# Plant Monograph: Lavandin
**Name of plant:**
Lavandin
**Catch phrase (Carmina Gadelica or traditional invocation if available):**
No specific Carmina Gadelica or traditional Gaelic invocation is recorded for lavandin. As a hybrid of two Mediterranean lavender species, its traditional history is comparatively recent. A suitable modern herbal blessing might be: *“May the clean breath of the lavender clear the heart and quiet the mind.”*
**Family:**
Lamiaceae — Mint family
**Genus and species:**
*Lavandula × intermedia* Emeric ex Loisel.
**Other names:**
Lavandin; bastard lavender; hybrid lavender; Dutch lavender; *Lavandula × intermedia*; lavandin grosso; abrial lavender. Common cultivars include ‘Grosso’, ‘Super’, and ‘Abrial’.
**Brief introduction:**
Lavandin is a natural hybrid between English lavender (*Lavandula angustifolia*) and spike lavender (*Lavandula latifolia*). It resembles English lavender but is generally larger, more vigorous, and produces considerably more essential oil. Commercial lavandin is cultivated extensively for essential oil used in perfumery, soaps, cosmetics, household products, and aromatherapy. Its scent is typically more camphoraceous and sharper than that of true English lavender.
**Traditional uses:**
* Used as an aromatic herb in bathing and personal cleansing.
* Dried flowering stems were traditionally used to scent clothing, linens, rooms, and household spaces.
* Used in aromatic preparations for relaxation and nervous tension.
* Used externally in traditional preparations for minor skin complaints.
* Used as an insect-repellent aromatic, particularly in sachets and stored clothing.
**Historical use:**
* Lavandin developed as a cultivated hybrid after the introduction and widespread cultivation of lavender species in Europe.
* Its high essential-oil yield made it particularly valuable to the French perfume industry.
* Large-scale cultivation became especially important in Provence and other Mediterranean lavender-growing regions.
* Lavandin was incorporated into soaps, perfumes, household cleaners, and cosmetic products.
* The hybrid became commercially important partly because it combines the hardiness and oil production of its parent species.
**Parts used and method of use:**
* Flowering tops — the principal aromatic material.
* Essential oil — distilled from the flowering aerial portions.
Used as:
* Essential oil in aromatherapy and perfumery.
* Dried flowering stems in sachets and household preparations.
* Diluted topical oil in massage and cosmetic preparations.
* Infusion or aromatic bath, although lavandin is less commonly used internally than true lavender.
**Use in healing (modern herbal practice):**
* Used aromatically for relaxation and reduction of perceived nervous tension.
* Used as a fragrant component of massage and bathing preparations.
* Used traditionally for tension-associated headache and muscular discomfort.
* Used externally in cosmetic and household preparations for its antimicrobial and deodorizing properties.
* Used in aromatherapy as an alternative to *Lavandula angustifolia*, although clinical research specifically on lavandin is considerably less extensive.
**Pharmacology and biochemistry:**
* **Linalool** — a major monoterpene alcohol also prominent in true lavender.
* **Linalyl acetate** — an important ester contributing to lavender-like fragrance.
* **1,8-Cineole and camphor** — generally present at higher proportions than in *L. angustifolia*, contributing to lavandin's sharper, more camphoraceous aroma.
Mechanisms:
* Volatile constituents such as linalool may influence neuronal signaling and contribute to relaxation and calming effects.
* Cineole, camphor, and related monoterpenes demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory models.
* Essential-oil constituents can interact with sensory and neuronal pathways involved in pain perception and muscle relaxation, although clinical effects depend strongly on concentration and route of administration.
Overall profile: Lavandin is principally a **high-yield aromatic essential-oil plant**. Its pharmacological profile overlaps with lavender but generally contains greater amounts of cineole and camphor. It is better established as an aromatic, cosmetic, perfumery, and household plant than as an internally administered medicinal herb.
**Common dosage:**
* Dried flowering herb infusion: **1–2 g per cup of hot water**, occasionally used as an aromatic tea.
* Aromatic bath: **approximately 2–5 g dried flowering material** steeped in hot water and added to the bath.
* Topical essential oil: **approximately 1–2% dilution** in a suitable carrier oil for ordinary topical use.
