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How is lavender oil produced and which compounds give it its fragrance?
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Essential oil
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Lavender oil is produced through the distillation of the flowers of the lavender plant. The plant's characteristic fragrance originates from shining oil glands embedded among tiny, star-shaped hairs known as trichomes, which cover its flowers, leaves, and stems.1
The fragrant constituents that give lavender oil its distinct scent include:
While high-quality lavender oil is primarily used in perfumes and cosmetics, a lower-grade version known as spike oil is distilled from inferior lavender and utilized in soap manufacturing and other industrial applications.1