Lavender and lavandin are plants of medium altitude, which today cover the soils of Provence. The lavender aspic (Lavandula spica latifolia) and true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) also called fine or officinal lavender, are the original plants which later gave birth to lavandin thanks to pollinating insects.
It is a sterile hybrid that has been developed in lavender culture since the 1930s, when man intervened to select hybrids and clone them. The main hybrids today are the abrial, grosso and super lavandins, whose flowers produce an essential oil that is less subtle and therefore a little less renowned than that of fine lavender, but which surpasses that of Spike lavender in many areas.
These three lavender essential oils look like sisters, but have some important differences. Thanks to this article, we help you to find your way!
Lavender, lavandin abrial, grosso or super, which one to choose ?
For the uninitiated of lavender or lavandin plans, it is the same thing. However, there are some differences. First, the altitude. Spike lavender grows at the lowest and true lavender at the highest, and in the middle we find their "daughters", the lavandins. The most striking difference is in the flowers which grow with only one flower per sprig for true lavender, while on the lavandin, the sprig divides into three to offer three flowers, as on la lavande aspic.
More robust thanks to hybridization and selection, the cultivation of lavandin has spread significantly, as it also allows a much higher yield than that of true lavender. La fine lavender, more expensive and still very popular in perfumery, continues to be appreciated by growers.
Lavandin species also differ from each other, with a super lavandin offering a sparse bush and light purple flowers, versus a grosso lavandin that is denser but has dark purple flowers.
Today, it is the most represented of the lavandins with 80% of the cultivation surface, and 10% each for the super and abrial. Their fragrance also makes it possible to distinguish them: the fine lavender spreads a fine and characteristic odor, whereas the lavandins super, grosso and abrial, as well as la lavande aspicIn this order, the notes become more and more camphorated.
In terms of of composition, the lavandins super, grosso and abrial are close to true lavender, containing mostly linalool (30-45%) and linalyl acetate (15-47%), but like their second relative, spike lavender, they are essential oils containing significant amounts of camphor (borneone) that can go up to 16%.
However, camphor is generally more discreet in lavandin, allowing for easier use. Indeed, le lavandin super can contain up to 6%, lavandin grosso up to 10% and lavandin abrial up to 12%.
Another important difference, less rich in linalyl acetate than its two sisters, the essential oil of lavandin abrial contains approximately 2 times more 1,8 cineole (eucalyptol). For the rest of the molecules, lavandin super and abrial, like lavender, contain small quantities of lavandulyl acetate (1 to 2%). This molecule is on the other hand non-existent or almost non-existent in lavandin grosso.
What are the properties of essential oils of lavandin? Is it really effective?
Les super lavandinsand abrial are in some way intermediate between the true lavender et aspic. More powerful than that of lavender officinale for sports recovery because of a higher concentration of camphor, but better tolerated than that of lavender aspic for the opposite reasons, the essential oils of lavandin are recognized in particular for their antispasmodic, calming, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, healing, antiseptic properties... These essences thus find their interest to fight the various evils detailed below.
Essential oil of lavandin against the pains
Les essential oils of lavender are known to alleviate spasmodic pain in general, including muscle pain, such as cramps, contractures, particularly through their antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and calming analgesic properties, due to the presence of camphor.
These essential oils, particularly that of lavandin abrial thanks to its richness in camphor, are advised for the sportsmen, during intense efforts or to recover better and chain the sessions. Finally, they are effective to fight the headaches and the migraines.
EO against stress and sleep disorders
In parallel, the essential oils of great lavandins, grosso and abrial are renowned for their ability to regulate stress and sleep.
Their popular fragrance, especially that of super lavandin, associated with their calming and sedative properties, make them the active ingredients of choice for diffusion or inhalation to calm stress, anxiety and find sleep more easily.
Lavandin essential oil for skin and scalp care
Like lavender, the essences of lavender are very effective in restoring a fresh complexion and healthy skin. Indeed, the epidermis, especially on the face, is subject to many hazards of life and climate, especially during adolescence with acne, or during winter with the cold.
