-
About
-
Uses
-
Energetic & Personality
-
Chemical Composition
-
Why Sacred Soul
-
A Message From The Founders
-
Dilution
-
FAQs
-
Sources
-
Key Information
True Lavender: The Mother Of Essential Oils
Lavandula angustifolia (also known as True Lavender), is part of the Lamiaceae1 (also known as Labiatae but most people use the name Lamiaceae) family of aromatic flowering plants. This is the mint family and includes basil, mints, rosemary, sage, marjoram, oregano, hyssop and thyme in addition to lavender.
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean but now cultivated all around the world including France, Bulgaria, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Argentina, Hungary, Morocco, Italy, Algeria, India, China, Russia and more.
Lavender essential oil is one of the most commonly used oils in aromatherapy and regarded by some as the 'mother' of essential oils. This is due to its gentle nature and wide spanning therapeutic properties and the fact it can be used to support a multitude of physical and emotional issues.
The Difference Between French, Bulgarian & New Zealand Lavender Essential Oil
Most of the world’s lavender supply comes from France. French lavender oil tends to have the strong ‘lavender’ smell which is still somewhat sweet, but very herbal with some bitterness in the beginning.
However, New Zealand lavender oil is much sweeter and smoother (in our opinion). In general, it’s sweet, soft and velvety and instantly pleasant and calming, without the harsh herbal smell typical of French lavender that unfortunately puts some people off.
This particular lavender from New Zealand is one of the rare low allergen lavenders. It has the lowest level of Linalool of pretty much any 100% pure unadulterated lavender essential oil, as well as being low in the other EU allergens Limonene and Coumarin. There is also no Geraniol and low levels of the less desirable Camphor.
So what does this all mean?
It means that this lavender oil is extremely gentle and perfect for sensitive and delicate skin types. It does however, still contain high levels of the desirable Linalyl Acetate and Octanone to support healthy skin and help calm your mind so you relax, unwind and de-stress.
We actually like both countries’ lavender, the French and the New Zealand varieties. At the end of the day it depends on why you are buying lavender oil as to which one will be the better choice.
If you are looking at specific therapeutic uses from higher Linalool, then the French lavender is likely the one you need. The Bulgarian lavender oil is similar to the French but tends to be a gentler and carry a slightly lower Linalool content and a softer, sweeter aroma.
If you are looking for a dreamy soft lavender oil for general use or to help you relax and unwind before bed, then we like the delicate, long lasting, deep, sweet, herby, soft aroma of the New Zealand lavender oil better, and we think you will too.
Reasons To Use Lavender Essential Oil
| Use Lavender Oil To: | How To Use |
|
*Note: Higher doses of use have a stimulating effect whereas lower doses provide the calming effects |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emotional And Energetic Properties Of Lavender Essential Oil
A cooling oil that supports and soothes Qi of the heart and brings together higher and lower chakras to be in harmony with one another.
Worwood states in The Fragrant Mind that Lavender’s personality is floral and herbie and the perfect balance of masculine and feminine (perhaps due to the bisexual nature of the plant). Whether male or female, Lavender personalities are gentle and kind hearted people.
Lavender personalities are always there to listen when needed and the first to offer their help to others. They love the earth, plants, trees and all living things and this will often be reflected in their home.
A negative lavender personality will bottle up their troubles, thinking they need to be the one to care for everyone and not receive care themselves. As such, they will be all wound up and overstretch themselves. They may have trouble sleeping or suffer from aching muscles, headaches and pain.
Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of lavender oil can vary significantly. It’s also rife with adulteration. The main constituents are linalyl acetate and linalool and it is said that these two constituents together, shouldn’t make up more than about 80% in authentic, pure lavender.
