Growing lavender on the croft
Lavender grows alongside the calendula at the side of the house, in home made planters, where it is sunny and sheltered. It is not the easiest plant to grow here. The croft sits about 600 feet above sea level and lavender does not really enjoy the temperatures we get up here. To keep it going through the winter I cover the plants with plenty of fleece. Once the frosts have passed I uncover them again and they seem quite happy to carry on growing. With a bit of care they manage very well like this.
Harvesting at the end of summer
I leave the lavender until late summer before harvesting it. At that point the flowers are fully open and full of scent. I cut both the flower heads and the stems. When I make my infusions I use the stems as well as the flowers because you still get a lovely amount of fragrance from them. Both go into the oil together.
A naturally calming plant
Lavender is well known for its calming nature. It is one of the most widely recognised plants for helping create a sense of relaxation.It has been used for centuries in bathing and skin preparations, and the scent alone is often associated with rest and calm.For me it is a plant that always feels very reassuring and familiar. I used it when my daughter was a baby in her pillow, to help induce her to sleep.
How I use lavender in our products
The lavender infusion is used in combination with essential oils to create one of our most popular blends. I combine lavender and rosemary essential oils with a very small touch of patchouli. You do not actually smell the patchouli but it holds the blend together beautifully as a base note. This blend is used together with our Hebridean seaweed. You will find it in our Hebridean Seaweed, Rosemary and Lavender soap, as well as in the matching body butter and solid hand cream.
It is a scent that has become a real favourite across the range.
