GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
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
- 55 / 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 essential oil in the reviewed public sources.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateLavender oil lacks natural antioxidant protection: on prolonged air exposure its linalool and linalyl acetate autoxidize into strong contact allergens, increasing dermal sensitization potency of the oxidized (aged) oil versus fresh oil. Use fresh, well-stored oil and avoid applying oxidized/aged lavender oil undiluted to skin.
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 is anchored to ISO 3515:2002 because the assigned oil is the standard Lavandula angustifolia essential oil rather than a named retail batch. The normative lavender profile is linalyl acetate and linalool dominant, with cis/trans-beta-ocimene, terpinen-4-ol, lavandulyl acetate, low cineole, low camphor, and low alpha-terpineol as characteristic secondary 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.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 241: linalyl acetate 25-47% |
| Linalool | 31.5% | 20–43% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 240: linalool 20-43% |
| cis-beta-ocimene | 5.5% | 1–10% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 236: cis-beta-ocimene 1-10% |
| trans-beta-ocimene | 3.25% | 0.5–6% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 237: trans-beta-ocimene 0.5-6% |
| 3-Octanone | 1.5% | 0–3% | aliphatic ketone | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 238: 3-Octanone traces-3% |
| Camphor | 0.75% | 0–1.5% | monoterpene ketone | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 239: camphor traces-1.5% |
| Terpinen-4-ol | 4% | 0–8% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 243: terpinen-4-ol 0-8% |
| Lavandulyl acetate | 4% | 0–8% | monoterpene ester | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 244: lavandulyl acetate 0-8% |
| alpha-Terpineol | 1% | 0–2% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, line 245: alpha-terpineol 0-2% |
| 1,8-Cineole | 1.5% | 0–3% | monoterpene oxide | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 10, Figure A.1 peak list line 301 identifies 1,8-cineole among the standard chromatogram markers; the assigned draft already used the same ISO standard's 0-3% ceiling for this marker |
| Limonene | 1.5% | 0.5–3% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.); Composed Chromatogram PDF page 7-10, Table 1 and Figure A.1 (limonene is a standard marker in the reference chromatogram) |
| Neryl acetate | 1% | 0.5–2% | monoterpene ester | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1, identified as a characteristic secondary ester constituent in lavender oil |
| alpha-Pinene | 0.8% | 0.1–2% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7-10, Figure A.1 peak list shows alpha-pinene as a minor monoterpene marker |
| Myrcene | 1% | 0.1–2% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7-10, Figure A.1 chromatogram identifies myrcene among standard markers |
| beta-Pinene | 0.7% | 0.05–1.5% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7-10, Figure A.1 peak list identifies beta-pinene as a minor constituent |
| Geraniol | 0.5% | 0.1–1% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) PDF page 7, Table 1 identifies geraniol as a minor secondary alcohol in the standard composition |
Profile source: ISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.); AromaWeb Lavender Essential Oil profile · https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/36253/087850230adc4c10821a0266611e237c/ISO-3515-2002.pdf ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/lavender-essential-oil.php
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 as the classic calming and relaxing oil for stress relief
- reported to support restful sleep and easing of occasional anxious feelings
- used in massage blends for muscle comfort and general relaxation
- traditionally associated with supporting minor-skin-irritation and burn-soothing home remedies in folk use
- used in perfumery for its soft, floral-herbaceous facet
- reported to support mood balance and calm in diffuser blends
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 · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- Missing source type: a public primary safety monograph or IFRA certificate that states an explicit numeric leave-on dermal maximum for Lavandula angustifolia essential oil. Public live sources reviewed in this pass only exposed the secondary statement that Tisserand and Young list no special precautions.
- Odor intensity 55 is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's qualitative `Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium` field rather than a native published 0-100 measurement.