Below is a typical chemical constituent ratio that you can expect in high quality lavender oil. Remember that this Sacred Soul New Zealand lavender oil is a super low allergen variety meaning the linalool content is much lower than other lavenders. Perfect for sensitive skin types.
| Constituent | Bulgarian Lavender | French Lavender | New Zealand Lavender |
|
α-terpineol |
<1.5% |
<1.5% |
|
|
3-octanone |
1-2.5% |
1.5-2.5% |
|
|
3-octanyl acetate |
0.5-1.5% |
||
|
(Z)-β-ocimene |
3-9% |
<2.5% |
|
|
(E)-β-ocimene |
2-5% |
<2% |
|
|
borneol |
0.5-1.5% |
||
|
linalool |
22-34% |
30-45% |
10-16% |
|
limonene |
0.15-0.35% |
||
|
linalyl acetate |
30-42% |
33-46% |
44-51% |
|
β-caryophyllene |
3.5-4.5% |
1-2% |
|
|
terpinen-4-ol |
2-5% |
<1.5% |
|
|
lavendulyl acetate |
2-5% |
<1.3% |
2-3.5% |
Our Commitment To Quality
Every batch of lavender oil we receive is tested for purity and quality. Each batch of essential oil can differ, even from the same producer. Because essential oil is extracted from plants, it can be affected by many factors such as the weather, the seasons, and human error... a bit like fine wine.
This is why we carry out batch testing even if the batch is from the same supplier so we can guarantee consistent quality.
The farms we’ve chosen to work with consistently provide incredibly pure, high quality oils. We regularly review our producers with a stringent set of quality guidelines that we’ve developed in partnership with our industry experts and their 20+ years in the industry.
“Even an oil which is quite truthfully described as pure may be of poor quality, and therefore of less value therapeutically. IF AN ESSENTIAL OIL COSTS MUCH LESS THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT TO PAY FOR IT, the oil may well be a third or fourth distillate from a batch of plant material which has already yielded the greater part of its properties to the first or second distillation.”
About The Cultivation
Our mission is to provide you with the purest essential oils that contain the therapeutic properties you need to support yours and your family’s health.
Sometimes this means the oil is certified organic but acquiring an organic certification can be quite costly to farmers, which means many choose not to obtain it. Oils derived from plants that are organically grown or wildcrafted are still free from man-made chemicals despite not being certified. This means the oils can be of equal or better quality than comparable certified organic products and often at a lower price.
We also try our best to source single origin essential oils wherever possible.
How We Package Our Lavender Oil
Our lavender oil is fresh off the still and comes in a 10ML blue glass bottle and is sealed to protect the precious oil within. The bottle also comes with an orifice reducer built in so you can dispense the oil one drop at a time.
During the shipping process, special canisters prolong and protect the quality of the oil from light and temperature during transit from around the globe and we ensure a quick turnaround time from producer to bottle, with minimal shelf time to maintain quality and purity.
We typically recommend storing your oil at or below room temperature in a cool dark place.
The Tests We Run On Our Oils To Ensure Quality
All of our oil is constantly tested for purity. The testing provides us with key data about what constituent compounds are in the oils and at what volumes.
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Gas Chromatography (GC) describes the analytical separation technique used to analyze volatile substances in the gas phase. In GC, the components of a sample are dissolved in a solvent and vaporized in order to separate the analytes by distributing the sample between two phases: a stationary phase and a mobile phase. GC provides us key data about what compounds are in oils and how much of each component is present.
Mass Spectrometry (MS)
Mass Spectrometry (MS) is an analytical chemistry technique that identifies the amount and type of individual molecules present in a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio. A mass spectrometer has three essential functions: Ion source, Mass analyzer and the Detector. The Ion source is where the sample is ionized. Once the sample is ionized, the mass analyzer sorts and separates the ions according to the mass and charge. Once the ions are separated and sorted then the separation is measured in the detector where a results chart is displayed.
A personal message from our founders
When I first connected with the producer that supplies our pure lavender oil, I had overwhelming confidence that they would deliver pure, unadulterated, sweet smelling lavender. We were stood in fields of gently swaying purple flowers as they passionately explained to me how they cultivate their unique low allergen lavender oil.
