Lavender oil is anessential oil obtained bydistillation from the flower spikes of certain species oflavender. It is commonly used inaromatherapy,perfumery, and as aflavoring orfragrance inconsumer products. A standardized oral preparation known asSilexan is also used for the treatment ofanxiety disorders.[1]
There are over 400 types of lavender worldwide with different scents and qualities. Two forms of lavender oil are distinguished,lavender flower oil, a colorless oil, insoluble in water, having a density of 0.885 g/mL; andlavender spike oil, a distillate from the herbLavandula latifolia, having a density of 0.905 g/mL. Like all essential oils, it is not a purecompound; it is a complex mixture ofphytochemicals, includinglinalool andlinalyl acetate.
Lavender oil has been used in perfumes,aromatherapy,massage therapy, and topical skin applications, though these uses lack strongclinical evidence of effectiveness. It may cause allergic reactions in massage therapy. Silexan is approved inGermany foranxiety-related restlessness and has shown some clinical effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms, though its overall efficacy remains debated. Althoughgenerally recognized as safe, lavender oil may act as anendocrine disruptor, is toxic if ingested, especially for children, and can causepoisoning symptoms,skin irritation, anddrug interactions.
Historically, spike lavender oil was used as asolvent inoil painting beforeturpentine became common. Lavender oil is primarily produced throughsteam distillation of harvested lavender blooms—typically between lateJune andAugust—with leading global producers includingBulgaria,France, andChina. Lavender oil is among the most commonlyadulterated essential oils.
Pure lavender essential oil is produced through steam distillation.[2][3] This generates a greater amount of oil compared to other methods due to reduction of polar compound loss.[4] Harvest of lavender blooms is typically between late June and August.[5] The cut lavender flowers and stems are compacted into a lavender still. A boiler is then used to steam the bottom of the lavender flower filled still at a very low pressure.[2] The lavender flower pockets containing oil are broken from this heating process and a pipe of cold water is run through the center of the still.[2] The hot lavender oil vapor condenses on the cold pipe with the cold water and is collected into a holding tank where it is allowed to settle.[2] Due to polarity and densities of the water and oil, these two will separate in the holding tank whereupon the water is piped out, leaving just lavender essential oil.[6]
Lavender oil is produced around the world, with Bulgaria, France and China leading its production.[7][8]
Lavender oil has been used as aperfume,aromatherapy, andskin application,[9]: 184–186 but these uses have no clinical benefit.[10] Lavender oil is used inmassage therapy as a way of inducing relaxation through direct skin contact, althoughallergic reactions may occur.[10] There is no good evidence to support the use of lavender oil aromatherapy for treatingdementia.[11]
InGermany, Silexan is approved as amedicine for restlessness associated withanxiety.[12][13] A 2024 review found that an oral 80 mg dose of lavender oil per day reduced symptoms in people with anxiety disorders compared to placebo.[1] The effectiveness of using oral lavender oil for treating anxiety remains undetermined.[10] Lavender oil may be useful for treatingdepression.[14]
Oil of spike lavender was used as asolvent inoil painting, mainly before the use of distilledturpentine became common.[15]
Although lavender oil isgenerally recognized as safe for its intended uses,[16] it is a potentialendocrine disruptor that may affect breast development in children.[17]
Many essential oils, including lavender oil, can be poisonous if swallowed.[18][19] In general, 5 millilitres (0.17 US fl oz) of a diluted essential oil may cause toxicity in adults, whereas 2–3 millilitres (0.068–0.101 US fl oz) can be toxic in children.[20] Over 2014-18 inNew South Wales, there were 271 reported cases of lavender oil poisoning – mostly in children – accounting for 6.1% of all essential oil poisoning cases.[19] The main toxic constituents of lavender oil arelinalyl acetate andlinalool.[18][21]
Symptoms of lavender oil poisoning by ingestion include blurred vision, difficulty breathing, burning pain in the throat, burns to the eye, confusion, decreased level of consciousness, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and rash.[18]Topical application of lavender oil may causecontact dermatitis.[20]
Ingestion of lavender oil may causeinteractions withprescription drugs, includinganticoagulants,statins, andanticonvulsants.[22]
Thephytochemical composition of lavender oil varies from species to species (table), consisting primarily ofmonoterpeneoid andsesquiterpeneoid alcohols.[22]Linalool (20-35%) andlinalyl acetate (30-55%) dominate, with moderate levels oflavandulyl acetate,terpinen-4-ol andlavandulol,1,8-cineole,camphor,limonene, andtannins.[22] Lavender oil typically contains more than 100 compounds, although many of these are at negligible concentrations.[22][23]
The composition of lavender essential oil as obtained bychromatography:[24]
| Family | Composition | Lavande officinale Lavandula angustifolia | Lavande aspic Lavandula latifolia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terpenes / Monoterpenols |  Linalool | 28.92 % | 49.47 % |
| α-Terpineol | 0.90% | 1.08% | |
| γ-Terpineol | 0.09% | ||
| Borneol | 1.43% | ||
| Isoborneol | 0.82% | ||
| Terpinen-4-ol | 4.32% | ||
| Nerol | 0.20% | ||
| Lavandulol | 0.78% | ||
| Terpenes / Terpene esters |  Linalyl acetate | 32.98 % | |
| Geranyl acetate | 0.60% | ||
| Neryl acetate | 0.32% | ||
| Octene-3-yl acetate | 0.65% | ||
| Lavandulyl acetate | 4.52% | ||
| Terpenes / Monoterpenes | Myrcene | 0.46% | 0.41% |
| α-Pinene | 0.54% | ||
| β-Pinene | 0.33% | ||
| Camphene | 0.30% | ||
| (E)-β-Ocimene | 3.09% | ||
| (Z)-β-Ocimene | 4.44% | ||
| β-Phellandrene | 0.12% | ||
| Terpenes / Terpenoid oxides |  Eucalyptol (1,8-cineol) | 25.91 % | |
| Terpenes / Sesquiterpenes | β-Caryophyllene | 4.62% | 2.10% |
| β-Farnesene | 2.73% | ||
| Germacrene | 0.27% | ||
| α-Humulene | 0.28% | ||
| Ketones |  Camphor | 0.85% | 13.00 % |
| 3-Octanone | 0.72% | ||
 Cryptone | 0.35% |
Lavender oil is among the most commonlyadulterated essential oils.[25][26]
Poisonous ingredient: It is mainly the linalyl acetate and linalool in lavender oil that are poisonous.
We found that essential oil exposures are frequent in Australia, and that more than half involve children. ... severe toxicity can be caused by as little as 5 mL
Volumes of 5-15 mL are likely to cause toxicity in adults