lavender White Chocolate: Dip cooled cookies halfway in melted white chocolate, then sprinkle with a tiny bit of lavender.
Lavender Almond: Replace 1/4 cup flour with almond flour and add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
See also
Lavender Vanilla Bean: Use the seeds from 1 vanilla bean instead of extract for intense vanilla flavor.
Lavender Rose: Add 1 teaspoon culinary rose water for an ultra-floral cookie (use less lavender – 1 tablespoon max).
Get The Recipe!
Light & Buttery Lavender Shortbread Cookies
Perfect for a relaxing afternoon tea time or served with weekend brunch, these cookies are buttery and elegant with just a hint of lavender.
In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugar, and extracts. Whip until light and fluffy.
Next, add the flour, salt and dried lavender buds and mix until completely combined. The dough should be soft and easy to handle. If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour 1/8 cup at a time until you can form a dough ball without it sticking.
Divide the dough into two balls. Flatten into a disc, wrap with plastic or wax paper and chill in the refrigerator for about one hour. You can speed up chilling time by placing the dough into the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325° F degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about to 1/4-1/2 inch thickness depending on preference and then cut cookies out using the cookie cutter of your choice. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet (parchment paper is okay).
Bake 10-13 minutes or until cookies are gently browned around the edges. Allow to cool on a rack. Enjoy!
Keyword Cookies, lavender, shortbread
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Lavender Cookies
Why do my lavender cookies taste soapy?
This is the most common problem with lavender baking, and it has three main causes: (1) Using too much lavender – stick to the recipe amounts; (2) Using non-culinary lavender that hasn’t been harvested at the right time; or (3) Using French or Spanish lavender varieties instead of English lavender. Always use culinary-grade English lavender and measure carefully. If you’re nervous, start with slightly less lavender and add more to taste in future batches.
Can I use fresh lavender instead of dried?
Fresh lavender has a much milder flavor than dried, so you’d need to use 3-4 times as much (which can affect cookie texture). Dried culinary lavender is more concentrated and provides consistent results. If you grow your own lavender, harvest it at peak bloom, dry it completely upside down in bundles, then remove the buds from stems. Store in airtight containers away from light.
Do I need to grind the lavender buds?
It’s optional but recommended for the best texture. You can leave the buds whole for a more rustic look with little purple flecks throughout, or pulse them a few times in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle for a finer texture and more evenly distributed flavor. Don’t grind to powder – you still want some texture. Mixing lavender with the sugar first and pulsing together works beautifully.
Why is chilling the dough so important?
Shortbread dough has a very high butter content, which means it’s too soft to roll and cut when warm. Chilling firms up the butter so the dough holds its shape during rolling, cutting, and baking. It also allows the flour to fully hydrate and prevents cookies from spreading too much in the oven. For best results, chill for at least 2 hours, though overnight is even better. If the dough gets too hard to roll, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Shortbread adapts well to gluten-free flour. Use a good quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend (like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur) in equal measure to the all-purpose flour. The texture will be slightly more delicate, so handle the dough gently. Some bakers add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum if their flour blend doesn’t already contain it, but it’s not always necessary for shortbread.
What’s the best way to cut perfect shapes?
Use sharp metal cookie cutters dipped in flour between each cut to prevent sticking. Press straight down without twisting – twisting seals the edges and prevents clean cuts. For the cleanest edges, freeze the cut cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking. This helps them hold their shape perfectly. If you don’t have cookie cutters, you can cut the dough into squares or rectangles with a knife – they’ll taste just as good!
How do I know when lavender shortbread is done baking?
This is crucial: shortbread should be barely golden on the edges and still pale on top when done. They’ll look slightly underbaked, but they’re not – they firm up as they cool. If the tops turn golden, they’re overbaked and will be dry and crumbly instead of tender and buttery. Every oven is different, so check at 10 minutes. The cookies should feel set but not hard when gently touched.
Can I reduce the sugar in this recipe?
Shortbread has a very specific ratio of ingredients that creates its characteristic texture, so we don’t recommend reducing the sugar by more than 25%. The sugar isn’t just for sweetness – it also affects texture and browning. If you want a less sweet cookie, try our sugar-free cookie recipe adapted for lavender, or try making the lavender more prominent by using lavender sugar (lavender steeped in sugar overnight) which allows you to use slightly less total sugar.
☕ Perfect Pairings for Lavender Cookies
These lavender shortbread cookies pair beautifully with:
Earl Grey tea – the bergamot complements the lavender
Chamomile tea – double the floral, double the relaxation
Coffee – especially light roasts with floral notes
Vanilla ice cream – serve cookies alongside or crumbled on top
🌿 More Lavender & Honey Recipes
Love cooking and baking with lavender? Try these recipes:
🌸 Lavender Cookies: Simple Elegance
These light and buttery lavender cookies prove that the most elegant desserts don’t have to be complicated. With just a handful of ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time, you can create cookies that look like they came from a French bakery and taste like pure sophistication. Whether you’re hosting afternoon tea, packaging homemade gifts, or simply treating yourself to something special with your morning coffee, these lavender shortbread cookies deliver elegance and flavor in every delicate bite.
The key to success? Use culinary-grade lavender, don’t skimp on the butter quality, and resist the urge to overbake. Follow these simple rules and you’ll have perfect lavender cookies every single time.
Made these lavender cookies? We’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a comment below and let us know if you tried any creative variations.
More Cookie & Dessert Recipes:
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Lavender eye pillows are a wonderful way to promote sleep, relieve anxiety, and they can even help reduce headaches and chronic pain in some people. They create a gentle weight and soothing aroma that promotes deep relaxation.
If you’ve never used an eye pillow, you don’t know what you’re missing! These lavender eye pillows are meant to promote relaxation, thanks to their relaxing scent and weight.
Eye pillows are often used in yoga practice for savasana, where I first discovered the bliss of a lavender eye pillow. With basic sewing skills, they are easy to make yourself in a few simple steps.
Grab some dried lavender buds and some popcorn (yes, popcorn) and see just how easy it is to create a calming lavender eye pillow for insomnia and stress relief.
Lavender is known for its calming properties.
The Benefits of Eye Pillows
For many years in my recovery program, I did a gentle Restorative Yoga class where we would hold relaxation poses for a long time. In each 90-minute class, we would only do 6-7 poses in total. The idea was to allow the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) to take a break and strengthen the connection with the parasympathetic nervous system. I suffer from PTSD as a result of childhood trauma, and because of this, my nervous system is pretty much always in fight or flight mode.
I still do restorative yoga poses every evening as I wind down for bed. At the end of practice, the final pose, savasana (or “corpse pose”), is deeply calming. There is nothing like lying on your back, feeling the ground strongly below, and shutting out all other sensations. This is where the lavender eye pillow comes in. The shape and weight of the pillow form to your eyes and create darkness and gentle pressure.
It reminds me of weighted therapy blankets. The heavy fabric is weighted to help you feel protected and comforted. That’s kind of what these pillows do, but for your eyes. The popcorn inside gives them weight and allows them to form perfectly to your face, so they gently and comfortably press down on acupressure points that can help to relieve pain and decrease stress. We carry a lot of tension in our facial muscles without realizing it, especially when we are stressed, and the weight of these eye pillows helps to decrease that tension.
Meanwhile, the dried lavender and lavender essential oil offer aromatherapy that promotes relaxation. Lavender is one of the most commonly used scents for tension relief and sleep. Its calming fragrance can help you to wind down, de-stress, and get a restful slumber.
These pillows are often made with flax seeds, but I chose to use popcorn because it doesn’t have the oil content that can make the flax go rancid. I also like the weight and roundness of the popcorn. This could also be achieved with dried beans.
I like the round feeling of the popcorn kernels, but you can also use rice or dried beans.
How to Make Lavender Eye Pillows
Makes 1 eye pillow
I have included the template for the design “serenity now…insanity later” which may bring you back to 1997 sitcom hilarity along with the instructions to print it on fabric using an inkjet printer. You can certainly skip that step and use any fabric that speaks to you in some way.
Use dried lavender that was recently dried to retain its fragrance.
Make it!
To print the design on the fabric, fold the fabric in half and print one of the sides following the directions here.
Fold and iron a hem on the sides of the fabric.
Fold the fabric so that the back is on the outside (print inside), and sew the long side of the rectangles together.
Turn right side out, fold the ends of the fabric in 1/2″, and iron flat. Sew one end together.
Fill the bag with 1 generous cup of popcorn and 1 heaping tablespoon of lavender. Adjust quantities for your personal tastes.
Push all the filling toward the end of the bag, and pin about halfway to help prevent popcorn from creeping towards the open end. Sew the open end closed, and you’re ready for serenity.
Lavender Eye Pillow FAQ
Do you heat the bag?
Yes! I like to put my bags in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Never any longer, as I don’t want the popcorn to pop. I like popcorn because the feel of the round kernels, almost massaging the eye. That being said, others prefer to use rice, flax seed, or dried beans.
How long does the lavender last?
The lavender can last anywhere from 6 months to a year before it starts to lose its fragrance. At this time, you can gently use a seam ripper to open one end of the bag, replacing its contents before sewing it back up.
More Herbal Remedies to Try
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
This lavender oatmeal soap is soothing and calming for your skin. And any recipe that uses my garden-grown lavender rates especially high in my books! Using melt and pour, this recipe is super easy to make for beginner soap makers.
Lavender is my favourite ingredient, especially when it comes to natural beauty recipes, a slight addiction which can be seen in a simple search for lavender crafts. But along with being one of my favourite scents, dried lavender buds make this soap as beautiful to look at as it feels when you lather up.
To make this soap as a gift for holiday gift-giving or for someone special, make it in cupcake moulds and then wrap it in a cupcake wrapper.
Who wouldn’t want to get a lavender oatmeal soap cupcake as a gift? I can imagine even the burliest person out there would want to suds up with these!
This post will cover…
Dried lavender buds are used to decorate the soap.
How to Make Lavender Oatmeal Soap Cupcakes
Making these lavender oatmeal soap cupcakes can work with both cold process recipes and with melt and pour. If you choose to make cold process soap, please follow the recipes and the instructions in this article on how to make cold process soap. Cold-process soap is my go-to skincare bar, but it does take a long time and a lot of equipment to make.
Today, I’ll demonstrate a speedier soap-making project using melt and pour soap. Melt and pour soap kits are very easy to work with and simply require you to cut up the block into cubes, melt it, add your scents, and pour it into moulds.
Materials
I used melt and pour to create the soap pictured in this post.
Make It!
The melt and pour soap base should come as a block and have a list of the ingredients. You can choose from a number of different formulations, such as glycerin soap, milk soap, and fat and/or butter-based soaps.
I chose a natural soap base that had shea butter and oatmeal in it. If you would like to add oatmeal separately, then grind a few teaspoons of organic oats and add them to the melted mixture when you add the lavender buds.
Cut your soap into small chunks to make it easier to melt.
Use a sharp knife to cut your soap base into 1-inch cubes or smaller. Put the cubes in a heatproof container like a Pyrex measuring cup and put that in the microwave.
Stir your soap mixture every minute in the microwave until fully melted.
Melt the soap base on medium-high in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes. Stop the microwave occasionally and check the soap base. It should be melting but not steaming. Take the soap base out of the microwave before it’s completely melted and use a metal spoon to stir it until it has no lumps.
Use dried, not fresh lavender buds.
Add one teaspoon of lavender essential oil and 1-2 tablespoons of dried lavender buds.
Pour your soap into 12 equal “cupcakes.”
Stir the ingredients well and pour the soap into silicone cupcake moulds. I chose a cupcake mould that was quite tall, but I only filled each cupcake section halfway so that the soap was a nice, manageable size when finished.