I learned that he personally oversaw every batch of lavender harvested on his farm. Each batch goes through a strenuous quality assurance process to ensure that only the pure oil is produced with nothing added or removed.
I hope your first smell of our oil makes your mind take you walking onto that lavender farm in New Zealand. I hope the herby, sweet aroma transports you in some way to the very real spot where the oil originated.
Ultimately we believe that an oil, like the business that stands behind it, should be ethical and be exactly what it says on the tin. That’s why we only use the highest quality lavender, with the highest quality extraction methods, and shipped with the highest quality packaging.
It’s also why you won’t see us throwing around buzzwords that don’t mean anything, like “therapeutic grade” or “clinical grade.” When we describe our oils, we mean what we say.
We believe that the more you know about essential oils in general, the more likely you’ll want to become a part of the Sacred Soul community.
If for any reason you’re unsatisfied with our oil, I want to personally invite you to email me and let me know. I’ll be happy to refund your money within the first 90 days of your purchase.
I’m betting my business on the fact that you’ll be blown away by the quality and aroma of our organic lavender oil.
Either way, thanks for stopping by our site and checking us out. We hope every interaction you have with us, in person, or online is positive and memorable. Feel free to drop us a note on our contact page if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback for us.
Sincerely,
Dilution Guide
IMPORTANT:
This guide is a general overview for oils that don't have a more restricted dermal recommendation and are considered safe for topical use with adults age 16+. It also doesn't account for any specific medical issues, medication or skin conditions. You should check with a medical professional or aromatherapist before use. Below are not recommended dosages. Never apply undiluted to the skin.
ALWAYS check the max dermal use for the individual oil/s or blend you plan to use. You should also consider your medical and skin conditions and take the advice of a qualified professional. Serious negative effects such as skin sensitization, irritation, burns and other issues could occur from misusing essential oils and products containing essential oils.
Patch test: For first time use, place a drop of diluted essential oil on a small area of skin such as the inside elbow. After application, be aware of adverse reactions for the first 24-48 hours.
General Use
See below for approximate dilution ratios and usage guidelines. These are NOT recommended dosages and you should always consult with a medical professional or qualified aromatherapist before use.
Always start with a low dilution.
- 0.5% - 1% = facial, long term daily use or full body application
- 2% = generally good for regular use
- 3% = for specific localised concerns
- 5% = short term specific concerns (max 2 weeks)
- 10% = acute specific concerns
When measuring in 'drops', just be aware that the only way for true accuracy is to measure your drops using a digital scale because different oils can amount to a slightly different number of drops per ml. The orifice reducer in the bottle is also not a standard size so could differ between brands, which could affect the size of ‘a drop’ and therefore your dilution %. This table is intended as an approximate guide only.
*30ml is 1 ounce
| Dilution % | 5ml (1tsp carrier oil) | 10ml (2tsp carrier oil) | 15ml (3tsp carrier oil) | 30ml (6 tsp carrier oil) |
|
0.5% |
<1 drop |
1 drop |
2 drops |
4 drops |
|
1% |
1 drop |
3 drops |
4 drops |
9 drops |
|
2% |
3 drops |
6 drops |
9 drops |
18 drops |
|
3% |
4 drops |
9 drops |
13 drops |
27 drops |
|
5% |
7 drops |
15 drops |
22 drops |
45 drops |
|
10% |
14 drops |
30 drops |
44 drops |
90 drops |
Can it be used internally and/or is it food grade?
As a brand, we have taken the position that essential oils are for external use only and should not be taken internally. We therefore will never state that any essential oil is food grade as this indicates that it is fit for human consumption.
Can it be used in a diffuser/oil burner?
Yes it can! :)
Can you use direct on the skin?
No we never recommend that any essential oil is used direct on the skin. Always dilute with a carrier, even when using in the bath.
Is it antibacterial (or any other medicinal property)?
Due to legal restrictions, we are not allowed to make any medicinal claims about essential oils and their properties, even if there is scientific evidence that supports the claim.
