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Fresh lavender is a beautiful addition to any space and has so many wonderfully beneficial uses. It can be used in cooking, tea, body products or aromatherapy and is a fabulous choice for growing in your home herb garden too!
If you already grow lavender at home and are wondering what to do with all of those beautiful, fragrant blooms, I’ve got you covered.
In this post we will cover 17 ways you can use fresh and dried lavender at home as well as the many benefits of using it.
Benefits of Lavender
It has Healing Properties
Lavender is an herb that has been around for centuries and it’s said to have many healing qualities. Lavender is antibacterial and antifungal, making it great for use in the kitchen since it can inhibit the growth of bacteria on foods.
Lavender is an excellent plant to have around when you are sick, it has been shown that simply smelling lavender can lower blood pressure and heart rate which both help with stress relief!
Helps Promote Sleep and Relaxation
Lavender is known to help with sleep since the aroma stimulates the brain into producing more melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleeping cycle.
It has been shown that smelling lavender can lower blood pressure and heart rate which both help with stress relief.
Benefits of Lavender on skin
Lavender is a common ingredient in skin care products. Lavender is an excellent choice if you want your product to have both aromatherapy and therapeutic qualities.
Calming to Skin
Lavender is a great choice for sensitive skin, as it has anti-inflammatory properties and can even promote quicker healing. It is also a top choice for acne-prone skin and is known for its acne busting benefits.
The calming properties of lavender make it a great addition to body products such as lotions and bath oils for adults or children who are having trouble sleeping.
Ant-Aging Effects
In addition to its calming effects, lavender also possess anti-aging properties, making a great wrinkle-reducer for aging skin.
It can be used in many topical applications on the skin, including face masks, toners or washes, facial oils and body oils (just to name a few).
Skin Healing
Lavender is a natural antiseptic which can be used to treat cuts or wounds that haven’t yet healed over. It is also a great choice for mild burns because of its healing and soothing properties.
Lavender in the Kitchen
Lavender is a great addition to many types of food, and has lots of uses in cooking.
Lavender is a versatile herb that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Lavender brings out the flavors of other ingredients without becoming too overpowering or dominating, making it an excellent culinary companion.
You may want to use lavender as a finishing touch on your dish instead of cooking with it for extra flavor.
Lavender also helps to control mold! Lavender can be used when cooking with hot oils since it doesn’t have a strong flavor and will add an extra layer of protection from certain harmful toxins that may be present in the oils.
Ways to Use Fresh Lavender at Home
1. Put Lavender in your Pillow
Put some lavender in your pillowcase for a better night’s sleep, or keep a small bowl of the herb by your bed. The scent of lavender is known to help people relax and fall asleep faster.
2. Make a Lavender Sachet
Fill a cotton bag with dried lavender and place it in your closet or dresser drawer.
Add some dried lavender to linen closets, drawers, clothes pockets of jackets and coats, bookshelves, suitcases, or any other places where you keep items for storage. The scent will help clear the air around you.
Try: Handmade embroidered lavender sachets
3. Make a Lavender Simmer Pot
A simmer pot is basically a pot of herbs that you simmer on low to release the aroma for hours. It is commonly done in the winter with herbs like cinnamon and clove, but can easily be done with lavender (or any herb you like!).
Fill a pot with water and add lavender flowers to the top. Turn on stove, bringing it to simmer. If you wish, add in some of other herbs like mint leaves or thyme sprigs. Let simmer on low for as long as you like and enjoy the beautiful scent of lavender as it fills your home.
Make sure to check the pot every hour or so to make sure the water has not evaporated! Add more water as needed and discard the herbs when finished.
4. Make a Lavender + Lemon Linen Spray
This simple lavender and lemon spray can be used on linens, to freshen furniture or carpet, as a pillow mist at bedtime to help with sleep or to freshen up clothes.
- Brew a strong lavender tea with fresh lavender flowers and about 6 ounces of water.
- Let the tea cool and drain out the flowers.
- Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the tea and mix well.
- Pour into a spray bottle for easy use in the linen closet or any other space you’d like to give an aromatic boost.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Spraying this fresh lavender scent on your clothes before bed will help you sleep better.
Or Try this pre-made lavender linen spray.
5. Create a Fresh Lavender Bouquet
Fresh lavender makes a lovely and fragrant addition to any tabletop!
Simply cut your lavender sprigs and put in fresh water to enjoy the beauty and aroma they provide.
How to Use Lavender in Cooking
6. Make a Relaxing Lavender Tea
Lavender makes an excellent addition to tea blends and tisanes because it has calming properties that help promote relaxation without inducing drowsiness.
Lavender and mint are an especially nice combination that is a great bedtime tea for kids and adults alike!
How to Make Lavender Mint Tea:
- Add a few lavender sprigs (about two tablespoons) and a small handful of fresh mint leaves (about 1 tablespoon) into a tea infuser (I like this one).
- Add water, cover with a lid and let it steep for five minutes, then remove the leaves.
- Add a sweetener (like honey) if desired.
Also Try: Relaxing Lavender and Chamomile
7. Add Lavender to your Favorite Savory Dishes
Lavender is the perfect herb to add a little taste and aroma when cooking with seafood since it complements fish, shellfish, mussels, clams and crustaceans beautifully.