Use a sprig of lavender when wrapping your soap cupcakes for a little extra pizazz.
Add a few extra lavender buds on the top of the soap if you think it needs it, and allow the soap to dry undisturbed for at least an hour. When the soap is hard, you can unmold it and use it right away or wrap it up for gifts.
A simple parchment paper cupcake liner makes a great wrapper for these lavender oatmeal soap cupcakes. I like the natural look of parchment paper, but you can use any cupcake liner that you think would add to the presentation. Use a bit of garden twine to tie it up, and if you have a stem of lavender, add that as well.
Use a parchment paper cupcake liner and twine to wrap these soaps as a gift.
Lavender Soap FAQ
Should I use dried or fresh lavender buds for soap?
Use dried lavender buds only. Fresh lavender buds are more likely to spoil in the soap and may turn brown or mould.
What kind of lavender should I use?
English lavender is typically used for crafting since it holds its colour and scent well. Some of my favourite varieties for crafting include Purple Bouquet, Royal Purple, and Folgate lavender.
Won’t the lavender turn brown in the soap?
Yes, the lavender buds will eventually turn brown after a few months. To prevent this, you can add some purple dye to the soap so the brown discolouration doesn’t show as much. I like to use ratanjot as a natural deep purple colour, and if you add it as a swirl it will work with the brown and lavender buds. You can also try swapping the lavender buds for centaurea (cornflower) petals.
For more beautiful recipes inspired by the garden, pick up a copy of my Natural Beauty Recipe Book. It comes as an instant download that is filled with 5 chapters of over 40 natural beauty recipes for the whole family.
More Soap Recipes to Try
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Truthfully, I drink no less than five cups of tea a day. I rotate between different blends, depending on the season and my health needs. So when I learned that my favorite organic tea company, Traditional Medicinals, was just a short 20-minute drive from my house, I knew I needed to visit their demonstration garden to learn how to grow herbs for making my own teas. I have no intention to stop buying tea; I simply want to be more experimental and self-sufficient—and have a little farm-to-cup experience of my own.
I asked Abbey Ramirez, head gardener at Traditional Medicinals (which, by the way, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year), about the best herbs to grow in the home garden. Her response:”I picked eight herbs with feasibility, seasonality, safety, and frequency of use in mind. These herbs are all beginner-friendly to grow, generally safe to use, can be cultivated in containers or in the ground, and are relatively easy to dry and store for later use.” Sounds perfect to me. Please keep reading to learn more.
NOTE: Although these herbs are generally known to be safe, always doublecheck the safety of consuming any plants if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical conditions.
“Calendula is tougher than it looks!” says Abbey. “It grows in a variety of soils but will fare best in soil with good drainage and does better with a weekly deep watering rather than frequent light water.” It prefers full sun but tolerates part sun, requiring at least five hours a day. And even though this plant grows in zones 3-11, it is considered an annual in zones 3-8 and behaves as a semi-evergreen perennial in zones 9-11. If you’re lucky, your calendula could bloom year-round. Bonus: Bees adore it.
Good for: digestive issues such as heartburn and peptic ulcers Plant part used: flowers Tea: fresh or dry How: 1-2 tbsp or 2-4 flowers in 1 cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes Food: fresh (petals only) or dry How: Use in salads, soups, cooked greens, baked goods, or as a garnish (best uncooked for nutritional value).
“Marshmallow has a soothing and lofty presence in the garden,” says Abbey. It needs moisture-retaining soil but also good drainage to avoid root rot. “If planted in full sun, this plant needs more water, but if it is in partial shade, one could get away with less water (this depends on your soil’s drainage and water retention).” Marshmallow grows as a deciduous woody perennial in zones 3-9, and Abbey recommends pruning back two-thirds every winter after it reaches maturity.
Good for: throat, respiratory, and digestive troubles Plant part used: roots, leaves, and flowers Tea: fresh or dry (roots only) How: 1-2 tbsp ground or chopped in 1 cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes (or same ratio in room temperature water overnight) Food: fresh or dry How: Use flowers in salads, baked goods, or garnish; use leaves in soups or sautéed with other greens.
Above: Photograph by Kier Holmes, taken at Traditional Medicinals.
Says Abbey: “Chamomile is a joyful and bee-friendly addition to a medicinal garden.” Though it craves full sun, this plant needs well-draining soil with decent water retention and consistent light drinks of water. Chamomile grows in zones 4-11 and can continuously bloom from April to August. Abbey adds, “This plant is strictly an annual, but I have found it is a prolific re-seeder and will likely propagate itself year to year if left alone to drop its seeds and complete its full lifecycle.”
Good for: sleep, relaxation, and digestion Plant part used: flowers Tea: fresh (stronger, more bitter) or dry (traditional, lighter, and more floral) How: 1-2 tbsp or 6-12 flowers in 1 cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes Food: Fresh or dry How: Use fresh as garnish only, as the flowers are quite bitter; ground dry flowers into powder for baked goods.
Lavender dryer bags are a natural way to freshen laundry and a good use for dried lavender harvested from your garden. Lavender is a lightly floral but clean-smelling fragrance that adds a little lift to your laundry.
Get all natural scents with
Four years ago I swapped out chemical-laden dryer sheets for sachets of lavender and I’m so much happier with how my clothes feel and smell.
Of course, the best option is to line-dry your laundry in the sunshine and let the garden perfume it that way. There is no better way to remove odours from laundry than to dry the fabric in the sun!
Unfortunately, you can’t line dry outdoors all year in many places. In rainy Vancouver, I would have to wait for months for my clothes to dry. In those winter months, I turn to the dryer but bring some of the garden into the laundry room with me.
Dryer bags can be filled with the dried flower buds and used many times over before needing to be replaced. Adding in a few essential oils will give your laundry a fresh and natural garden scent that makes you feel wonderful as you cozy into your freshly washed bed clothes or pull on a sweet-smelling shirt.
Here’s how I use them!
Avoid artificial fragrances with lavender and essential oils.
Lavender Dryer Bags to Freshen Your Laundry
Making your own lavender dryer bags takes just seconds to make. You can also customize these dryer bags with other scented flowers and essential oils.
Materials
Dried lavender
Drawstring muslin bags
Lavender essential oil (optional)
Make It!
Lavender dryer bags are made simply from lavender scooped into small drawstring muslin bags like these. These bags are typically sold as bouquet garni bags for adding herbs to soups, stocks, or stews. If you don’t grow your own lavender, you can purchase it in bulk online.
When you have filled the bag with lavender, tie it tightly in a few knots and then wrap the string around the top and tie again. This will ensure that it will not come apart in the dryer. Toss a bag in with the laundry to add a light fragrance. Each dryer bag will last for ten loads in the dryer.
Lavender dryer bags will also make a great gift! Present a set of 6 bags in a vintage jar wrapped with ribbon. The sealed jar will help keep the bags fresh when you store them in your laundry room.
Store your lavender bags in a sealed jar to help retain the fragrance.
FAQ About Lavender Dryer Bags
Are dryer sheets bad for you?
Dryer sheets are used to help add fragrance and reduce static, but they do have quite a long list of chemicals. While all of them are generally recognized as safe by the FDA, I try to avoid unnecessary chemicals when I can. And these dryer bags are an easy addition for fragrance, as well as vinegar for static (see FAQ below).
One of the main concerns for dryer sheets is artificial fragrances. Many chemical fragrances can cause irritations to the skin, eyes, and lungs of people, as well as are known to cause migraines.
When do you put the lavender bags into the dryer?
I add my lavender dryer bags at the same time that I add the laundry. I leave them in for the whole time. One lavender sachet should last you about ten loads in the dryer.
How can I add lavender fragrance to my clothes without a dryer?
If you choose to hang dry your clothes and linens, I recommend using my lavender linen water spray. I spray this on all my linens when they need some freshening up, including clothes, the couch, pillows, and sheets.
Can I use fresh lavender?
I recommend using dried lavender to make these dryer bags.
Do these dryer bags also reduce static?
These dryer bags are designed just to provide a nice light lavender fragrance. To get rid of static, I’ll add vinegar into my wash cycle. To do this, I fill up the fabric softener cup with vinegar and add a few drops of either rosemary or grapefruit essential oils.
How much lavender should I use per bag?
I put my lavender into 4×6 bags, filling them up completely (but so they can still fully close). I have LOTS of lavender growing at my house, so this is no problem. You can also use smaller 3×4 bags.
As a loving companion to your canine friend, you may be looking for natural ways to support their respiratory health. Essential oils and aromatherapy can offer some benefits, but it’s crucial to approach their use with caution. Let’s explore how essential oils can help with respiratory issues in dogs, and outline important safety precautions.
Does Your Dog Have Respiratory Issues?
Dogs can suffer from various respiratory problems, including allergies, asthma, and infections. Symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing. While conventional treatments are often effective, some dog parents are turning to essential oils as a complementary way to support respiratory health.
Beneficial Essential Oils for Respiratory Issues in Dogs
Certain essential oils may help alleviate respiratory issues in dogs. Here are some common examples:
Lavender: Known for its calming properties, lavender can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, which may ease breathing difficulties.
Eucalyptus: This oil has expectorant properties that can help clear mucus and improve airflow. However, it should be used with caution, as it can be irritating in high concentrations.
Peppermint: The menthol in peppermint can provide a cooling effect and may help open airways, making it easier for dogs to breathe.
Tea Tree Oil: While it has antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil should be used very cautiously, as it can be toxic to dogs if ingested or applied in high concentrations.
Talk to Your Veterinarian: Before introducing any essential oils for respiratory issues in dogs, consult with a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about aromatherapy for canines. They can provide guidance on safe options and dosages.
Always Dilute Essential Oils. This is important. A general guideline is to mix one drop of essential oil with a carrier oil (like coconut or olive oil) before applying it to your dog’s skin.
Avoid Direct Inhalation: Instead of diffusing oils in a small space, consider placing a few drops on a cotton ball and allowing your dog to sniff it from a distance. This minimizes the risk of overwhelming their sensitive respiratory system.
Monitor for Reactions: Keep an eye on your dog for any signs of irritation or adverse reactions, such as coughing, sneezing, or lethargy. If any negative symptoms occur, discontinue use immediately and consult your veterinarian.
Keep Oils Out of Reach: Store essential oils securely to prevent accidental ingestion. Dogs are curious creatures, and some oils can be toxic if consumed.
Conclusion
Essential oils and aromatherapy can offer natural support for dogs with respiratory issues, but they must be used with care. By consulting with a veterinarian and following safety precautions, you can help your furry friend breathe easier while ensuring their well-being. Always remember that each dog is unique, so what works for one may not work for another.
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If you’re looking for an all-natural way to encourage sleep, this homemade herbal dream pillow utilizes the calming powers of well-known sleepytime herbs to relax the mind and send you off to a good night’s sleep.
Sleep. It’s one of our most basic needs. It’s also one of the things that most people don’t get enough of. With early mornings, late nights, busy schedules, and all of the stress, anxiety, and discomfort that life can dish out, getting enough rest is tough.
Committing to a consistent bedtime, limiting technological distraction, and integrating pre-bed rituals into your routine can all help you get a good night’s sleep, but one of my favourite techniques that’s been effective for me is to use an aromatherapy herbal dream pillow made with ingredients from my garden.
The herbal blend is specifically chosen to release a fragrance that will promote calm and send you off to dreamland.
This post will cover…
You can customize your herbal dream pillow based on the herbs you like and have on hand.
My Long Journey to a Restful Sleep
Sleep is a wonderful, magical, healing, and often unappreciated luxury. When you sleep your body rebuilds itself, applies what it has learned from the day, builds muscles, repairs brain cells, and boosts immunity. If there’s one thing that you can do to care for yourself, it is get a good night’s sleep. It’s the most natural thing in the world, and yet good restful sleep can be so hard to capture.
