In the Land of Lavender: A Journey through Provence's Purple Fields
Traversing Provence and marveling at its expanses of purple during beautiful sunny summer days is a captivating experience.
For centuries, lavender has been an integral part of the rural economy in Provence.
Although overshadowed commercially by the more cost-effective Bulgarian lavender in recent years, French lavender is still considered the most exquisite.
Diverse species with a recognizable fragrance.
Lavender belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes thyme, rosemary, savory, sage, and marjoram.
True lavender is the classic Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis, also known as Lavandula vera. It spontaneously grows on the limestone hills across the Mediterranean basin. Its scent is very floral.
Spike lavender or Lavandula spica or Lavandula latifolia has a more raw, camphoraceous, and peppery fragrance compared to true lavender.
Lavandin, Lavandula x intermedia or Lavandula hybrida, is a natural hybrid resulting from cross-pollination between true lavender and spike lavender. Unlike lavender, lavandin is sterile and multiplies only through cuttings. Lavandin paints the Provence landscapes mauve as far as the eye can see. It is the richest in essential oil, with a more herbaceous and raw scent than the previous two.
The harvest takes place in July and August.
The manifold virtues of lavender.
Lavender is classified among "useful" plants for its medicinal and cosmetic properties.
The Romans and Greeks considered it among the "precious plants." They used its flowers to scent bathwater and linen. Its medicinal properties were also recognized. Dioscorides, a Greek physician (40 to 90 BC), recommended lavender infusions in his treatise on medicinal plants.
Lavender was also widely used at the court of the French king at Versailles from the 17th century onwards to get rid of insects, diseases, and mask unpleasant odors.
In the 19th century,
its use as a perfume spread to all classes. Lavender essential oil is now a traditional fragrance used in perfumery and hygiene products. It is also known for its antiseptic, antibacterial properties and its purifying effect when diffused in the air. However, the quality varies significantly from one product to another.
A recent study published in the journal "Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience" highlights the effects of linalool, naturally present in lavender, which are comparable to those of anxiolytics.
At the heart of Elixir Bien Élevé, the relaxing and purifying sensations of lavender.
Eléonore de Stael, the perfumer behind Domaine Singulier's two fragrances, chose to incorporate pure essence of lavandin for its fresh, "clean" aromatic notes and its recognized relaxing and purifying properties.
The pure essence of lavandin selected for Elixir Bien Élevé comes from a producer in the heart of Haute-Provence, France. Lavandin flowers are handpicked, dried, and distilled using extremely rigorous processes to create a high-quality pure essence.
The pure essence of lavandin blends particularly well with lemon, patchouli, and rosemary, making Elixir Bien Élevé a uniquely fragrant perfume. The air is scented, intensely unpleasant odors are neutralized, and you experience a wonderfully relaxing sensation of both body and mind.
For more information:
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Gallica BNF Blog: La Lavande
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Nez magazine Lavender Edition