Is it certified organic?
In the additional details section on the product page, you will see the cultivation listed in the attributes. It will state ‘certified organic’ and the program under which certification was obtained if the oil is certified organic.
Sometimes an oil will be derived from plants that have been organically grown but the producer doesn’t have organic certification (organic certification comes with a price that many producers choose not to obtain). This doesn’t mean the oil is of a lower quality and in fact the opposite can be true. The cultivation will state ‘organically grown’ if this is the case.
Wild-crafted/wild-harvested means that the plants have been harvested from the wild rather than a plantation.
Is it therapeutic grade?
Therapeutic grade is a term created to assist with marketing. There isn’t an official industry standard for therapeutic grade so we refuse to use this term.
Does it deter moths?
We can’t confirm this, but many people do claim to use it to deter moths.
Can it be used for massage?
Yes it can but always diluted with a carrier.
Can it be used to make candles?
Yes it can! :)
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamiaceae
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29705457
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29458940
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25192562
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27229681
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29458934
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00023210-200620040-00001
- Tisserand and Young (2014) Essential Oil Safety Second Edition
- Shirley and Len Price (2012) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals Fourth Edition
- Kurt Schnaubelt (1998) Advanced Aromatherapy
- Salvatore Battaglia (2003) The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy Second Edition
- Valerie Ann Worwood (1997) The Fragrant Mind
|
Brand |
Sacred Soul Holistics |
|
Size |
10ml |
|
Botanical Name |
Lavandula angustifolia |
|
Plant Family |
Lamiaceae |
|
Plant Part |
Flowers |
|
Country Of Origin |
New Zealand |
|
Extraction Method |
Steam Distilled |
|
Cultivation |
Organically Grown, Single Origin |
|
Aroma |
Floral, Fresh, Herbaceous, Slightly Sweet, Soft, Warm |
|
Notes |
Middle-Top |
|
Consistency |
Thin |
|
Colour |
Clear to pale yellow |
|
Chemical Family |
Esters, Monoterpenols |
|
Approx Shelf Life |
6 years |
|
Energy |
One of the most popular oils to use in times of stress and can also act as a sedative to help with mental and emotional unrest. This calming oil is often used before bed to aid sleep. Lavender is also uplifting and good to boost the spirit if you are feeling down or drained. This cooling oil also supports Qi of the heart. Also good to use with meditation. |
|
Chakras |
2nd – Sacral, 6th – Third Eye, 7th – Crown |
|
Mind & Emotions |
Calming & Relaxing, Grounding & Balancing |
|
Blends With |
Citrus and herbaceous top notes such as mandarin, melissa, angelica seed, dill and lemongrass. Floral and herbaceous notes such as chamomiles, clary sage, rose, geranium, rosemary, basil, thyme, carrot seed, and jasmine. Woody and resinous base notes such as patchouli, sandalwood, cedarwood, myrrh, benzoin and galbanum. Other oils it blends well with are: bergamot, black pepper, blue cypress, cypress, elemi, eucalyptus, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, immortelle, juniper berry, lemon, manuka, marjoram sweet, myrtle, niaouli, orange sweet, oregano, palmarosa, petitgrain, pine, plai, ravensara, ravintsara, spearmint, spikenard, spruce, tangerine, tea tree, valerian, vetiver, yarrow |
|
GC/MS Testing |
Batch No: AH/01/2018, Comments from the lab: This New Zealand lavender oil meets specification. |
|
Disclaimer |
The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by medical practitioners. Neither Sacred Soul Holistics nor its products are intended for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products. |
|
Safety |
General: Specific: |
|
Application |
Bath, Compress, Diffuse, Inhale, Massage, Topical |
|
Dilution Guide |
Dilution rates of essential oils are generally at a rate of 1%, 2% or 3% ratio of essential oil to carrier. For facial use it's usually max 0.5%. Some essential oils are even less than this or not to be used topically at all so check the safety of the individual oil before use. |