I have a complicated relationship with sleep. Part of me feels that I’ve lost so much of my life to sleep, and the other part is grateful for how much healing comes from it. Due to a sudden illness, I slept for the better part of two years. That’s not hyperbole. I would go to bed in the early evening, sleep all night, wake up in the morning, then move down to the couch and sleep for the day.
For the first year, that was my whole life. As I moved into the second year, there was more waking time, gradually. I was so sick of being indoors and being in bed and yet I was unable to do anything else. I believe that my body was so run down from whatever it was fighting that it essentially rebooted.
After that crippling fatigue started to wear off, I had a whole other sensation to deal with: the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is often described as a never-ending cycle of fatigue and pain. The pain was so bad that it was hard to sleep at night, and without a good night’s sleep, the fibromyalgia would be worse the next day.
It was crazy making. And I knew I had to do something about it. I went to sleep studies. I tried medical apparatuses and pharmaceuticals. While the drugs helped with sleeplessness and pain, they came with many more unpleasant side effects.
I looked at my sleep habits and tried to do everything that I could to make sure I found a way to develop proper sleep. For me, that meant forcing myself to do some sort of activity every day, no matter how exhausted I was. That’s how I started gardening. Getting outside in the fresh air and engaging with nature was just what I needed.
Now, I grow herbs in my garden to help me with many things, including helping me to sleep.
I cut out all caffeine and other stimulants to make sure that I was setting myself up for rest. I went to bed at the same time every night and woke up at the same time every morning. I also set up a proper sleeping environment in my room with a comfortable bed, appropriate temperature, herb tea, aromatherapy, and herb-filled dream pillows to help create an atmosphere of relaxation.
Now that I have practiced these sleep habits regularly, I sleep like a dream. I go to bed at the same time every night, drift into a deep and healing sleep and wake up the next day refreshed and happy.
Today, I want to share a little bit of the peace that sleep has brought me by showing you how to make your own dream pillow stuffed with relaxing herbs.
It feels wonderful to snuggle up to a bit of my garden at night. You don’t need a garden to make these dream pillows, though. All of the ingredients are readily available as dried herbs at local and online shops. I’ve linked to some in the materials list to make it super easy for you to access everything you need.
Tuck these dream pillows into your regular pillow or nestle by your head.
What is a Dream Pillow?
Dream pillows have been around for hundreds of years (since at least the sixteenth century, probably earlier). They were once used commonly by doctorsas a way to heal patients with all sorts of infirmities. They’ve also been used historically to ward off evil spirits and induce dream visions.
Dream pillows, also called “sleep pillows” or “comfort pillows” are not the same as eye pillows. Eye pillows are weighted with dried beans, flax, or popcorn and often scented with dried lavender and lavender essential oil. The weight of these provides pressure on your eyes and a relaxation experience in addition to the aromatherapy. See how to make them here.
Dream pillows have no beans or weighted elements in them, nor do they contain any essential oils. They’re simply filled with an assortment of dried herbs. To use a dream pillow, place it inside your pillowcase. You can gently crush the herbs to release the smell if you would like a little more aromatherapy. Otherwise, the herbs will offer a gentle, pleasant aroma that helps you drift off to sleep.
You’ve probably heard that scent is deeply connected to memory and emotion. This is because the part of the brain that processes smells, the limbic system, is the same part that processes memory and emotion. There are certain aromas that can’t help but remind us of a certain time or feeling that we associate with that particular fragrance.
This can work to our advantage at bedtime, because we can use scent to influence our dreams and gently push our brains towards pleasant subject matter, away from anxiety and stress.
The combination of herbs I used for this dream pillow is meant to promote relaxation and help you sleep deeply, but you can certainly customize your dream pillow with different dried herbs and flowers according to what kind of aromatherapy you’re looking for.
If you use a dream pillow consistently, it can help you sleep in unfamiliar places (if you’re travelling, for example). The scent will remind you of your own bed and lull you to sleep faster, wherever you are.
There are many different herbs known to help aid sleep.
There are many herbs that are useful for helping you fall asleep (see more on herbs for sleep here). The basis for this recipe is hops. Hops is very good at helping you relax and have a restful sleep. I’ve also mixed in dried chamomile, lavender, roses, and a variety of mints all from my garden. I know that these are all organic, fresh, and dried properly so they have the perfect amount of aromatherapy for me at night.
Dried hops. Yes, the ones used to make beer!
How to Make a Dream Pillow
I’ll admit that I’m not an experienced sewer. I have found that even though I’m very creative and love fabrics, I would much rather be sowing than sewing. But I do have a lovely sewing machine and I can do a few basic things on it.
If you’re experienced with sewing, I’m sure you can take this simple tutorial on how to make dream pillows and turn them into something absolutely stunning. If you’re a beginner and are more interested in herbs than sewing, then these instructions are going to work out just perfectly for you too.
Making a dream pillow is as simple as cutting two equal sized pieces of fabric, and either with a sewing machine or by hand, sewing them into a pillow filled with dried herbs. You can really make this any size you want, but my favourite size is a thin, long pillow that can slip right along the side at the end of my pillowcase.
I’ll provide the dimensions for that, but please know that you can make smaller square pillows, round pillows, heart-shaped pillows, whatever you fancy.
I find the long size tucks nicely into the end of my pillow.
Materials
Make It!
Cut the fabric pieces to size and place one on top of the other with the right sides together.
Sew the two long sides together to create a tube.
Turn the tube inside out (so the right sides of the fabric are on the outside now) and fold an inch of the open ends inside the tube. Iron the folded ends flat.
Using a sewing machine or by hand with a needle and thread, stitch one of the ends closed (it doesn’t matter which one).
I used a decorative leaf stitch that was programmed on my sewing machine. If I’m being honest, these decorative stitches are pretty much the only reason I want to come in from the garden and use my sewing machine. They are adorable!
Now, fill up the pillow starting with the dried hop heads. Using the whole heads intact will create a lot of space that you can fill in with some other herbs. Add a scoop of the other dried herbs and mix it around a little bit. Shuffle the herbs down to the closed end so that you will have a little bit of space to sew the open end shut.
Stuff your herbs in, creating a good mix as you go.
7. Pin the pillow closed a little way down from the open end in order to keep the herbs in place and then use your sewing machine to do a matching decorative stitch to close the open end or hand sew a simple stitch to close the end.
You can also attach velcro to one end, so you can remove and freshen up the herbs as needed.
No-Sew Version
If you have even less experience and sewing then me, then get yourself some seam tape and instead of sewing it closed, you can iron it closed! The seam tape acts as a glue when heated with the iron and so this becomes an easy no-sew project.
That’s it, you’re done! I hope this project helps you find your way to a restful slumber. For more on how to develop healthy sleeping habits, read this post and try my essential oil roll-on remedy for insomnia.
Dream Pillow FAQ
How often should I replace the herbs?
Replace the herbs whenever they start to lose their fragrance. Mine will last anywhere from six months to a year before they need replacing.
How many herbs should I have?
Since you’re just using the herbs for their scent, you don’t have to worry about any specific measurements. I just eyeballed it, putting in approximately a cup of herbs in total. It will also depend on the size you make your dream pillows.
Where should you put the herbal dream pillow?
I just tuck it in with my normal pillow, somewhere close by, where I can enjoy the fragrance without it bothering me or creating a big lump in my pillow.
This homemade tea tree oil antifungal treatment stick helps to soothe red spots and rashes in a gentle but direct way. While it’s always best to look for the underlying cause of skin redness or irritation, this healing balm in a stick allows for quick relief of small spots to stop pain and itching while healing from within.
I consider myself a fan of fungi, except when it’s growing on my body. I’m not talking about sprouting mushrooms out of my ears, although that would actually be pretty funny! I’m talking about when fungus takes up residence somewhere on your skin. It can show up as red patches, acne, itchy skin, and more. We all have microorganisms that colonize our skin.
It’s called the microbiome, and it’s a good thing! Similar to the soil microbes that make healthy soil or the gut flora that makes up a healthy digestive tract, microbes on our skin help protect our bodies and keep us healthy.
But like all things, occasionally, there can be an undesirable fungus or bacteria that takes up residence. In general, skin is self-healing and the best practice is to use natural products on your skin and eat a healthy diet with complete whole foods.
If your skin is flaring up, then it could be a message that something else is going on. I encourage you to go get it looked at by a healthcare professional to investigate the cause rather than treat the symptoms. That being said, if you’re doing all the right things, you can still occasionally have some spots pop up.
That’s where this tea tree antifungal treatment stick comes in handy! This post will cover…
Lavender and tea tree and both powerful herbs with antifungal properties.
Herbal Antifungal Treatment Stick Ingredients
The main ingredients in the antifungal treatment stick are tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil, and calendula herbal-infused oil.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil is native to Australia and comes from melaleuca shrubs and trees, or paperbarks. The leaves and twigs are steam distilled to extract the essential oil.
Tea tree essential oil is widely used in skin care products, and I dare say it is overused. While it has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, overuse can also cause skin irritation. I also don’t want to remove all the beneficial bacteria, fungi, andorganisms that live on our bodies.
So creating a treatment stick with a bit of tea tree oil, is a way to use it in an intentional, directed way, avoiding overuse and the potential complications that come from it.
Lavender Essential Oil
I’ve written much about lavender and skin care because it also has similar properties to tea tree oil while being gentle and calming for the skin. Its potency depends which plant variety is made into essential oil, with Lavandula angustifolia being the gentlest. Adding a few drops of lavender essential oil helps to balance out the tea tree, and soothes the skin.
Herbal Infused Oil
The herbal oil that I used for this recipe is also infused with calendula. I’ve also written extensively about calendula and how to make infused oils. I grow calendula in my garden, harvest the flower heads liberally, dry them, and then turn them into a wonderfully potent herbal oil that I use in many skin care recipes throughout the year.
The blend of tea tree, lavender, and calendula-infused oil, makes it a wonderful way to help bring some relief and healing to the spots on your skin that need a little extra attention.
You can also infuse lavender buds directly into the grapeseed oil as well.
Tea Tree Oil Antifungal Treatment Stick Recipe
My son had a mysterious itchy spot on his chest, at first I thought it was a bruise when it didn’t go away and it continue to itch I knew that it was something else. Certainly not something that causes too much discomfort, but he did scratch it several times a day, so I wanted to try to ease the spot with a bomb that was gentle, easy to apply, and long-lasting.
I came up with this recipe as a gentler way to apply tea tree oil than using a roller bottle. Making it into a solid balm allows it to stay in place longer and requires less application. Putting a balm into a tube is the perfect way to apply an antifungal treatment to the spot and something that he could do on his own.
When I first made this recipe, I tried it on a few of my spots first. One spot in particular had been on my body for more than a year. It didn’t bother me, so I didn’t think much of it, but when I tested the balm on it, it went away in four days! It was clearly a perfect match. I made a bunch more and handed it out to others for testing. After a few tweaks to the formulation, this is now the balm that I use to treat mysterious little red spots, naturally.
Ingredients
Makes 3 x 10 ml sticks (lip balm tubes). See recipe card below for exact measurements.
Melt the wax, over medium-low heat in a Turkish coffee pot, double boiler, or a small pot with a pour spout.
Add the oil when the wax is liquefied and melt all of the ingredients together. Stir constantly and keep a watchful eye on the oils. You want them to just reach the melting point and not overheat. When the oils have melted and combined, add the essential oils and stir well.
You can store this recipe in small pots or tubes. If you are using pots, pour the hot liquid into the pots and leave untouched until set.
If you are using tubes, fill each tube halfway full and let cool slightly. This will set the bottom of the tube so that a hole doesn’t form in the top of the lip balm when cooled. Before the balm is fully set, fill the rest of the way.
