Lavender and Lavendin species info sought

[Guest guest]

Does anyone have a good reference for all the different lavenders and

lavendins? Either something from your own HD, or a website with

complete descriptions of Lavendula species, varieties, scent

qualities, etc?

 

On the same note (ha! I made a joke) if you can recommend a good

supplier of Maillette, please drop me a private email.

 

Much appreciated!

http://anyamccoy.com

[Guest guest]

A couple of days ago I threw out a query to the universe known as

Oils_herbs

>

> Does anyone have a good reference for all the different lavenders and

> lavendins? Either something from your own HD, or a website with

> complete descriptions of Lavendula species, varieties, scent

> qualities, etc?

>

> On the same note (ha! I made a joke) if you can recommend a good

> supplier of Maillette, please drop me a private email.

>

> Much appreciated!

 

And didn't get one bloomin' reply! Figure you're all a bunch of

lavender haters, so, in an attempt to win you over to the purple side,

here's a bunch of good information I got, and you can ignore it,

archive it to your HD, or get all excited and go buy a bunch of

lavenders :-)

 

First:

Michel Van Hove reminded me, the forgetful one, of his great AGORA

site that has a bit on lavender, and he also included some new news:

 

Hi Anya,

 

maybe you could start with my lavender pages on the agora site first:

 

http://www.nature-helps.com/agora/lavender.htm

 

(You can see some images of the different colors of the lavenders and

spike lavenders on my oils database too.)

 

I did not update it since a while, but you can already see plenty of

facts about the different lavenders,even some analyses and some

images. There is a very good french book about the history and

differences of the lavenders and lavandins in France.

I can't speak with authority about other countries, since even this

book speaks about " lavender been found up

to Siberia " , I have to stay in the field I know best...

 

Here's my personal favorite list:

 

Wild grown lavender in France: for instance in the Alpes de Haute

Provence, or in the mountains behind

Nice and Grasse.

I personally make a distinction between the wild lavender picked

around 700 to 1100 meter and the stronger

one picked at altitudes above 1400 m altitude.

My partners also pick wild lavender nearby, around 1100 to 1200 m

altitude, around the " Gorges du Tarn " ,

very nice, but not so sweet as the others.

I have hese qualities since more than 15 years, there is only a small

amount of these oils available, only my

personal friendship with the distillers permits me to have some liters

every year for my customers, export is

almost impossible. All of the nearby picked wild lavender is exported

to Swiss customers.

 

The next choice are the " Lavande de population "

This are the lavender fields grown preferentially organically, only

from seed of lavender, not of " clones " .

Not as " special " as the wild grown ones, but almost...

 

Then you have the clones: first of all the Matheronne clone, I preferr

it above the " Maillette clone " , but it's

difficult to find it, since the perfume industry

don't love it: its solubility in alcohol is not excellent.

So you have the Maillette clone following.

I never used the non organic quality untill now, only some in

reconversion.

 

Then you have the Spike lavender: growing only up to 600/700 m, here

in the Cevennes area where I live I have

difficulties to grow it in my garden: it does not like the cold winters...

I preferr to distill the wild grown " Lavandula latifolia " from very

dry and hot places, my favorite one is from

the Alpes de Haute Provence, but we can find some in the region

between Alès and Nimes.

I love to use it as a natural and strong antibiotic product.

The spike lavender from Spain is in my eyes of low quality, the one

from the coastal area around

Montpellier is quit strong in camphor, not as lovely as the Provence

quality. Very few distillers produce spike lavender oil here in

France, I would love to start some organic fields with it.

The " Lavandula latifolia " is another story: growing only near the

coast near Toulon), it has nothingto do with " real " lavender or spike

lavender: it's more like a evergreen. It's oil is remembering me of

the smell of an old male goat that need a good bath

(and some rose oil :-( ), it's terrible. I have analyses about

it (not yet on my oils list).

I distilled some, but the yield is very poor. I helped a man living in

it's area to start distill it, it interests some perfumers from

Grasse. (the more it stinks, the more those guys love it...)

