The Lavender

About
Lavandula or, more commonly, lavender is a bush that can grow up to about 1.2.m in height and 1m in diameter. They thrive in warmer climate even though there are some verities that like colder weather. Lavender likes dry and sheltered spaces. It blooms throughout the summer and the seed ripens from August till October.
The name ''Lavender'' originates from the Roman Empire, probably from the word ‘’lavare’’ which means to wash or to rinse. Even though it originates from Asia the lavender as we know it today came to be by adapting to new places and growing conditions around the Mediteranium. Today we know about 47 varieties of lavender. Because it has lots of positive effects on human health and wellbeing lavender earned a beautiful nickname – the mother plant.

Lavandin
Lavandin is a natural hybrid (lavandula hybrida Reverchon) of Lavandula angustifolia Mill and Lavandula latifolia Medic. Croatian native varieties ‘’Budrovka’’ and ‘’Bijelika’’ are considered to be Lavandins. Oil of lavandins is not as good as the oil of the Real Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill) because it contains less ester (from 7 up to 16%). The blooming shrub looks like it's hanging so it seems bigger and takes up more space.

The Real Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia Mill, gives the best quality oil that has medical and therapeutic characteristics that we tend to tie to lavender. The most famous verity of the real lavender is the Provençal or French lavender but it also grows on Sicily and other places on the Mediteranium that has like environment. It’s known for a specific scent that is often described as ‘’gentle and sweet’’.

Source: http://www.m.suncanihvar.com/blog/lavender-hvar-blog-post.html

History
Lavender is in use for over 2000 years now. Egyptians used it for beauty purposes, mummification or as an aphrodisiac. Ancient Greeks used it for medical purposes and ancient Romans used it in caring for wounded soldiers, as same as other Europeans in WWI and WWII.

Modern day use
Today we use lavender essential oil, lavender tea, hydrolysate and other lavender remedies for calming, better sleep, skin irritations and other. It is used as a spice as well and for other household purposes.

A Croatian brand I love and use that makes their own lavender products: https://sapunoteka.com/

Fun facts
There is a legend on how lavender came to be. The story goes like this: once upon a time there lived a girl so beautiful she was breathtaking. Many men wanted her to love them. Two of those men were violent monsters. They decided to take her without her consent. One day they started to follow her. Scared for her life, she ran up the hills. The men went after her, caught her and pushed her on the ground. The girl started fighting and crying. And then, where ever her tears dropped a plant started growing. Eventually, the bush around her grew so big that it protected her from the violent men. To this day there is the belief that if a girl carries a bouquet of lavender with her she will be safe from violent men.