Irritated, chapped, damaged, injured, burned (sunburn...), diseased (infectious dermatitis such as mycosis, impetigo, scabies, wart, herpes) skin is soothed and repaired by lavender essential oils which, via its faculties, will support the epidermis in its reconstruction while purifying it and repelling new attacks.
Finally, lavender essential oils are anti-parasitic and are recommended to treat lice.
Essential oil of lavandin, what are the precautions to take?
Aswe have said, lavandin essential oils are less mild than those of True lavender and therefore require a little more care in their use. The oils of lavandin super, grosso and abrial are similar in their composition and their effects, and are therefore interchangeable, provided that you are aware that the oil of lavandin super is the least rich in camphor, and that the oil of lavandin abrial contains the most.
Consequently, this last one is the one which will be more effective to relieve muscular pains, but which requires more precautions, because of the epileptogenic and neurotoxic risks related to camphor. The essential oils of lavender can be consumed without distinction by oral way, cutaneous, in diffusion and inhalation as from 3 years, except in the pregnant and nursing women.
Be careful however if you are in possession of an essence containing more than 8 % of camphor, it is not adapted to the children of less than 8 years. This case of figure meets regularly with the essential oils of lavandin abrial. For the children between 3 and 6 years, only the cutaneous application is adapted after a dilution with 20 % in a vegetable oil.
This dilution is also recommended for any cutaneous application in adults and teenagers to avoid irritations. In some cases, however, an essential oil of lavandin can be applied pure. On the other hand, taking it orally requires a total respect of the dose, because an excess of lavandin can lead to amazing effects.
Finally, these three lavandin essences present an equivalent allergic risk with the presence of more than 30% of linalool, a molecule classified as an allergen. They also contain very small quantities of limonene, geraniol and coumarin, molecules known to present an allergy risk. In any case, it is advised to carry out a test in the hollow of the elbow before any regular use.
Some recipes withessential oil of Lavandin ?
Discover some recipes that are perfectly adapted to the type of lavandin chosen, because although interchangeable, their quantity of camphor varies and therefore gives each one its own effectiveness or interest depending on the application or the target audience.
How to relieve a cramp with Abrial lavender ?
A muscle cramp is due to an involuntary and violent uncontrolled contraction of the muscles. Very often located in the calves, or even the thighs, cramp is the sworn enemy of high-level athletes or high-intensity practitioners. Extremely painful, it is not serious, but disabling.
If warming up and intense hydration are parameters to be mastered to avoid cramp, it is sometimes difficult to escape it. In this case, massage the aching muscle up to 3 times a day with the equivalent of a tablespoon of the following synergy: in a suitable bottle, place 30 drops of essential oil of lavandin abrial, 20 drops of essential oil of basil, the same amount of rosemary camphor and finally 10 drops of essence of wintergreen. Dilute the whole in 40 ml of oily macerate of St. John's wort or arnica.
How to relax your neck with a massage of lavandin grosso?
You have a very intense and stressful lifestyle? To evacuate at best the tensions which tend to be lodged in the nape of the neck, we propose to you to make 30 ml of the following synergy:
- 28 ml sweet almond vegetable oil,
- to which you add 17 drops of lavandin grosso,
- 31 drops of essential oil of rosemary with camphor,
- 10 drops of lemon eucalyptus,
- 2 drops of lemon bedew,
- and finally 5 drops of essential oil of cryptomeria.
- Gently massage the back of the neck with a teaspoon of this preparation up to 3 times a day.
How to fight lice with lavandin super ?
To prevent the appearance of lice or to eliminate them, place a pure drop ofessential oil of lavandin super on several points of the scalp. Repeat daily until it disappears, not exceeding 3 weeks. For the youngest, between 3 and 6 years, dilute it at 20% incoconut oil or in a vegetable oil of your choice.
Si essential oils of lavandin can be exchanged, the great sportsmen will direct themselves more readily towards that of lavandin abrial, more active for the recovery and the muscular care thanks to the power of the camphor. On the other hand, for young children, lavandin super is to be preferred, in particular to treat lice.