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Language is such a curious thing. Even within one country, words shift from town to town: dialects, turns of phrase, meanings that evolve depending on who’s speaking and where they’re from. A single word might carry a completely different tone just one region over.

Take English, for example. Someone might say “pop,” while someone else says “soda.” In one place, something is “brilliant” and in another it’s just “pretty good.” The same word can mean “lovely” to one person and “a bit much” to another. It all depends on the roots it grew from.

I often think about this when I work with lavender. No matter where it’s grown, lavender will always smell like lavender, but the nuances are shaped by place, variety, and care. Lavender from Montana, India, Bulgaria, France, or Greece all bring something slightly different to the senses. Some are soft and honeyed, others are more herbaceous or woody. Some are distilled from a single variety, while others are blends of cultivars grown together in the same field. And the chemical components will vary.

The differences might be subtle, but they matter. And to me, they speak to the beauty of individuality. I’ll tell you more about one of my favorites below.

What You’ll Discover In This Newsletter:

Upcoming Event:

LIVE - Essential Oils for a Peaceful Evening | Nourishing Nightime Routines

In this FREE workshop, you’ll discover:
✨ The best essential oils for sleep and relaxation
✨ Simple blends to use in your bedtime routine
✨ How to create an evening ritual that supports deep, nourishing rest ✨ DIY diffuser and topical recipes for a peaceful night.

Whether you’re struggling with stress, restless nights, or just want to bring more tranquility into your evenings, this class will give you the tools you need to create a natural, soothing nighttime routine.

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Aromatic Creations Recipe

Lavender & Cedar: A Relaxing, Restorative Blend

Kashmir lavender is the heart of this blend, with its soft, sweet aroma and deep calming qualities. Cedarwood brings out the woody undertones of the lavender, giving the blend a grounded, reassuring presence. It also enhances the therapeutic benefits for respiratory support, especially during colds or congestion.

Geranium adds a gentle floral lift. This oil has a gift for dissolving stuck energy and emotional tension. On the first inhale, it’s rosy and fresh, but on the second, there’s something richer. A deeper, almost green note.

Together, this synergy of oils encourage relaxation, emotional balance, and a strong sense of inner support. As a bonus, it comes with the added benefit of being beneficial for the skin and supportive for our breathing.

Lavender & Cedar Topical Blend

• 1 fl oz (30 ml) Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis) (or favorite carrier)

• 8 drops Lavender Kashmir (Lavandula angustifolia)

• 5 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens var. roseum)

• 4 drops Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)

Apply to wrists, chest, or neck. Use during times of stress, low energy, seasonal illness, or anytime your body and mind need a reset. Or simply because you want to enjoy a beautiful aroma.

Notes of Discovery

Lavender’s Many Layers: A Fresh Look at an Old Favorite

Since we’re diving deep into lavender this week, I wanted to circle back to a blog post I return to often: Lavender Essential Oil: Benefits & Uses

Even if you’ve read it before, it’s worth revisiting.

Here are just a few highlights:

• There are over 40 varieties of Lavandula angustifolia.

• The primary components, linalool and linalyl acetate, are largely responsible for its therapeutic properties.

• It supports everything from inflammation and tension to microbial concerns and emotional balance.

• And yes, the origin and variety can shift an oil’s aroma and chemistry in fascinating ways.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re getting the most out of your bottle of lavender, this post will help you unlock more of its benefits.

Product Spotlight

Lavender Kashmir Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)

_{Origin: Kashmir Valley, India}

Kashmir Lavender has long been one of my favorites. It's been a while since we’ve had it at Aromatics International, and I couldn’t be more excited to have it available again.

I first connected with this oil and its distiller last year. As soon as I experienced it, I was a fan! It’s a beautiful example of high-altitude Lavandula angustifolia, soft, sweet, and wonderfully balanced.

This lavender grows in the Kashmir Valley of northern India, where cooler mountain temperatures and a slower growth cycle create ideal conditions for a richly aromatic oil. The aroma is one that makes you inhale deeply and close your eyes. It's honey-like and floral, with a soft sweetness and a hint of earthy notes. Its deep aroma fills your senses and brings a sense of ease to both mind and body.

One of the things that makes this oil truly special is its high percentage of linalyl acetate, a naturally occurring ester that contributes to lavender’s well-known calming effects.

Here are just a few of the ways this oil can support you:
• Easing physical tension or discomfort
• Soothing the nervous system
• Promoting rest and relaxation
• Calming inflammation
• Supporting immune function
• Caring for sensitive or reactive skin

The energetics come through when you use the oil. As the aroma fills the air, I feel a sense of calmness as my body releases tension. To experience this, take a few minutes with the oil. Inhale slowly, and notice what shifts.

The chemistry helps us understand why we would use this oil and how. The energetics and the deeper support we feel come from the land, the growing conditions, the people, and the way the whole process is approached with respect, skill, and care.

I always have fun comparing lavenders from different parts of the world. Each one brings something unique to the table. Kashmir Lavender stands out for its softness and depth. It’s warm, smooth, and incredibly easy to fall in love with. If you’ve never worked with this variety before, this is a beautiful place to begin. And if you already love lavender, this one will add a truly special touch to your collection.

From The Vine

As I was reading through our NLC group this week, I saw a great question from Richa, who asked:

“Can someone please help me understand the difference between French Lavender and Bulgarian Lavender? Both are Lavandula angustifolia. I rarely use lavender—it’s not my go-to oil—but as I’m now seriously studying for ACP, I want to know more.”

I loved this question because it’s one that often comes up, especially as people begin working more closely with the same species grown in different places.

All Lavandula angustifolia essential oils are therapeutically interchangeable. They share the same key constituents, most notably linalyl acetate and linalool, which contribute to lavender’s calming, soothing, and skin-supportive properties.

French and Bulgarian lavender are two of the most well-known in the aromatherapy world. Both are Lavandula angustifolia, and they come in many forms, ranging from low to high altitudes, and from cultivated to wild. Just as with other regional lavender varieties, the percentages of linalyl acetate and linalool can vary depending on the growing conditions.

However, when it comes to aroma, all lavenders can vary significantly.

Where and how lavender is grown, the soil, altitude, climate, and harvest all shape the final aroma. Some lavenders are herbaceous. Others lean woody. Some are bright and sweet. Others are soft and honeyed. They’re the details that give an oil its personality.

At Aromatics, we work with several beautiful varieties of Lavandula angustifolia. These are my favorites!

• An artisan-distilled, high-altitude Montana lavender boasts the highest linalool content, lending it a fresh depth with subtle green and woody undertones.

• A rich, floral Kashmir lavender from the Himalayas has the highest linalyl acetate content, contributing to its smooth, sweet, calming aroma. It is the softest and most honeyed.

• A bright, rounded Bulgarian lavender holds a balanced profile between linalool and linalyl acetate, characterized by a sweet, slightly herbaceous scent and a round, classic lavender aroma. aroma.
  
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Stay Inspired!

Sometimes I catch myself moving too quickly, even with the plants. Grabbing a bottle. Blending on autopilot. But when I pause, even just for a moment, and really pay attention to what I’m holding… everything shifts. That one scent, that one flower, becomes the center of things.

And this is when the magic happens.