Lavandin

Common name: Lavandin

Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia Mill. X

Lavandula latifolia Medikus

Varieties: grosso, sumian, abrial and super.

Distinctive signs: In a field of lavandin, each plant is identical to its neighbor because it is propagated by cuttings, which in full flower gives the illusion of very regular blue waves. Lavandin is a natural hybrid, particularly vigorous, resulting from the cross (pollination of bees) between fine lavender and aspic lavender. Lavandin is grown between 200 m and 700 m and up to 1,000 m altitude. Located in Provence, lavandin production amounts to 16,000 ha.

Production: Around 1,000 tonnes of essential oil per year, flowers and bouquets.

Yield: 1 hectare of lavandin produces approximately 100 kg of essential oil.

Flowering: from mid-June to mid-August depending on the production sector

Uses: soaps, detergents, detergents, perfumes and room fragrances.

Lavandin is a natural hybrid of fine lavender and aspic lavender, it is the first production of the French sector.

The Grosso variety represents 12,000 hectares, the Super and Abrial, 1,200 hectares each, the Sumian 700 hectares.

The South-East of France (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse and Drôme) holds 95% of the 16,000 hectares of Lavandins.

The main production area is the Plateau de Valensole; it represents more than a third of the surface areas, but also more than half of the volumes produced. The operation of the farms in this basin is based on the association of the cultivation of Durum Wheat and Lavandin. Lavandin is the basis of the economy of this basin.

The areas recorded in the Rhône valley represent 20% of the total areas in Lavandin. However, in this sector, many other speculations are practiced (Vine, Vegetable Crops, Trufficulture, etc.), Lavandin economically only occupies a secondary place.

The other production basins, the Baronnies, the Banon basin, the Plateau de Sault are characterized by farms which find their balance around breeding, and Lavender and Lavandin. Cereals, although present, remain very uncompetitive!

When breeding is absent, Perfume Plants are the backbone of the operation.

The total harvest of Lavandins stands at approximately a level of around 1,000 tonnes, all varieties combined, while the share of quantities produced in so-called “secondary” varieties tends to decrease in favor of Grosso.

Lavandin essential oil: Lavandin essential oil is intended for industrial perfumery. Its lower production cost justifies its use in cleaning products. This production is mainly intended for laundry detergents, perfumery only using a small part.

The largest buyers are large international groups specializing in cleaning, hygiene and beauty products. Essential oil is not necessarily used for “lavender” products: it has the property of hiding the bad natural odors of laundry powders.

Even if some brands combine natural products and synthetic products and even if the perfume is a selling point, lavandin essential oil faces severe competition from chemical products.

The market for interior perfumes and room air fresheners (aerosols, candles, wicks, perfume burners, incense, etc.), on the other hand, uses perfuming products with lavandin essential oil.

Concerning the use of lavandin essential oil in the medicinal sector, it represents a small quantity.

It is most often used externally in dermal antiseptic products for cleaning the skin and mucous membranes.

( Source: Cpparm)