Leave untouched to set for an hour, then apply as needed.
NOTE: always do a spot test before using widely on your skin. Test a small area on the inside of your arm and wait 24 hours to see if you have a reaction.
Fungal Treatment Stick FAQ
Can this be used on the face?
Yes, you can use this on the face. It should be okay for both dry and oily skin. I recommend doing a spot test first and waiting 24 hours to see if there is any reaction.
Can I add shea butter to this recipe?
You could add shea butter to this recipe since it is also known to be antifungal. It would stay on the skin topically more rather than go into the skin, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I decided to omit using any kind of butter for this recipe since I wanted to absorb it better. I tried a variation where I used 55g of calendula-infused grapeseed oil and 10g of shea butter, but I didn’t like it as much as this recipe—this recipe gets drawn right into the skin.
More Healing Recipes for the Skin
Tea Tree Oil Antifungal Treatment Stick
Use this all-natural antifungal stick to treat red spots, pimples, and rashes.
Melt wax over medium-low heat in the Turkish coffee pot or a small pot with a pour spout.
Once melted, add in the oil, stirring constantly. Once combined, stir in the essential oils. Do not let oils overheat, and only heat until combined/reached melting point.
Pour into small lip balm tubes. Alternatively, pour into small pots. If pouring into tubes, pour until halfway full, let cool slightly, and then fill the rest of the way.
Leave untouched until fully cool.
Test a small area on the inside of your arm and wait 24 hours before applying to other parts of your skin.
Making fragrant jars of homemade lavender bath salts couldn’t be easier. In vintage mason jars, bath salts look beautiful on display and make wonderful gifts. Here is a recipe to make your own in just a few simple steps.
There are so many different botanicals you can add to bath salts, and somehow I keep coming back to lavender again and again. The scent is soothing and relaxing, and I find the benefits of the plant to be numerous.
You’ll find me in the tub frequently. My body requires a good soak pretty well every day to manage the aches and pains. While I use my hot tub all the time now, I still appreciate the therapeutic benefits of an Epsom salt bath.
Epsom salt is primarily made of magnesium, and your body can absorb it externally. Combine it with the aromatherapy of lavender, and you’ve got quite a therapeutic combo.
Here’s what you need to know about lavender bath salts!
I use real dried lavender buds for this recipe. I harvest mine from the garden, but they’re also easy to find online.
The Benefits of Bath Salts
After a long day in my garden, I often look forward to a long soak in the tub afterward. For this reason, I make sure to keep my supply of bath salts well-stocked! Bath salts are made with Epsom salt, and some of the benefits include:
Helps with insomnia – there’s a reason a nice soak in the bath will make you sleepy. Epsom salt has magnesium, which can help your body produce melatonin naturally. Combine that with the relaxing effect of soaking in hot water, and you’ll sleep more soundly.
Reduces pain and inflammation – for those who have inflammatory conditions such as fibromyalgia, the magnesium in Epsom salt can improve symptoms and reduce pain (also consider this magnesium lotion for pain).
Help with sore muscles – athletes are often advised to soak in a tub of Epsom salt after tough workouts. There’s no reason the same benefits can’t be applied to those of us with lesser athletic endeavours!
The Benefits of Lavender
Lavender has plenty of healing and cleansing properties, making it the perfect addition to a jar of bath salts. Some benefits of using lavender, whether dried or in essential oil form, include:
Reduces anxiety – there’s something immediately soothing about the scent of lavender. A recent study showed that science backs this up too!
Helps with sleep problems – the same study also showed that lavender was superior to a placebo when used for insomnia, disturbed sleep, or restlessness.
Stabilizes mood – whether you are in a season or stress, or dealing with depression, lavender is beneficial aromatherapy to employ.
You can grow it at home –perhaps the most fun thing about lavender is that you can grow it right in your own backyard! It also happens to be an excellent way to attract beneficial pollinators to your yard, too.
Lavender is quite prolific, and one bush can provide you with plenty of dried lavender buds.
Tips for Picking and Preserving Lavender
I harvest lavender for crafts and DIYs quite often at my home. I wrote an entire post detailing my process, but here are the highlights of how to harvest lavender for bath salts or any other project:
Use sharp pruners and leave a minimum of 2 leaves on the stem to promote regrowth.
Dry bunches of lavender by hanging them upside down.
Once dry, shake the dried lavender off into a bowl or container.
Lavender buds look beautiful in a clear jar of bath salts, especially if I want to present it to someone as a gift. Sometimes, when lavender dries, it turns gray or brown, but there are a few things you can do to help the buds keep their pretty purple colour.
It’s a good idea to harvest lavender before the buds bloom.
Choose One of These Varieties
Any lavender can be harvested and dried for use, but Purple Bouquet, Royal Purple, and Folgate lavenders hold their colour especially well as they dry out.
Harvest at the Right Time
Cut your lavender from the plant just before the blooms open for the best colour. I like to leave at least some blooms to open in the garden for the bees, though.
Store Properly
I like to keep my lavender (and my lavender bath salts) in a clear glass jar, but exposing the dried buds to light will make them lose their colour, so keep the jar of lavender hidden away in a dark cupboard or drawer.
Store your lavender away from sunlight and heat.
Lavender Bath Salts Recipe
Okay, let’s talk about how to make the bath salts! It only takes a few minutes to make (well, after you dry the lavender, that is) so you’ll be soaking in the tub in no time.
Materials
Don’t worry about having bits of stems of leaves from the lavender make their way in.
Make it
Open all your Mason jars. Set the lids aside, but keep them handy—you’ll need them shortly!
Fill each Mason jar about halfway full of the Epsom salts.
Next, we can add the lavender oil. I have found that 10-15 drops are about right, but if you are making a small container, adjust accordingly. Then, put the lid back on and shake well to combine.
Remove the lid again, and add one tablespoon of your dried lavender flowers. Then replace lid once more and shake to combine.
Add more Epsom salts to fill the jar and then (you guessed it) replace the lid and shake, shake, shake.
Optional: download and print these freebie canning labels to dress up the jars. This is especially fun if you are making these as a gift!
As you can see, making this DIY is simple. You’ll be so glad you gave this one a try!
Add as many lavender buds as you wish!
FAQ About Lavender Bath Salts
Will the lavender buds clog up the drain?
If you have a lot of build-up and use lots of lavender buds, then yes. I find that the buds mostly stick to the sides of my tub. I just wipe them up with a face cloth and shake them into the compost. If you’re looking for a quick cleanup, you can put the bath salts in tea bags, like I do in this post.
Can I make these lavender bath salts ahead of time?
If you’re making these as gifts, they do keep quite well. To maintain the purple colour of the lavender buds, store them in an airtight jar away from sunlight and heat. Feel free to top up with more lavender essential oil when it’s time to use or gift the bath salts.
How can I prevent my Epsom salts from clumping?
You want to keep the moisture out of them as much as possible. Keeping them in an airtight container is your best bet. You can also add in a hint of some jojoba oil or other oil to prevent clumping. You can also try adding in a brown sugar saver, as they absorb moisture.
How much Epsom salt should I use in a bath?
It depends on the size of your tub. I like to use one cup of bath salts for my large soaker tub, but if you’re looking for more therapeutic benefits, add in two.
More Posts with Lavender
Love lavender? Me too! Check out all of the crafts and projects that can be done with just a few backyard lavender plants:
DIY Lavender Bath Salts
It doesn’t get much more relaxing than a long soak in a tub filled with lavender bath salts! Here’s how to mix up a batch at home.
Fill each Mason jar about halfway full of the Epsom salts.
Add just 10-15 drops of essential oil, replace lid, and shake.
Remove the lid again, add 1 tablespoon of dried lavender flowers, replace lid and shake (again).
Add more Epsom salts to fill the jar, replace the lid and shake well once more.
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts known for their therapeutic properties. When used correctly, they can help with canine anxiety. You can help your dog live a happier, more peaceful life by understanding their needs, selecting the right oils, and applying them safely. This article will explore how aromatherapy can help reduce anxiety in dogs, including what oils to use and how to use them safely.
Understanding Canine Anxiety and Its Triggers
Canine anxiety can manifest in many ways. It can cause excessive barking, destructive behavior, and even physical symptoms like trembling. Common triggers include:
Loud noises
Separation from their parents
Unfamiliar environments
Traditional treatments often use medications. But many pet parents want gentler, more natural alternatives like aromatherapy.
The Power of Essential Oils
Some of the best essential oils for dog anxiety are lavender, chamomile, frankincense, and cedarwood. Each oil offers unique benefits.
Lavender Oil
Lavender is the go-to essential oil for calming anxiety in both humans and animals. Its soothing aroma works wonders on the nervous system. It helps reduce stress, restlessness, and even aggressive behavior in dogs.
Chamomile Oil
Chamomile is a gentle and effective essential oil. It is known for its calming properties, helping to quiet the mind and body. This oil is useful for dogs who are anxious because of storms, fireworks, or loud noises.
Frankincense Oil
Frankincense is a soothing oil that can help stabilize a dog’s emotions. It is an excellent choice for anxious dogs or those struggling with new environments. Its warm, earthy scent fosters a sense of calm and security. It’s helpful during travel or when introducing your dog to new experiences.
Cedarwood Oil
Cedarwood essential oil has a comforting effect on dogs. It’s a great option for dogs suffering from separation anxiety. Its woody scent has sedative effects, helping dogs feel secure when alone.
Safe Application Methods
It’s essential to know how to use essential oils with dogs, as their sense of smell is much stronger than ours. Diffusing is one of the safest methods. This involves using a diffuser to spread the oil’s scent in the air, allowing your dog to enjoy the effects without direct contact. Make sure the area is well ventilated, and don’t run the diffuser for extended periods.
Alternatively, you can make a diluted spray to lightly mist your dog’s bedding or favorite area. Be cautious with topical applications, and don’t apply undiluted oils directly to your dog.
Consulting a Veterinarian
Before starting any aromatherapy for canine anxiety, consult with a holistic or integrative veterinarian. Some essential oils can be toxic to dogs. Getting professional advice is important to avoid any adverse effects. Experts can help you choose the right oils, ensure safe dilution, and suggest the best application for your dog’s needs.
Lorna is the founder of Furry Friends Advisor. She is a passionate and experienced long-time dog parent with a deep love for animals. Lorna’s commitment to understanding and caring for dogs led her to spend countless hours researching and learning about canine health, behavior, and care. When not immersed in writing for her site, she is pampering her French Bulldog, Lucy. Her mission is to make advice about dog care and nutrition accessible to everyone.
Hanging a lavender wreath around the garden could be just the aromatherapy needed to help decompress after a long day, or perhaps it will just make you smile. Regardless, this lavender wreath is a quick weekend project that will leave you calm enough for an afternoon read or a good night’s sleep.
In order to keep your lavender plants neat and tidy, it’s important to prune them. Two prunes per season works best—once at the beginning of summer and then once again in August.
The great thing about pruning back your lavender plants is that you can harvest lavender to use in a myriad of ways! One of my faves is to make it into pretty, fragrant wreaths. The fresh flowers dry on the wreath, and it looks so decorative.
This year, I made a miniature 6″ wreath using “Thumbelina Leigh” English Lavender plants, which are planted in my kitchen garden. The plants are quite small, but they produce more than enough flowers to keep me in lavender all summer long (and then some).
Here’s what you need to know about making your own dried lavender wreath!
One mature lavender plant should be enough to make one small 6-inch wreath.
Harvesting Lavender for Your Wreath
When harvesting lavender, it’s best to pick it at the budding stage, after the flower bugs turn purple but before they open into flowers. The stems will hold the colour for the longest if they are harvested in the bud.
