About Namastey Lavender Oil

Lavender oils are not all the same!

The vision when we planted lavender was always the production of the finest quality lavender oil. At Namastey we are first and foremost farmers and primary producers of lavender. During the year we propagate, plant, nurture and care for our flowers and at harvest time (mid-summer) we delight in the culmination of all our efforts.

80% of our total harvest is for lavender oil and the other 20% is for either fresh or dried bunches of flowers.

Only the flowerheads are harvested for oil production to ensure the highest quality although oil can be extracted from the foliage. The harvest is done mechanically and the flowers are gathered into one cubic metre bags and then transported by us to a modern, efficient steam distillation unit in a nearby town. The distillation process takes place as soon as we arrive and is completed within two hours. The oil is separated from the hydrosol into glass flagons for us to take with us and later bottle and label. We are there the whole time throughout the process and that is how we know that the oil we sell is 100% essential oil from the flower with nothing added or taken away from it. It is not diluted in a carrier oil, nor are the varieties blended in any form. We guarantee the pureness of our oil and we know it is very good.

Our flowers are all either Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula angustifolia x intermedia. We have three oils available:

• L. angustifolia "Swampy" is perfume grade with an exquisitely sweet scent. The delicate flower produces only a quarter the amount of oil of the more robust Lavandins and therefore this oil is the most expensive.
• Lavandula x intermedia (Lavandin) "Vera" has a strong perfume, with a very pleasant and uplifting smell. This oil is generally used in aromatherapy and massage oils, soaps, handcreams, etc.
• Lavandula x intermedia (Lavandin) "Grosso" is the most commonly grown lavender for oil in the world. Most of the French harvest is "Grosso". It has a softer perfume than "Vera" and is used in the same way.

All Namastey lavender oils have the same healing, mood enhancing and relaxing qualities, only the perfumes differ. A pack of three 5 ml bottles containing each of the three oils is available.

Uses for lavender oil

Lavender oil can be used undiluted on small burns, cuts, infections, bites and stings. Its soothing and healing qualities take away the pain and prevent any scarring or skin damage. A few drops on the pillow will help a good night's sleep and rubbed into the temples will relieve a headache. A few drops in the bath helps relaxation and similarly in an aromatherapy burner it will both relax and lift your spirits. Always use by the drop, too much is not better! In a spray bottle of water it can be used as a face cleanser, reviver in hot weather, room spray to cover unpleasant odours, on clothes or bed linen being ironed and many, many other ways.