 

Back to the lavandins:

 

They are the natural hybrids between Lavandula latifolia and Lavandula

angustifolia Miller, formerly in the mountains, on the frontline of

the spike and wild lavender. Mister abrial was the first one to clone

some, later followed by mR Grosso, when the abriale strated to

persich massively.

 

I personally preferr the abriale as the finest lavandin, close to rhe

fragrance of the cultivated lavenders.There is a AFNOR norm available

for it. Lavandin super is also quit good, it's the one I had most

succes with treating migraine problems. There is a AFNOR norm

available for it. Lavandin grosso is the one, even organically grown

that never really satisfied me. There is a AFNOR norm available for it.

 

I have not yet tried other lavandins like the the Reydovan type.

 

Much depends of course how the lavenders are distilled, in small units

or huhe containers, at least 1 and a half hour or only 45 minutes,

dried in the sun or not, mechanically harvested or manually

(population can only be harvested manually, since flowers are not all

ready at the same moment as clones do...)

 

Regarding suppliers: there is not a lot Lavender available in France,

at least not in the organic sector, as far as I know, I'm always happy

to find enough for my needs and the needs of my Belgian associate...

 

Hope this helps,

 

Michel

 

-------------------

 

Second:

 

Liz Tams shared this:

 

From

http://www.fineoils.co.uk/eos1.htm#

 

Check also http://tinyurl.com/5wl72 for more info.

Mail Jxxxx - who is a lavender freak - at jxxxxx@xxxxxxcom– (Anya

here = I removed this lady's email as I don't have permission to

publish it, and I haven't even written her yet). She will tell you all

– and more – than you want/need to know!! Seriously is a lovely lady

who is very knowledgeable about lavender (and many other oils, she has

worked with in the " industry " for years, and is more than a little

healthily sceptical about suppliers " claims " !!) If you don't cyber

know her already, let her know I gave you her address.

Love

Liz

 

Definition of the certification " Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée "

Recognition of an agricultural product - raw or processed - which

obtains its characteristics from a limited geographical area, taking

into account natural and human influences. AOC products are the result

of a close collaboration between an area and its production methods,

in other words a specific zone, certain production methods which the

local producers have adopted and a name or title worthy of protecting.

Today, more than 113,000 farms are subject to this certification. The

turnover of the AOC industries is approximately 17,500 million Euros.

Lavender is the only essential oil attracting the AOC status awarded

by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO) - part of

the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The process of obtaining AOC status:

Essential oil producers who meet the basic criteria of geographic

location, production methods and altitude may apply to the Lavender

essential oil producers association based in Sault. They complete a

distillation form and samples are taken and subjected to analysis by

SAI Chimie - a laboratory at Marseille University specialising in

perfumery and essential oils. The Certification Committee then meet to

smell and examine each applicant one by one. Certification is awarded

by date, lot number and weight. Certification can be refused on the

grounds of chemical analysis or olfaction.

Translation of the French Law of 24 October 1997 concerning Lavender

essential oil from Provence.

1. The Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status of Lavender

essential oil from Provence initially recognised by the law dated 14

December 1981 is limited to those lavender essential oils that fulfil

the following conditions.

2. The AOC only applies to those essential oils obtained from steam

distillation of the flowering tops of lavandula angustifolia P.

Miller. Plantations must consist of local plants reproduced only by

seed. Plantations obtained by cloning or other reproductive methods or

from seeds of clones are excluded.

3. The geographical area is limited to:

a) The following 'communes':

(alphabetical list of communes of four Départements:

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, la Drôme and Vaucluse)

within these communes, only plantations situated at a minimum altitude

of 800m may benefit from the AOC. Exceptions to this minimum altitude

limit may be accepted subject to approval by the committee of experts

appointed by the INAO.

b) The following 'communes':

(alphabetical list of different communes in the Département of the Drôme)

within these communes, only plantations situated at a minimum altitude

of 600m may benefit from the AOC.