The image below shows the three stages of lavender flowers: budding, flowering, and after flowering. In reality, I try and cut the flowers when they are budding, but in practice, I usually get a mixture of buds and flowers, and a few early bloomers that are starting to die back.
It’s hard to perfect the timing, but it’s even harder to take all that lovely lavender away from the bees! I like to let my lavender flower a bit for the bees to enjoy and then add it to a wreath when it has some buds and some open flowers.
It looks lovely and gives me (and the pollinators) more time to relish it in the garden. The open flowers will eventually fall off, but what’s left behind is still attractive and aromatic.
If you are crafting with lavender at home for personal use, don’t worry too much. Leave that to the lavender farms. No matter when you harvest it, it will make a lovely wreath with a heavenly perfume.
The lavender on the left is at budding stage, the middle blooming, and the right is after blooming.
How to Make a Lavender Wreath
The process for making this lavender wreath is very similar to my other wreaths. Perhaps even simpler because it’s entirely one kind of flower!
Materials
I used a grapevine wreath base, but you can also use a wire or straw base as well.
Make It!
Gather lavender into small bunches and snip the ends to get a nice, neat edge.
I left the leaves on, but you can strip them for a neater look.
Wrap your wire or twine around the stems of one bunch several times tightly.
Secure your bundles individually before attaching them to the wreath form.
Secure the bunch to the form by winding the twine or wire around it a few times and pulling tight (or tying a knot if you’re using twine).
Pro tip: I personally prefer to use wire rather than twine, as it is easier to tighten it later once the lavender bunches have dried and shrunk down a bit. To tighten a dried wreath made with wire, use needle-nose pliers to twist knots in the wire at the back of the wreath and hold the stems in snugly.
Keep your wire on the roll as you attach your bundles to the wreath form.
Leaving the wire on the roll, wind each new bunch onto the form as they are added. Continue adding bunches until you complete the circle.
Alternate which directions your bundles face to get a fuller-looking wreath.
Tuck a final bunch under the first bunch, then cut and secure the wire. Hang the wreath up and enjoy!
While it’s drying, flowers will fall off but NOT the buds.
I’ve also made a dried lavender wreath using this same basic technique on a wire coat hanger bent into a circle for the wreath form.
Make your own wire wreath form out of an old wire coat hanger.
Here is how that looks with dried buds after many years! It will hold its colour for quite a while. As you can see, this one has seen a few seasons and still looks beautiful.
FAQ About Lavender Wreaths
What is the most fragrant lavender?
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is typically revered for its scent, as well as hybrids.
What is the best way to dry lavender?
For this lavender wreath, I recommend using fresh lavender and letting it dry directly on the wreath form. When you work with dried lavender, it will be more brittle and you’re more likely to lose buds while you make the wreath.
The smell of your dried lavender wreath should last you for a few months. If you squeeze the buds, you should release the oils that contain the fragrance.
Commercially grown lavender is dried upside down in large bunches.
3. But go with French lavenders for a longer bloom.
If you are trying to chose between English and French, know that while English varieties are more fragrant, French varieties have a longer bloom time.
4. Choose carefully if you’re using lavender as an herb.
Above: Spanish lavender-flavored soda. Photograph by Marla Aufmuth for Gardenista, from DIY: Lavender Soda.
French lavender is not the choice for scented, herbal, or culinary uses because of its low oil content. “I like ‘Provence’, as it’s a favorite savory culinary herb used worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean and Middle East,” says Terry. She also likes ‘Royal Velvet’ for any lavender confectionery or mixology recipes.
5. Lavender can be loved to death.
No need to pamper this drought-tolerant plant; it actually prefers to be ignored. Excess fertilizer, water, and rich soil will eventually kill it. That said, lavender does need irrigation during its early months of root establishment, but once established, it requires only minor supplemental water later during the driest periods.
The fact that the name lavender is derived from the Latin verb lavare—to wash, says it all. The Romans were said to have used this herb to scent their public baths. Also, in Medieval and Renaissance Europe, women who washed clothes were known as “lavenders” because of how they dried the laundry by laying the wet clothes over lavender bushes, which scented the clothes. Royalty, most notably Louis XIV, enjoyed bathing in lavender-scented water.
7. Lavender hates wet feet.
These Mediterranean plants enjoy the hot, dry, rocky slopes of southern France, eastern Spain, and western Italy. What they don’t like is soggy, poorly draining soil. “One thing our customers are surprised to learn is how important it is NOT to use high quality soils and water-retaining compost when planting lavender. Lavender hates to have its roots kept wet,” shares Terry.
“We never mulch or gravel our lavender. Some growers do use gravel, weed cloth, and cover crops, like grass, between rows to help with weed control. But never heavy mulch because lavender likes to breathe!” says Terry.
9. Some lavenders can be grown from seed.
While some lavenders, like lavandin hybrids, can be grown only from cuttings because their seeds are sterile, there are varieties that can be started by seeds. “Some people report great success with seed germination, especially with the Angustifolia varieties. Most commercial farms use plant plugs from rooted plant cuttings.”
While the most common and popular varieties sport purplish hues, lavender flowers also come in white and pink. ‘Little Lottie’ is an English lavender known for its creamy white flowers and Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Pink’ blooms with delicate pink blooms.
This DIY deodorant spray with rose and lavender will make you smell like a flower, even when you are sweating it out in the garden! Made with gentle, all-natural ingredients that work hard and protect your health.
I could tell you all about this natural deodorant spray made with plant-based ingredients and how good it is for your skin.
I could go on and on about how it is packed with the skin-soothing benefits of aloe, witch hazel, lavender, and rose.
I could rave about it containing no harmful chemicals that can cause disease and impair your body’s natural functions. Or I could tell you that that it smells just like a floral garden in the summer.
But you don’t care about that, right?!
You just want to know if this DIY deodorant actually works! Well, let’s get into it.
Rose and lavender are my scents of choice, but you could easily adjust them for other strong, pleasant scents.
The Not-So-Pleasant Truth Behind Commercial Deodorant
The odour from your underarms is actually due to a collection of bacteria. As we sweat, we create a perfect little hangout spot for bacteria, and as they feast on the moisture, the waste creates a smell.
Yuck!
But when we use commercial deodorants and antiperspirants, they actually stop both the bad AND the good bacteria. When we kill the good bacteria that protect us from the growth of other bad bacteria, we can actually make the odour problem worse.
Deodorant can also mess with our skin’s pH, causing dryness and itchiness as the skin barrier gets messed with.
A natural deodorant won’t plug sweat glans. Remember, this is a deodorant and not an antiperspirant. If you’re making the switch to natural deodorant for the first time, you may notice that you will sweat more. This is because most commercial deodorants are also antiperspirants.
It may take a few weeks for your body to adjust to the new product as the good bacteria settle in once again.
This natural deodorant is made entirely of ingredients you can pronounce, and perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t contain any aluminum. It’s meant to work alongside your body’s natural functions, not against it.
Spray deodorants are easier to make than DIY deodorant sticks.
Formulating Natural Deodorant Spray Recipes
I started formulating homemade deodorant after sharing a room with my friend Crystal (the creative genius and my mom-spiration from Hello Creative Family), who used a DIY deodorant spray she had customized at an essential oils workshop.
The combination of fragrances she used smelled like a bakery: clove, cinnamon, and vanilla. YUM. I tried it out, and boy-oh-boy, did it ever work! But, using hot oils like clove and cinnamon caused my sensitive skin to have a reaction. It was nothing terrible, but I wondered if I could make a homemade deodorant that worked just as well and was calming for the skin at the same time.
I made a few different variations of simple spray bases and tested some combinations of essential oils until I found one that was soothing, nice-smelling, and did the job. Rose and lavender for the win! It’s pretty and floral, and more than anything else, it works.
Witch hazel and aloe vera are the base of this recipe, which are both AMAZING for your skin.
Testing My DIY Deodorant
I’ve tested it for years on myself, my family, and anyone else who will agree to it. After testing it in all four seasons in Vancouver, it went well. When I needed to turn up the volume a bit, I took it to southern Mexico and had some surprising results.
It worked just as well as it had at home, but I also ended up using it on my face and skin to soothe and cool down my freckly, over-sunned skin. And I learned that it works great on clothes, too. It not only prevents any odor from my underarms, but I was also able to use it on my clothes when they needed a bit of freshening up.
This spray is safe to use on clothes and all over your body.
Rose and Lavender DIY Deodorant Spray Deodorant Recipe
This recipe is not only good for your skin but also for the planet. I’m big on reducing the amount of packaging I use, and I love glass or stainless steel bottles that can be reused. Here are some pretty blue glass ones that I use.
Ingredients
Make It!
Measure all of the ingredients and add them to a fine mist spray bottle. Shake well to combine and spray on underarm area after showering or when your underarms need freshening up. Shake well before each use.
Store your deodorant away from sunlight and heat to prolong the shelf life.
FAQ About DIY Deodorants
What is the shelf life of homemade deodorant?
The shelf life of any DIY product will be the earliest expiry date on the ingredients you used to make the spray. For instance, if the aloe vera gel for this recipe expired in 12 months, but the witch hazel expired in 24 months, the overall expiry date for this deodorant would be 12 months. For more on beauty shelf life, check out this post.
Can I use fresh aloe vera for this recipe?
To increase the shelf-life of my homemade deodorant, I use a pre-packaged aloe vera gel. Make sure it’s pure aloe vera gel (not the fake green stuff!). You can use fresh aloe, but it will only last for about a week and you will need to store it in the fridge.
Lavender is one of my all-time favourite scents. Thanks to its calming, uplifting properties, I try to use lavender as much as I can throughout my home. One of my favourite ways to enjoy it is in this lavender linen water as I iron. Don’t let the name fool you, though. This can also be used as a lavender spray anywhere in your home to freshen up any space! Read on to learn how to make this 5-minute DIY.
To say that I love lavender would be a major understatement. In fact, lavender is one of my favourite plants to grow in my garden.
From health and beauty products to food and home decor (and everything in between), I love using lavender in my everyday life.
Now, I’m adding another use for lavender: a lightly scented lavender linen water spray that is a must-have for your laundry room.
This post will cover…
This linen spray has only 3 ingredients!
Why Use Lavender?
Lavender is an herb that has been long-known for its pleasant scent and calming properties. In fact, it has been used to cleanse and refresh since ancient times. The word “lavender” has its root in the Latin word “lavare,” which means “to wash.”
True to its namesake, ancient Romans used the flower to perfume their baths, bodies, beds, and clothing.
Those Romans were on to something. Not only does lavender leave linens smelling fresh and clean, but studies also suggest that lavender possesses anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties, which may prevent common skin infections.
The test of time certainly stands behind this scented herb. Lavender has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times and is gentle on skin. Plus, it smells wonderful.
So the way I see it, the more lavender I have in my life, the better! What better way to get all those awesome aromatherapeutic benefits besides surrounding yourself with the scent as you sleep? That’s why I love this DIY lavender spray.
The smell of lavender is known for it’s calming properties.
How to Use Lavender Water
First of ,all, yes you can buy lavender linen water, but you’ll end up paying a pretty heftforprice on something that you can easily (and inexpensively) make yourself.
Before we get into how to make this recipe, let’s talk about why you need it. Understandably, if you’ve never used lavender water before, you may be wondering what to do with it.
I originally made this spray myself to use when ironing. I quickly realized that this scent was a favourite of mine and started using it for so much more.
Of course, I still use this recipe for ironing too. To use this linen water when ironing, simply fill up your iron with it. It will freshen the fabric while pressing, and make ironing a much more pleasant chore.
Additionally, you can pour it into a spray bottle and mist linens fresh from the wash or those that have been stored for a while and need a refresh. And, if you’re like me and love the smell, you can use this lavender spray on SO many things, including spraying it in the air to deodorize the air.
Keep the linen water in a spray bottle for easy use.
