Distilled Lavender Essential Oil

Where on the plant is Lavender Oil found?

     Lavender Essential Oil is produced and found in small microscopic oil glands on the calyx (outside ring of flower petals), corolla (inside ring of flower petals), and leaves, but you will also find it contained in lower quantities on the flower stalks and branches.

     When distilling Lavender the first 'run' through the still produces the clearest and best quality Lavender essential oil. The second distillation 'run' produces oil which is pale amber in tint and has a stronger odor although not as pleasant as the first. This is true for distilling all the different types and species of Lavender.

How is the best quality distilled oil produced?

     When the best or highest quality of essential oil is desired the distillers use only the fresh flowers and not any other parts of the Lavender plant in the steam distillation process.

     The quality of the distilled oil also depends a great deal on the plant growing conditions. Was the Lavender plants growing season sunny and hot or was it cold and damp with a lot of cloud cover?  This directly affects the quality of the finished essential oil produced. Learn more about Lavenders optimal growing conditions.

     Anyone farming has good growing seasons and bad with varying levels of yearly production and occasional bumper crops of Lavender.