GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Mill.
Chemotype: linalool / linalyl acetate type
- PLANT PART
- recently cut flowering tops
- EXTRACTION
- steam distillation
- AROMA NOTE
- top-mid
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 50 / 100
- Note layer
- top-mid
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- No restriction cited
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No furocoumarin-related phototoxic restriction was identified for Lavandula angustifolia oil in the consulted public sources.
Contraindications & cautions
- minorThe public safety sources reviewed do not indicate special hazards for lavender essential oil, but diluted use is still advised for topical application.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This profile uses the ISO 3515 chromatographic specification for Lavandula angustifolia oil. English lavender is a Lavandula angustifolia oil type dominated by linalool and linalyl acetate, with ocimenes, terpinen-4-ol, lavandulyl acetate, low cineole, and low camphor as supporting markers.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| linalyl acetate | 36% | 25–47% | monoterpene ester | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 lines 241-245 |
| linalool | 31.5% | 20–43% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 240 |
| cis-beta-ocimene | 5.5% | 1–10% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 236 |
| trans-beta-ocimene | 3.25% | 0.5–6% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 237 |
| terpinen-4-ol | 4% | 0–8% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 243 |
| lavandulyl acetate | 4% | 0–8% | monoterpene ester | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 244 |
| 1,8-cineole | 1.5% | 0–3% | monoterpene oxide | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 234 |
| camphor | 0.75% | 0–1.5% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 239 |
| alpha-terpineol | 1% | 0–2% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1, PDF p.7 line 245 |
| limonene | 0.5% | 0–1% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1 (Other origins column), PDF p.4 |
| beta-phellandrene | 0.5% | 0–1% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1 (Other origins column), PDF p.4 |
| 3-octanone | 1.5% | 0–3% | aliphatic ketone | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1 (Other origins column), PDF p.4 |
| lavandulol | 1.5% | 0–3% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Table 1 (Other origins column), PDF p.4 |
Profile source: ISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.); Lavender Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Insights; New Research: Lavender oil massage for knee osteoarthritis · https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/36253/087850230adc4c10821a0266611e237c/ISO-3515-2002.pdf ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/lavender-essential-oil.php ; https://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/lavender-massage-osteoarthritis/
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for calming and relaxation
- reported to support restful sleep when diffused before bedtime
- used in massage blends for muscle comfort and general relaxation
- traditionally associated with easing occasional tension and stress
- used in skincare blends for a soothing, comforting sensory experience
- used widely in perfumery and personal care for its classic floral-herbaceous note
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- max_dermal_pct 100 reflects the archive's unrestricted-oil convention because the cited public safety sources report no special precautions or specific dermal cap for lavender essential oil rather than publishing a numeric ceiling.
- Odor intensity 50 is a normalization of AromaWeb's categorical 'Medium' aroma strength into the archive's numeric scale rather than a directly published 0-100 measurement.
- No directly measured public volatility-rate or tenacity-hour data were verified in this pass.