It’s a really easy way to add a light scent to help freshen fabrics of all types. You can also use it on:
Towels
Curtains
Furniture upholstery
Throw pillows
Dog beds
Bathrooms
As an air freshener
I use this linen spray for bedding, on my sheets, on dog beds, and on my son’s bed. I’ve even added it to a small spray bottle I keep next to my bed to use as a lavender pillow spray that helps me fall asleep at night. I might be just a little obsessed.
The all-natural ingredients mean that this spray is gentle with a delicate scent that doesn’t overwhelm the senses, making this a wonderful recipe to add to your regular laundry routine or pull out and use anytime you want to enjoy it.
Add a cute tag, and it will also make a great hostess gift.
Caution Regarding Lavender Linen Spray
One quick word of caution. While lavender is generally considered very safe, especially in a diluted form like this, use caution when using it around pregnant women, babies, and pets (especially cats).
Never spray this spray directly on pets, and always provide an avenue for fresh air in case the scent bothers them.
I have never had any kind of issue like this in my home or with my dogs; however, it’s always good to be cautious around animals as their noses are much more sensitive than human ones.
Lavender is a common scent in many skincare and cleaning recipes.
How to Make Lavender Linen Water
Now that I’ve told you all the fun ways to use this lovely spray let’s talk about how to make it. It takes just five minutes!
Ingredients
Make It!
Remove the spray bottle and pour the witch hazel into the bottle. Use a funnel if needed. Next, add your lavender oil to the bottle.
Add the distilled water to the bottle. Shake the bottle well for several seconds to mix the ingredients together. Also, shake again lightly before using this spray, as the ingredients can separate over time.
Shake before each use to ensure the ingredients are mixed together when spraying.
Use a Glass Spray Bottle
You will need a spray bottle for this recipe. When you use essential oils, use glass bottles because the essential oils can leach chemicals from plastic ones. Plus, it’s friendlier for both the environment and your budget as they will last a long time.
I like to recommend using a dark-coloured bottle to store your spray if you are going to be making a large batch. This helps preserve the essential oils by preventing UV rays from breaking them down. If you only have a clear spray bottle, that will work just fine too. Just make sure to store the spray bottle in a dark area like a cupboard.
Of course, if you are making this simply for linen spray, you will likely go through it fairly quickly. In that case, a glass bottle like the one pictured below works just fine.
You don’t need a spray bottle if you’re pouring the linen water directly into an iron.
Substitutes For Witch Hazel
Also, this recipe uses witch hazel to preserve the scent of your lavender oil. It should also help keep your oil dissolved in the solution (but I always shake it before using it, just in case). If you don’t have any witch hazel, you could swap it out and use unflavoured vodka or rubbing alcohol in its place.
Witch hazel helps to keep the mixture from separating.
FAQ About Linen Water
Can I add dried lavender to linen water?
While it will look aesthetically nice, it will end up colouring the water and could stain the linens.
Does the essential oil leave stains?
This recipe uses only a few drops of essential oil, and it’s well mixed in the mist. Therefore, you shouldn’t see any problems with oil stains.
Can I use my infused lavender oil instead of the essential oils?
I wouldn’t recommend using anything besides essential oils. They are highly concentrated, so you do not need to add much to the mixture. And in such small amounts, it doesn’t create oil stains. Meanwhile, an infused lavender oil will require more to get the scent and could leave behind oil stains.
Do I have to use distilled water for linen spray?
Distilled water is free from bacteria and other organic materials. This means that the likelihood that you’re adding contaminants to the recipe lessens, and the linen spray will last longer.
Try using this lavender linen water as a pillow spray to help you relax and sleep better. I hope you love this lavender spray as much as I do. Before you know it, you may also be spraying your kids’ pillows with it to help them sleep at night. Enjoy!
More Ways to Use Lavender
DIY Lavender Linen Water
This simple lavender linen water can be used for so many things. From refreshing clothing as you iron to being spritzed on your pillow at night, this lavender spray is a soothing, wonderful-smelling treat!
Remove the spray bottle top and pour your witch hazel into the bottle.
Next, add your lavender oil to the bottle.
Add the distilled water to the bottle.
Shake the bottle well for several seconds to mix the ingredients together.
Make sure to shake lightly before using this spray as the ingredients can separate over time.
This sweet-sounding concoction is not a confection; it’s an herbal recipe for soft and shiny hair! Lavender works to strengthen and marshmallow root coats hair while soothing scalp dryness and inflammation. It has a gentle and pleasant aroma that will make this homemade conditioner your new favourite hair care recipe.
Not to brag or anything, but I get a lot of compliments on my hair. I’ve always had long, brown, wavy hair, and it’s gone through a journey, that’s for sure.
I used to rely on commercial shampoo and conditioner. From sulphates to parabens, many people are finding the ingredients used in commercial products to do more harm than good.
When I switched to using my own recipes, I immediately noticed how much healthier my hair was. So now, when people compliment my hair, I say thanks and give them this recipe!
Here’s how you can make your own conditioner and harness the powerful properties of marshmallow root and lavender for your hair.
My collection of homemade conditioner and lotions! I really do rely on them every day.
Before You Begin: Homemade Conditioner and Lotions
Homemade conditioner is easier to make than you might think. When I first started making my own herbal skin and hair care, I was a bit intimidated by making lotions and conditioner. It all seemed to be a bit too complex and I feared that I wouldn’t get the technique quite right.
After taking some beginner, then advanced classes, I realized that it’s not only a pretty simple process once you get the hang of it, but that you can make really high quality products for wayyyyy less money than something similar would cost to buy.
If you are a soap maker, then you know that soap making is expensive. And if you are not a soap maker, you have certainly seen the price tag on a bar of artisanal soap. Quality ingredients come with a price tag, and the labour (and love) involved in making soap is quite involved as well.
But lotions, well, that’s a whole different story. A lotion is mostly water. The little bit of oil, emulsifying wax, and other ingredients you use are so small that they barely add up. And yet the final lotion or conditioner is so rich and luxurious, you would think that so much more went into the recipe than it did.
Buying the initial ingredients might be pricey, but they will last you a while and create many batches of high-quality conditioner.
Conditioner is mostly water; once you have the initial ingredients, it doesn’t cost much to make yourself.
I’m sometimes surprised to hear that not everyone uses conditioner. I would be lost in a rat’s nest of tangles and frizzy hair without it! Hair conditioner has that wonderful nourishing ability to coat each strand of hair so that it can easily be detangled while reducing split ends and nourishing dry hair.
Marshmallow root is a mucilaginous herb that is often used on its own as a natural hair conditioner. In this recipe, I have used prepared marshmallow root tea to replace part of the water in the conditioner.
This recipe is great for dry hair that needs moisture treatment. Use the conditioner for a few weeks, then switch to another recipe (like this rosemary one) when the hair is repaired.
If this is your first time making lotion or conditioner, please first read THIS POST on How to Make Lotionto read about the ingredients, the three phases, and see the step-by-step photos of how it is done.
Marshmallow root forms a protective layer on skin and hair when used.
Equipment
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for complete measurements.
Don’t like the smell of lavender? Try a different essential oil instead, such as peppermint or rosemary.
Make it!
The day before, prepare the marshmallow infusion by filling a 250ml / 1 cup mason jar with cut and sifted marshmallow root and filling the rest with lukewarm water. Add a lid and steep overnight. In the morning, strain out the root and use the liquid for lotion.
Sterilize all of your equipment and workspace with alcohol.
Use a kitchen scale to weigh the oil ingredients in a heatproof container and weigh the water ingredients in another heatproof container.
Create a double boiler and heat both the oil ingredients and the water ingredients to 160 degrees F.
Keep both the water ingredients and oil ingredients at 160 degrees F for 20 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, add the oil ingredients first and then pour in the water ingredients.
Use an electric mixer to whip the ingredients in a large bowl.
Once the ingredients have reached 80 degrees, you can add the cool phase ingredients.
Continue mixing your conditioner until it’s thick and fluffy.
Add the conditioner into a sterilized container with a pump. I used this one from Ikea!
Make sure to sterilize the container with alcohol before pouring your conditioner in.
FAQ About Making Homemade Conditioner
How much marshmallow root do I use for this recipe?
I don’t measure the amount of marshmallow root by weight. Instead, I simply use enough to fill a 250 ml Mason jar. For more on how I measure herbs for my recipes, check out this post.
Is this a leave-in conditioner?
No, use this conditioner after washing your hair. Leave it in for 2-3 minutes before rinsing out.
Where can I find these ingredients?
I’ve linked all of the ingredients to Amazon, and they should redirect to your country whenever possible. If you’re still having trouble sourcing these ingredients, you should be able to find them at some refillery stores or at a soap-making supply store in your area. Call and ask!
Try These Lotions, Creams, and Conditioners
Lavender and Marshmallow Root Homemade Conditioner
This herbal recipe is ideal for dry hair, creating soft, shiny, and stronger hair.
Aqueous Phase Ingredients
Make your marshmallow root infusion the day before. Fill a 250 ml Mason jar and all lukewarm water until it reaches the top. Add a lid and let it steep overnight. In the morning, strain out the root and use the liquid for the lotion.
Use alcohol to sterilize your equipment and workspace.
Use a kitchen scale to weigh out all your ingredients. Place oil ingredients in a heatproof container and water ingredients in another heatproof container.
Use a double boiler and heat both your oil and water ingredients to 160 degrees F, keeping both separate.
Keep them at 160 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Add the oil ingredients to a mixing bowl, followed by the water ingredients.
Use an electric mixer and whip the ingredients.
When the ingredients are 80 degrees F, add in the cool phase ingredients.
Whip until it’s thick and fluffy.
Add the conditioner into a sterilized container. Use conditioner within six months.
For more detailed information on the lotion/conditioner making process, please visit this post: https://gardentherapy.ca/natural-lotion-recipe/
This insect bite roll-on is great to have on hand when you least expect to get attacked by mosquitoes, flies, or other annoying pests. By using essential oils for bug bites, you can get quick relief from that darn itch.
Some people have no reaction to mosquito bites, and others (like me) get huge, red welts that itch so badly that I want to jump out of my skin and hide!
It’s no fun at all when I get a bite, so I did some research to figure out WHY ME! Er, I mean, why do the bites itch so badly, and what on earth can I do to relieve it?
This roll-on remedy has become a lifesaver for me during the summer when I’m out gardening and camping. Using essential oils for bug bites is easy, and provides fast relief.
Here’s what we’ll be covering today…
I use a roller-ball to easily apply my essential oil mixture.
Why, Oh Why is a Mosquito Bite SO Itchy?
Mosquito and insect bites itch because our bodies have a histamine reaction to the insects’ saliva, a mini allergic reaction.
When your body detects bug spit, it quickly sends in histamine, an immune response that turns the site into a red bump. The bump is itchy, and when you scratch it, it gets even more inflamed and itchier.
My mother would always apply antihistamine cream to relieve the itch, but that tackles the immune response, rather than the irritant. Instead, it’s better to neutralize the saliva and let your body relax.
If you catch the bite right away, using this roll-on should help you to avoid even the initial bump, but if you found the bite from scratching and it’s already inflamed, then it could take a few applications and a bit longer.
Now, it is true that mosquitoes prefer some people to others. I’m living proof of that. Try camping with me. You will love it! All mosquitoes hunt me down and will leave you alone. Unless you are as tasty to them as I am, and in that case, you need this mosquito bite relief roll-on remedy, too!
Most bugs avoid strong smells like lavender.
What is the Best Essential Oil for Bug Bites?
Lavender and tea tree are some of my go-to essential oils for bug bites. In fact, they have many of the same beneficial properties for the skin.
