One way or another, with so much uncertainty over the past two years, it's probably safe to say that most of us have been feeling under pressure and out of our comfort zones. Fortunately, there's a garden favourite that's been around for millennia to help us keep calm and carry on - lavender.
A member of the mint family of plants, lavender has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, cosmetics and countless everyday products. Loved for its fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage, these days lavender, or lavandula, to use its not so common or garden name, is the go to herb to relieve stress and help us relax.
With its silvery-green foliage and vibrant, upright purple spiked flowers, lavender bushes make for a stunning addition to garden borders and paths, and are a popular fixture in herb gardens. Full disclosure, and this may come as a surprise, despite what its name suggests, not all lavenders are purple. Some hybrids come in pastel hues such as violet blue, rose, pale pink, white and even yellow.
ancient powers
In the UK, the most commonly cultivated variation of the plant is English lavender - or Lavandula angustifolia, as they say in the trade - which produces an essential oil with sweet overtones that can be used in its natural state for aromatherapy and added to perfumes, cosmetics, room sprays and candles.
Discovered over 2,500 years ago, lavender is one of the most versatile oils in aromatherapy. It can be used on its own or combined with other essential oils to bring all kinds of positive benefits.
Restorative, calming, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, to list a few of its soothing powers, lavender essential oil is often considered liquid magic. It can instantly boost our mood, naturally energize or make it easier to drift off into a deep, restful sleep.
wild about wildheart organics
At The St Andrews Hamper Co. we're committed to sourcing organic and eco-friendly products, so we love hooking up with artisan makers and specialist suppliers who share our ethos. Like Wildheart Organics, who create the gorgeous organic candles, bath and body oils and room fragrances that feature in our Rory & Ruby range of luxury pamper hampers and gift boxes.
Based in Edinburgh, the experts behind Wildheart Organics only use 100% essential oils and therapeutic grade ingredients hand blended to enhance mood and wellbeing. They never use artificial perfumes or damaging toxins like petrochemicals, nature identicals or filler isolates, and they never test their products on animals or use ingredients tested on animals.
Part of their unique approach is using the highest amount of essential oils to create a luxury treatment product with optimum therapeutic benefits. The ultimate aim is to help capture a moment of bliss. Our old friend lavender essential oil is a key ingredient in the Calm collection from Wildheart Organics' NYC Apothecary range.
Featuring recycled eco packaging and recyclable containers throughout the range, the candles are vegan, with non-GM soy and sustainable rapeseed blend, while the containers and bottles are made from classic brown apothecary style recycled glass. Better still, they all smell divine. Why not treat someone special - or even yourself - to some blissful calm soon!