Lavender can also be sprinkled on food right before serving for an extra kick!
Try: Lavender Roasted Potatoes
8. Use Lavender Infused Oil for Cooking
Add a couple of tablespoons of lavender infused oil to your favorite dish.
This is especially nice when you’re cooking something that needs long, slow simmering as the heat and time will help bring out the flavor even more.
To easily make your own lavender infused oil for cooking, I love this kitchen herb infuser.
9. Try a Lavender Dessert
Lavender-spiked desserts are lovely and flavorful. Lavender pairs well with citrus flavors like lemon and orange for a delicious dessert! You can also try adding dried lavender to your favorite sugar cookie dough.
Try: Paleo Lavender Lemon Muffins or Lavender Shortbread Cookies
10. Make Lavender + Honey Ice Cream
It just doesn’t’ get much better than lavender and honey in an ice cream!
This recipe looks divine, and the perfect way to use up your lavender harvest.
Try: Lavender and Honey Ice Cream
11. Make Lavender Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is basically a sugar and water reduction made liquid over heat. It’s super easy to give any simple syrup a serious upgrade with some fresh herbs, and lavender is a great choice!
To make lavender simple syrup:
- In a small saucepan bring 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil.
- Stir until sugar has dissolved.
- Reduce heat to low and add ¼ cup of dried lavender or 1/3 cup of fresh lavender buds.
- Cover and let steep for 15 minutes
- Strain into a glass jar once cooled and discard the lavender buds
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
12. Try a Lavender Infused Cocktail
Fresh lavender makes a great addition to lots of different types of cocktails! I’m making this boozy lavender lemonade stat.
How to Use Lavender for your Body
13. Have a Lavender Bath
A calming herb like lavender is just begging to be made into a soothing lavender bath.
It’s so simple to do, yet feels so luxurious.
To Do:
- Add about one cup of dried or fresh lavender flowers to hot water in your tub before you get in.
- Let it steep while the tub fills.
- The lavender will help calm muscles, relieve pain, reduce stress hormones, and improve mood.
- To add some detoxifying effects to your lavender bath, add 1 cup of espom salts to the hot bath water and stir until dissolved. Soak in your Epsom salt and lavender bath for at least 20 minutes.
These lavender scented CBD bath bombs are another fabulous option for a relaxing lavender bath (get 20% off with code ecolivingmama)
14. Make a Lavender Facial Steam
A lavender facial steam is like a double-duty situation for your skin and sinuses. The steam helps to open pores and detoxify skin AND opens up sinuses and promote healthy lung function.
To do your own lavender facial steam:
Fill a medium sized bowl with boiling water. Add fresh lavender to the pot and cover your head with a towel, holding it tightly around you for up to five minutes (or as long as you can stand). Breathe deeply through the nose while steaming, then remove from heat and wipe down face with cool cloth.
Read more about doing an herbal facial steam here.
Or try a done-for-you facial steam blend.
15. Do a Lavender Hand and Nail Soak
For the softest hands around, try an herbal hand and nail soak with fresh lavender buds. This is the perfect first step to a natural manicure at home, or just a wonderful act of self-care for any day!
Lavender blends wonderfully with lemon and rosemary in this nail soak recipe.
16. Make a Lavender + Oatmeal Face Scrub
Lavender is known for its calming properties on skin and is perfect for a gentle face scrub.
To Make:
- Measure 2 tablespoons of old fashioned oats and 2 tablespoons fresh or dried lavender flowers and put into a blender.
- Blend in short pulses until a rough powder is formed.
- You can store this in an air-tight jar for later use.
To use your lavender oatmeal scrub:
- Pour a small amount of the powdered oats and lavender into your hand (about 1 teaspoon)
- Add enough water to make a paste that is not too thick or thin.
- Apply the scrub on your face with gentle circular motions for one minute before rinsing off with lukewarm water.
This oatmeal, lavender and honey handmade soap pairs wonderfully with a lavender oatmeal facial scrub.
17. Make Lavender Infused Oil for your Body
Lavender infused oil is so simple to make, yet feels so luxurious in your skincare recipes (or by itself!).
- Put your lavender flowers in a jar and cover them with your favorite carrier oil. I like almond or avocado oil for this if I’m planning to use the oil in recipes like scrubs or lotion bars. Grapeseed or coconut oils are nice choices for massage or body oils.
- Make sure the flowers are completely covered by the oil. Cover tightly and put in a dark spot for 4-6 weeks.
This lavender infused oil can be used in all kinds of ways: as a relaxing massage oil, as a base carrier oil for a sugar scrub or in a homemade cuticle oil.
I recommend drying your lavender before infusing it into oil to avoid any potential mold growth in your oil.
Ode to Lavender
Lavender is an herb that can be used in many ways – at home, cooking, in body products or for aromatherapy. It makes a great addition to any home garden, and is one of my favorite herbs for making my own skincare products.
I particularly love how versatile the herb is (and the amazing scent doesn’t hurt either!).
Tell me below….what is your favorite way to use lavender flowers?