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THE LAVENDER
The word LAVENDER was derived in the Middle
Ages from
the Latin word LAVARE which means WASHING. But the use of this plant
dates further back. Indeed, Romans were using lavender earlier than that in
Lavenders and lavandins are
long-lived plants of the family of
labiacées which like dry and rocky ground. The fine or
true lavender, grows naturally or can be cultivated on dry hills between 600
and
The aspic or the big lavender, the common
sort, grows wild at 600-
The hybrid LAVANDIN which is
predominant in the Valensole
plateau, is a cross between true lavender and aspic and grows
only from cuttings. It has a
camphorated essence. It is sought after and cultivated for its
vigorous growth and hardiness.
Widely used in pharmaceuticals for its
natural, healing therapeutic, antiseptic, and antispasmodic properties, the
essence is even more appreciated in perfume.
In later centuries Lavender is
described in literature dealing with both medicine and with beauty.
In the second part of the 19th
century the people of Provençe used it as a pesticide and to cure their
wounds. The origin of
lavender thus goes back
to much earlier times.
At the end of the 19th century,
the Provençal farmers left
the countryside to go to cities, enticed by a more
comfortable life and by possibilities of employment
offered by factories and the development of the railways. The
dry and thankless lands were neglected and left alone, particularly
resistant plants could prosper there.
This was so in the case of the lavender and aspic.
Besides, at the same time, the
use of cosmetics and flavourings experienced considerable development under
the influence of
fashion and the increase of the city population. In such conditions,
the crop of the lavender quickly and unexpectedly
came into its own.
The crop became managed at the
end of the 19th
century by the work in their
spare time of the women, children, and herdsmen.
At the beginning of the 20th century,
lavender was cultivated in undeveloped areas as a source of
additional income. The
favourable natural conditions and the established Grassoises perfume shop,
led to more cultivation and distilleries in the back country.
From 1920 the cultivation of
the lavender saw increased development with the production of hundred of tons of lavender and aspic. By 1930, the lavender industry was fully developed. Aspic was abandoned because its essence wasn’t appreciated by the manufacturers. In 25 years, cultivated lavender completely substituted itself for the crop of the wild plant See : "Lavender Distillation" |
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