The main and most helpful property of these essential for bug bites is their anti-inflammatory properties. We all know how quickly a bug bite flares up, creating a large and red bump. The pair of essential oils lessen the redness and immediate irritation after a bite.
Insect bites also have a habit of getting infected if you touch and itch them too much. Lavender works as an antifungal while tea tree is an antiseptic, both helping to prevent any nasty bacteria from growing.
Some bites can be painful, especially if you scratched too hard. Lavender and tea tree will soothe the bite, offering some pain-relieving and numbing effects. Lavender also promotes the healing of skin tissue, helping your bite to go away quickly.
Of course, tea tree and lavender are two very strong and distinct smells. You get a 2 for 1 with these essential oils, as they also act as an insect repellent. In fact, many commercial sprays include lavender and tea tree in their formulas. So when the bugs get you once, this roll-on may even help to avoid a secondary bite.
Note: never apply essential oils directly to the skin. Since they are concentrated versions of plant power, you always want to dilute them beforehand. In this case, I use witch hazel!
If you also love the smell of lavender, then you’ll enjoy the scent of this roll-on.
Witch Hazel
The base of this mosquito bite relief roll-on, witch hazel also has a ton of healing benefits. Primarily known as a wound-cleaner, witch hazel is a champion for the skin helping to soothe irritated skin, reduce inflammation, and prevent redness.
You can grow your own witch hazel in the garden, harvesting the bark to make a gentle astringent for the skin, and use in this recipe. If you are in need of an immediate fix, you can also easily grab a bottle of distilled witch hazel too.
Witch hazel is known for its healing skin properties.
Mosquito Bite Relief Roll-On Remedy
This remedy is super easy to make, and uses just a few key powerful essential oils for bug bites. Make a few of these ahead of time, keeping it handy when you’re out and about and needing some quick itching relief.
Ingredients and Materials
See the recipe card for full measurements.
Make it!
Pour the witch hazel into the roll-on bottle using a small funnel. Add the essential oils for bug bites and put the roll-on top back on the bottle. Shake well before using.
Shake well each time before you apply the roll-on to your skin.
How to Make Mosquito Bites Stop Itching
To use this roll-on for mosquito bite relief, apply it as soon as you see the mosquito on you or feel the bite starting to itch. Don’t scratch! Roll on a little of this insect bite relief right onto the bite and allow it to dry.
Again, don’t scratch! I know, easier said than done. But, the more you scratch the more inflamed it will be. If you can restrain yourself while the bug bite remedy works, you should feel better in about 15 minutes.
The other way I use this bug bite roll-on is when I’m outdoors on the grass and those annoying little flies are all over me. Maybe this just happens to me, and if so, you are lucky because it is the worst! The flies don’t bite but what feels like hundreds land on my skin and just sit there.
They always seem to land on me 10 to 20 at once (no exaggeration this time). My bug spray recipe is very effective at keeping them off, but if I happen to be out somewhere and only have my roll-on, it works just as well. I apply the roll-on in a zigzag pattern on my arms and legs and the flies fly away for good.
FAQ About Using Essential Oils for Bug Bites
Can you put eucalyptus oil on bug bites?
Eucalyptus oil is another great choice for this roll-on. It can fight inflammation and promote healing, and it also has a scent that we love, but bugs don’t.
Is it safe to put lavender essential oil directly on skin?
Never apply essential oils of any kind directly to the skin. They are powerful concentrations of plants, and can irritate or even burn your skin if applied directly. Instead, dilute them with a carrier oil or solution such as witch hazel or jojoba oil.
Does putting deodorant on bug bites work?
People will apply deodorant to their bug bites to relieve itching. Deodorant contains aluminum chloride, the main ingredient in stopping excessive sweating. This is said to help relieve the pain and swelling. Personally, I stick to this roll-on remedy as I rely on essential oils for my bug bites.
Does Vicks Vapor help bug bites?
Vapor rub has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce the pain and swelling from a mosquito bite. Since menthol is a key ingredient, it also cools the skin. It also contains eucalyptus, which, as I mentioned above, helps with mosquito bites.
Amazing, isn’t it? These essential oils for bug bites pack a ton of power into a small roll-on bottle. If you give it a try, let me know how it works for you in the comments down below.
More Ways to be Bite-Free and Happy
Mosquito Bite Relief Roll-On
After a bug makes a visit, roll on this natural remedy using essential oils for bug bites.
Use a small funnel to pour the pure witch hazel into the roll-on bottle.
Add in your drops of essential oil.
Screw the roll-on lid and give it a good shake before each use.
Also known as lily of the Nile, spring- to summer-blooming agapanthus has mounds of strappy basal foliage, erect, leafless flower stalks, and mature dimensions of 22 to 44 inches tall and wide.
It’s an aggressive grower that requires dividing every four to five years, and like lavender, prefers a snug-fitting pot when grown in a container.
Edible anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum, is a short-lived mid- to late summer flowering perennial for Zones 4 to 9 that completes its life cycle in about three years. In ideal conditions it spreads via rhizomes and self-seeding.
Plants attract pollinators with upright spikes of unscented tubular blossom clusters in shades of blue, lavender, or purple. The scalloped foliage is sweetly aromatic with hints of anise and licorice.
Grow in full sun to part shade with average soil and low to moderate moisture. Fast-growing anise hyssop achieves mature dimensions of 24 to 48 inches tall and 18 to 36 inches wide.
Violet-blue anise hyssop seeds are available from Eden Brothers in one-ounce, quarter-pound, and one-pound packages.
Beardtongue, Penstemon spp., aka penstemon, is a summer-blooming perennial for Zones 3 to 9.
It’s a pollinator favorite, with tall stalks bearing clusters of downward-facing, tubular blossoms, and comes in a rainbow of colors as well as bicolor combinations.
Plants grow in full sun to part shade with sandy, fertile soil and low moisture. Mature dimensions vary from six to 60 inches tall and 12 to 36 inches wide, depending on the type.
Palmer’s beardtongue, Penstemon palmeri, is a fragrant species with pink flowers and stems up to 48 inches tall, providing a stunning backdrop in beds and borders.
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, is a short-lived flowering perennial for Zones 3 to 9, yielding three to five years of abundant blooms. Many gardeners grow it as an annual.
The orange-yellow, daisy-like blooms and brown centers are iconic summer-to-fall flowers that appeal to pollinators.
Black-eyed Susans thrive in full sun with organically-rich soil.
They grow fast and have low to moderate water needs once established, making them ideal as a companion for lavender.
Mature dimensions are 24 to 36 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
The daisy-like coneflower, Echinacea spp., is a mid- to late summer blooming perennial for Zones 5 to 9 with edible flowers in orange, pink, purple, red, white, or yellow.
It grows in full sun to part shade locations with sandy loam and low moisture.
Depending upon the type, heights can reach up to 48 inches with a spread of up to 18 inches.
Coneflower is a pollinator magnet that attracts bees, beneficial insects, and butterflies to its nectar, and songbirds to the seed-laden cones at season’s end.
Aster-like Coreopsis spp., aka tickseed, is an early summer flowering perennial for Zones 4 to 10 that can be grown as an annual elsewhere, with cream, pink, red, or yellow jagged-edged flowers atop wiry, leafless stems.
Plants thrive in full sun with lean soil and moderate water. Mature dimensions are one to three feet tall with an equal spread.
Drought- and heat-tolerant Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Double the Sun’ boasts bright yellow semi-double blooms and a compact 12 to 14-inch form for a striking contrast to spikes of lavender.
Creeping juniper, Juniperus horizontalis, is a low-profile, low-maintenance perennial woody evergreen for Zones 4 to 9. Mature dimensions are up to two feet tall with a spread of up to 10 feet.
Depending on the type, the foliage may be blue, green, or purple. Blue cones or berries may be produced when a male and female plant are growing in the vicinity of one another.
Creeping juniper thrives in full sun to part shade with well-draining sand, loam, or clay soil and moderate moisture. They offer a rich textural counterpoint to lavender.
The star-shaped perennial daylily, Hemerocallis spp., grows in full sun to part shade in Zones 3 to 9.
Extensive hybridization has produced a varied color palette, including orange, pink, red, and yellow. Heights range from one to six feet with a spread of two to four feet.
A very accommodating summer bloomer, the daylily tolerates some shade but produces fewer blooms without full sun. It thrives in organically rich, moist soil but tolerates some drought and oversaturation.
‘Primal Scream’ is a cultivar that sports bright tangerine-orange blossoms with a golden shimmer that sway atop 34-inch stems for a dramatic contrast to lavender.
The ice plant, Delosperma cooperi, is a succulent, ground-covering perennial for Zones 6 to 10. Mature dimensions are 4 to 6 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide.
Cultural requirements include full sun, lean, gritty soil, and low moisture.
The foliage is needle-like and evergreen. Aster-like orange, pink, purple, red, or yellow flowers bloom from summer to fall.
The edible dwarf French marigold, Tagetes patula, is a summer annual for Zones 2 to 11 that prefers full sun, fertile soil, and medium moisture.
Mature heights are six to 12 inches with a spread of six to nine inches.
Cultivars are available in shades of orange, red, yellow, and bicolor combinations and may have one or more rows of petals surrounding a prominent center crest.
Their petite stature makes them well-suited to grow as ground cover around lavender.
‘Naughty Marietta’ has bright yellow petals, maroon centers, and mature heights of eight to 10 inches with an equal spread. It blooms from summer to fall.
Summer-flowering portulaca, Portulaca grandiflora, aka moss rose, is a low-profile perennial succulent with bright, rose-like single- or double-petaled flowers in orange, pink, red, white, and yellow hues.
It’s hardy in Zones 10 to 12 and can be grown as an annual in other regions.
Plants thrive in full sun with lean to fertile, gritty soil, and low water. Mature dimensions are up to nine inches tall with a spread of eight to 20 inches, depending on the cultivar.
Double Mix is a blend that provides a rich color palette, including canary, carmine, fuchsia, ivory, and peach flowers. Plants may self-seed in ideal conditions.
Red valerian, Centranthus ruber, aka Jupiter’s beard, is a perennial for Zones 4 to 9 that produces multiple clusters of star-shaped, tubular pink, red, or white summer to fall blossoms favored by hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Some gardeners find the fragrance sweet while others describe it as unpleasant so you may wish to plant it out in a meadow instead of beneath a kitchen window.
The woody stems reach mature heights of 24 to 36 inches with a spread of 12 to 24 inches. Plants prefer full sun, average soil, and medium moisture.
They tolerate drought well and may fail to thrive in humid regions.
Centranthus ruber ‘Coccineus’ has fragrant magenta-red flowers and mature dimensions of 24 to 36 inches tall and wide, making a bold statement when planted with lavender.
Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus syn.Rosmarinus officinalis is an edible perennial subshrub suited to cultivation in Zones 8 to 10, with some cultivars hardy to Zone 6.
Cultural requirements include full sun, average soil, and low to moderate moisture. Mature dimensions are four to six feet tall with a six- to eight-foot spread.
The aromatic, savory, needle-like foliage of rosemary is accented by spikes of tiny blossoms in shades of blue, pink, or white from late winter to late spring and sometimes again in late summer.
Salvia, Salvia spp. is a hardy perennial for Zones 3 to 10 with spikes of tiny blue, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, or white flowers from spring to fall that are very attractive to pollinators.
Cultural requirements include full sun to part shade, sandy loam, and low to moderate moisture.
Mature dimensions are one to five feet tall and two to four feet wide. The spiked form complements that of lavender, and you can increase the visual value by mixing colors.
‘Flare’ boasts bright red blossoms, prefers full sun, and reaches mature dimensions of 18 to 20 inches tall with a spread of 12 to 16 inches, for a compact garden companion.
Sedum, Sedum spp., aka stonecrop, is a genus of succulent annuals, biennials, and perennials with fleshy foliage and typically star-like flowers. There are varieties for Zones 3 to 10.