* Aromatherapy: **1–3 drops** in a diffuser or other appropriate aromatic device, following the device manufacturer's directions.
**Safety factors (including side effects):**
* Lavandin essential oil is considerably more concentrated than the dried herb and should not be treated as equivalent to lavender tea.
* Undiluted essential oil may cause skin irritation, sensitization, or chemical irritation of mucous membranes.
* Ingestion of concentrated essential oil can cause poisoning and should be avoided unless specifically directed by a qualified professional using a pharmaceutical-grade preparation.
* Individuals sensitive to lavender or other Lamiaceae plants may develop allergic contact dermatitis.
* Because lavandin commonly contains more camphor and 1,8-cineole than *L. angustifolia*, excessive exposure to concentrated oil should be avoided, particularly in children.
**First aid / adverse reaction response:**
* Skin irritation: discontinue use and wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water.
* Eye exposure: rinse immediately and continuously with clean lukewarm water; seek medical attention if irritation persists.
* Accidental ingestion of concentrated essential oil: do **not** induce vomiting; contact a poison-control centre promptly.
* Severe allergic reaction, breathing difficulty, marked drowsiness, seizure, or loss of consciousness: seek emergency medical attention immediately.
**Drug interactions:**
* Theoretically may add to the sedative effects of alcohol, sleeping medicines, sedatives, or other central-nervous-system depressants.
* Concentrated essential oils may have pharmacological effects not present at ordinary culinary or aromatic exposure levels.
* Potential interactions with medicines metabolized by hepatic enzymes remain theoretically possible, although clinically important interactions involving ordinary topical use are not well established.
* People taking multiple prescription medicines should consult a pharmacist or physician before using concentrated lavandin preparations medicinally.
**Horticultural requirements:**
* USDA / Canadian zone: **USDA approximately 5–9**, depending upon cultivar and winter conditions.
* Soil pH: **approximately 6.5–8.0**, preferably neutral to mildly alkaline.
* Light requirements: **Full sun**
* Moisture: **Dry to moderately dry; excellent drainage is essential**
* Other notes (growth habit, harvest timing, etc.):
* Growth habit: Larger and more vigorous than English lavender, commonly forming broad woody clumps approximately 60–90 cm tall and wide, sometimes larger.
* Flowering/fruiting: Long stems carry purple to violet flower spikes, generally flowering in summer.
* Harvest timing: Flowering stems are harvested when the flowers are sufficiently developed for the desired fragrance and essential-oil yield, commonly near the beginning of full flowering.
* Habitat: A cultivated hybrid originating from Mediterranean lavender-growing regions; commonly grown in France, Spain, Italy, and other temperate regions.
* Propagation/cultivation notes: Usually propagated by cuttings because many commercial cultivars do not reproduce reliably from seed. Requires excellent drainage and full sun. Avoid wet winter soils, which are a major cause of failure in cold climates.
**Sampling of clinical reports / studies:**
* Clinical research on lavender aromatherapy and standardized lavender preparations provides indirect evidence for possible calming and anxiolytic effects, but these findings should not automatically be attributed to lavandin.
* Pharmacological studies of lavandin essential oil demonstrate antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroactive properties in laboratory models.
* Chemical analyses demonstrate considerable variation among lavandin cultivars, with **linalool, linalyl acetate, camphor, and 1,8-cineole** among the characteristic constituents.
* The extensive commercial and ethnobotanical history of lavandin concerns primarily fragrance, perfumery, bathing, household use, and aromatherapy rather than traditional internal medicine.
* **Overall assessment of evidence:** Lavandin has a well-established aromatic and commercial history and substantial experimental pharmacology, but comparatively little clinical research specifically examines *Lavandula × intermedia*. Evidence for medicinal applications is therefore best extrapolated cautiously from research on lavender and from laboratory studies of lavandin oil.
Educational Use Only: The information presented on this page is provided for educational, historical, and informational purposes only. ArdNemeton na Tuatha and Bhùth Draoi do not provide medical advice. Always consult your physician and pharmacist before using any herb, mushroom, supplement, or botanical product for medicinal purposes. Traditional uses described herein do not constitute medical claims.