Ingredient

Lavender Absolute

Lavandula angustifolia

Sometimes called "lavender green" (in reference to its vibrant colour) this absolute is renowned in perfumery for its herbal and sweet lavender scent. Its aroma is widely reputed to promote calm and restful sleep.

Lavandula angustifolia is a perennial, shrub-like plant that's part of the mint family. The flowers are picked as soon as they start to open and can be used fresh or dried, distilled or infused. Regardless of how it is processed, lavender has been used to soothe, balance and cleanse the skin for centuries.

To make this absolute, the flowers are first soaked in a solvent to obtain a waxy material called ‘concrete’. It is then washed with ethanol to separate the fragrant lavender green liquid from the wax. 

Lush buy lavender absolute from a distiller based in sunny Provence, a region in the south of France. They use flowers from several different European countries depending on availability (mainly France, Ukraine and Bulgaria).