These summer-to-fall bloomers prefer full sun to part shade, lean, gritty soil, and low to moderate moisture.
Depending on the type, they mature to heights of three to 24 inches with a spread of 24 to 36 inches. From ground covers to upright plants, options suit various garden settings.
The spiky, lavender blue, ball-like flowers of small globe thistle, Echinops ritro, add movement and texture to the garden as they jiggle in the breeze from mid to late summer.
Suited to Zones 3 to 8, they prefer full sun, average to lean soil, and low moisture.
Mature heights are 36 to 48 inches tall with a spread of 24 to 30 inches. With its complementary color and whimsical shape, small globe thistle makes a striking lavender companion.
Yarrow, Achillea spp., is a water-wise semi-evergreen perennial for Zones 3 to 9 with flattened flower heads consisting of masses of tiny pink, red, white, or yellow blossoms.
It flowers in late spring through summer and prefers full sun, lean, loose soil, and low water.
Plants have exceptional heat and drought tolerance. Mature heights are two to four feet with a spread of one to three feet.
The flattened form adds dimension and texture to gardens containing spikes and daisy heads.
With 19 companions for lavender, it’s time to take out the garden planner and decide how to incorporate your favorites into an existing or entirely new design.
Consider features like form, texture, and color to vary your garden scheme. With plants in hand, move them around and decide how to group them before unpotting and planting.
Vary the heights to add depth and repeat a color or species at regular intervals to unify the arrangement.
What companions do you grow with your lavender? Tell us in the comments below.
It seems like as soon as summer hits, everybody starts talking about growing lavender, and for good reason! This herb is beautiful, edible, smells amazing, and has great health properties. What’s not to love!? Here’s what you need to know about growing lavender.
Lavender is a gorgeous ornamental with a dazzling fragrance. Its wonderful, delicate flavour adds depth to many different types of recipes, and it is one of the most popular ingredients in natural beauty recipes and aromatherapy.
All of that, plus it is hardy, drought resistant, beneficial to bees, and deer and rabbits leave it alone.
And it’s by far one of my all-time favourite flowers. The bees love it, I love it!
Lavender can be a bit tricky to grow and keep properly so that it is tidy and healthy, but this essential guide to growing lavender will provide you with a few tips that will help keep your lavender in top shape for years to come and the know-how you need to prune, propagate, and use this versatile garden staple.
Here’s what I’ll be covering today…
Bumblebee visiting some Spanish lavender.
Types of Lavender
While there are many varietals in different sizes, scents, and colours, lavender plants fall into two main categories: English and Spanish.
English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Easily identifiable by its gray-green leaves, long slim purple flower spikes, and breathtaking fragrance, English lavender comes in different shades of purple as well as white and pink varieties.
It is actually native to the Mediterranean but grows well in England’s climate, which is why we know it as “English lavender.” This type of lavender is regularly used as a culinary ingredient (it is one of the herbs in the famous herbs de Provence mixture), aromatherapy, and natural beauty recipes.
English lavender with buds about to bloom.
A few popular varieties of Lavandula angustifolia are:
‘Hidcote’
With its silvery leaves and strongly scented flowers, it’s no wonder that Hidcote is the most popular variety for growing lavender in home gardens.
‘Munstead’
Munstead is also no wallflower in the fragrance department, but the plant stays a bit more neat and tidy with a compact habit. This lavender has the best flavour for cooking with.
‘Thumbelina’
Small-space gardeners will love Thumbelina, a dainty beauty that grows only 12” tall and yet will bloom up to three times a season!
Spanish Lavender
Lavandula stoechas
Spanish lavender can be identified by its slender leaves and plump, pineapple-shaped flower tops which are more pinkish-purple than most English lavender.
Legend has it that Spanish lavender was used by ancient Romans to perfume their baths, but it is not commonly used for aromatherapy today.
Spanish lavender is more often planted as an ornamental and to attract bees. Bees prefer Spanish Lavender to English lavender because its flowers are bigger and more open, which means they are easier to pollinate.
Spanish lavender is more pinkish purple.
How to Care for Your Lavender
Growing lavender is easy once it’s established and in the right location. Here’s what you need to know to keep your lavender plant happy.
Location and Sunlight
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, so it likes cool winters and hot, dry summers reminiscent of its native climate. It needs sandy, well-draining soil and full sun. Lavender is drought-resistant and hardy to zone 7 or 8.
Water
Lavender requires very little water once established. When you first plant your lavender, water regularly.
In its second year, you won’t need to provide any supplemental water. It’s hardy to drought and used to the hot hot heat.
Younger lavender plants will need more supplemental water than older plants.
Pruning Lavender
Pruning is the number one thing you can do to keep your lavender happy. You can always tell an older lavender plant that was never pruned as the base becomes bare and the outer parts leggy.
Proper pruning keeps your plant healthy and neat and promotes growth, branching, and blooming. Lavender blooms on new stems, so pruning early or late in the season will be most beneficial. Start pruning in the second year after planting, and repeat each year after that.
First, follow the 4 Ds of pruning. Then, you can cut back up to one-third of the plant at a time, taking care not to cut into the woody stems. Pruning new growth promotes more new growth, whereas cutting into the woody stems will just cause those stems to die.
If you like the plant to be neat and tidy, then lavender should be pruned three times throughout the season:
Prune once in early spring, just after the new growth appears
Prune again in summer after the first bloom
Prune a third time in the fall after the second round of flowers has finished
You don’t have to prune all three times; you can prune only once or twice a season if you want the plant to grow wilder and leave all of the flowers for the bees. It’s all about personal preference!
Prune once the bees are done with the flowers.
Harvesting Lavender
You can also harvest lavender buds for crafts and recipes. If you time it right, pruning and harvesting can be the same thing, but they can also be very different. The purpose of pruning is to maintain the shape of the plant, and harvesting is the act of removing the flower buds for another use.
Spanish Lavender doesn’t require harvesting.
The key is to harvest lavender BEFORE they open fully. See the picture below for reference, as the one on the left is still in bud form while the others have started to bloom already.
Growing lavender in bulk is easy when you know how to propagate. You can grow a garden full of lavender from just one plant by taking a cutting and rooting it following this technique.
Take a Cutting
Using a sharp knife, cut a straight piece of stem with no flower buds on it. Cuttings should be about three to four inches long. Remove all of the leaves from the bottom two inches of the cutting, and scrape the skin off of the stem on one side of the bottom two inches with your knife.
Cuttings are best taken after the plant has finished flowering.
Plant the Cutting
You can either dip the cutting in rooting hormone first to help encourage root growth, or else just plant it straight into a pot of good, well-draining soil. Lavender roots easily so root hormone is not necessary, but may help.
Poke the cutting two inches deep and pack the soil lightly around it so that it stands up straight on its own. For a mini “greenhouse,” simply cover the cuttings with an upside-down plastic Ziploc bag. Place cuttings in a sunny spot and water when the soil feels dry.
Soon, you can have a whole lavender field of blooms!
How to Use Lavender
After harvesting and, if you wish, preserving your lavender, there are a myriad of uses for it. Lavender can be used fresh or dried in floral arrangements, baking, cooking, and cocktail recipes, aromatherapy, and natural beauty recipes, and is a useful supply to have on hand for many crafts.
Easy dessert alert! These Blueberry Lavender Pastry Pies are so simple and delicious! Puff pastry, fresh blueberries and lavender sugar (instructions included) are the secret to making this beautifully rustic dessert! Serves 4 in about an hour.
After making pigs in a blanket, I had a sheet of leftover puff pastry and once I saw the container of blueberries in my fridge, I devised a plan.
A few days before, I made lavender sugar. At the time I was simply testing it out to see if it would actually work. Every once and again when I would walk by the jar on my counter and shake it. Two days later, I opened it and was greeted with a wonderful floral-y aroma. It was then that I decided to test the lavender sugar in this blueberry pastry recipe. I was still a bit skeptical and of course curious to see if the lavender would come through.
It totally did and was the blueberry and lavender combo was a surprisingly delicious combination. I’m officially a fan.
To Make These Blueberry Lavender Pastry Pies you will need:
puff pastry – Homemade or store-bought is up to you. Tbh I’ve yet to attempt making this at home.
flour – Needed for dusting your work surface.
egg – For brushing on the puff pastry.
blueberries – Adds juicy sweetness with a slightly floral flavor.
lavender sugar – Although regular sugar is fine as well.
lemon juice – Adds brightness and acidity.
cornstarch – Helps thicken the blueberry juices when baking.
Twelve to 24 hours in advance, make the the lavender sugar.
In a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, measure and add 1 cup of sugar and mix with 1-1/2 teaspoons dried lavender buds. Cover and let sit for a day or so, giving it a shake every so often.
Then before you being, make sure to remove your puff pastry from the freezer 20 to 25 minutes before unfolding.
Next, once thawed a bit, sprinkle a little flour onto your clean work surface and roll the dough out to a 12 x 12 square. Then cut into 4 equal-ish squares. I do my best and yet still can’t manage it. 😂
Next, use a pastry brush and brush a little of the beaten egg on the outer edge of each square. Then fold the edge in, to create an edge or crust.
NOTE:
I would also recommend docking the puff pastry center with a fork a few times. I totally for got to and these puffed up pretty well where ever the blueberries weren’t. However, if you want to risk it and see what kind of rustic beauty comes out of this, by all means.
Transfer each puff pastry pie crust to a parchment-lined, rimmed metal baking sheet. Slip this into the freezer for 20 to 25 minute or until the dough re-freezes.
Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425℉ (or 230℃).
Then, in a medium bowl, combine the 6 ounces of blueberries, 3 tablespoons lavender sugar, 2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt and 1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch.
Toss well to combine.
Next, divide the blueberries (and liquids) among the 4 pies and top each one with a 1/4 of the tablespoon of butter.
Then brush the top edge with the egg wash and sprinkle with the coarse sugar. Next, bake the pies on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 14 to 18 minutes or until the crust has puffed and is flakey and golden.
GORGEOUS!
Lastly, allow the pies to cool a smidge. You want them warm but not hot as they may melt your ice cream instantly.
Finally, serve with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream and prepare to fall in love.
I feel like I say that a lot. 😉
Enjoy! And if you give this Blueberry Lavender Pastry Pie recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Yield: 4servings
Blueberry Lavender Pastry Pies
Easy dessert alert! These Blueberry Lavender Pastry Pies are so simple and delicious! Puff pastry, fresh blueberries and lavender sugar (instructions included) are the secret to making this beautifully rustic dessert! Serve with vanilla ice cream.
The day before, make the lavender sugar. (see notes)
Set your puff pastry out 20 to 25 minutes before unfolding and rolling out on a lightly floured surface to a 12×12 square. Then cut into 4 squares.
Brush a little of the beaten egg on the outer edge of each square and fold to create a edge or crust. Use a fork to dock the center of the dough.
Place the four squares onto a parchment lined, rimmed metal baking sheet and freeze fro 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425℉ (or 230℃).
In a medium bowl, combine the blueberries, sugar, lemon, salt and cornstarch, tossing to combine.
Once the pastry is frozen, divide the blueberry mixture among each one and dot with a piece of butter.
Bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and flakey, and the blueberries have burst.
TO MAKE THE LAVENDER SUGAR: In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine 1 cup sugar with 1-1/2 teaspoons of dried lavender. Secure the lid and let it sit for 18 -24 hours at the least, shaking occasionally. If you don’t have time to make the sugar, combine the 3 tablespoons of sugar with a pinch of lavender. Nutrition Disclaimer:All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on SimplyScratch.com should only be used as a general guideline. Nutritional information I s for pastry pie and does NOT include any toppings like ice cream.NOTE:
