Lavender is an ingredient that has many uses in creating
handmade soap and cosmetics. Its essential oil has a fresh,
clean scent which can be used alone as a fragrance, or can
be successfully blended with other oils to create
fragrances for both men and women. Lavender essential oil
is naturally antibacterial and gentle to the skin making it
an excellent additive to cosmetics for children and adults.
Lavender essential oil is one of the few natural essential
oils that is affordable and pleasant smelling. And its
fragrance is one that insects despise.
If you like lavender, you can purchase it in three basic
types.
French lavender (lavandula angustifolia) has the
characteristic fresh, floral fragrance of lavender. Spike
lavender (lavandula latifolia) has an odor similar to that
of camphor. Lavandin (lavandua angustifolia x lavandula
latifolia) is a hybrid between French and Spike lavender
and has a fragrance somewhere in between the two. In
addition to lavender essential oil, some manufacturers also
produce lavender absolute. Lavender essential oil is
produced by steam distillation, whereas lavender absolute
is produced by extracting the essential oil with a solvent.
Lavender absolute is more concentrated than lavender
essential oil, and more expensive.
Using Lavender In Your Soaps and Cosmetics Here are
several ideas for using lavender in home cosmetics:
Insect Repellents: Blend lavender with citronella
essential oil for an effective insect repellent. To help
take the sting out of insect bites, put a drop on the bite
and rub in.
Face Care Products: Add lavender essential oil to
toners, creams and lotions for gentle and natural acne
fighting effects.
Deodorants: Because lavender is naturally
antibacterial, it is an excellent natural odor fighter. Add
several drops of lavender essential oil to arrowroot powder
to make a natural deodorant powder. Dissolve several drops
in alcohol and then add to water to make a spray on
deodorant.
Soaps: Add powdered lavender or lavender essential
oil to your favorite soap recipe to make lavender soaps.
Precautions When Using Lavender In Your Cosmetics:
As with all essential oils, precautions should be taken if
you are pregnant, epileptic, if you have a heart condition,
or if you are in a delicate state of health. If you fall
under one of these categories we recommend that you see a
physician before using lavender, or any other essential oil
in your cosmetics.