4. The maximum essential oil yield is set at 25kg per hectare across

the total of the fields of one producer.

5. The lavender essential oil must conform to the following chemical

profile on analysis:

a) Acidity index: < 1.0

b) 1,8 Cineole: 0.2 to 1.0

c) Cis Beta Ocimene: 3.0 to 9.0

d) Trans Beta Ocimene: 2.2 to 4.9

e) Octanone 3: 0.7 to 2.0

f) Camphor: < 0.5

g) Linalol: < 36

h) Terpinene 1 ol 4: 2.5 to 5.5

i) Lavandulyl acetate: > 2.5

j) Lavandulol: > 0.5

k) Alpha Terpineol: < 0.5

l) Ratio of Cis Beta Ocimene to Trans Beta Ocimene: 1.2 to 2.7

m) Ratio of Trana Beta Ocimene to Octanone 3: 1.4 to 7

n) Ratio of Linalol + Linalyl acetate to Lavandulol + lavandulyl

acetate: 12 to 18

Exceptions to the above criteria may be permitted in certain

geographical areas with specific climate conditions, subject to the

conditions set out in the law relating to the AOC status as mentioned

in Article 6 of this law.

 

6. Lavender essential oils may not be sold with the AOC title Lavender

Essential Oil from Provence before receipt of the agreement

certificate issued by The INAO according to the law relating to

lavender essential oil from Provence.

 

7. AOC essential oils may not be added to or mixed with any other

products or substances as long as they are sold as such. At the risk

of losing the right to apply for AOC status, the essential oils cannot

be displayed for sale unless the AOC reference appears on the bottles

or the marketing documentation. It is forbidden to display for sale or

otherwise, under any name referring to the AOC status as defined by

this law, products which contain any other material or natural or

synthetic substance having a similar odour to this essential oil.

 

8. Use of any expression or symbol likely to lead to the belief by a

purchaser that an essential oil has AOC status as a Lavender essential

oil from Provence, when the essential oil does not meet all the

criteria set out in this law, will be subject to prosecution under

general legislation for fraud and the protection of the AOC status.

 

9. The law of 14 December 1981 relating to the AOC status of Lavender

essential oil from Provence is repealed.

 

The Ministry of Economics, Finance and Industry, the Ministry of

Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State for Small and

Medium Businesses are responsible, within their own capacities, for

the enforcement of this law, which will be published in the Official

Journal of the French Republic.

--------------------------

 

Third, from a HAHA conference:

 

 

Here's some great info for those who love their lavenders and lavendins:

 

2000 NAHA Seattle Conference Lecture

" Lavenders of Provence " by Rhiannon Harris

 

" Lavandin-

Lavande grosse, lavande batarde, badasso, grossiere

Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loiseleur

Lavandula angustifolia P. Miller x Lavandula latifolia (L.) Medikus

Lavandula hybrida (no longer recognized)

 

This essential oil is amongst the top ten most important essential

oils in the fragrance industry despite its relatively recent entry

into the world market in the late 1920's. With a yield of at least

100 kg/hectare as opposed to 50kg/hectare of lavender and a price

approximately 4 times cheaper, it is extremely popular in the

fragrance industry as a replacement to lavender, particularly in

soaps, detergents and cosmetics. Major producers are France (with

90% of the world market) followed by Spain, USSR & Yugoslavia.

This naturally occurring interspecific hybridof lavender and spike

lavender was originally grown from the transplantation of the wild

plants themselves (as a hybrid, the plant itself is mostly sterile,

thus propogation from seed is not possible). These grow in the

contact zone between lavender and spike lavender between 500 and 800

m above sea level, with bees thought to act as the major

pollinators. However, since 1925, selection and vegetative

propagation by cuttings has become the main method, with the

subsequent advance and development of specific clones of lavandin.

The lavandin plant is larger and much hardier than that of lavender.

It is more suited to large-scale cultivation and harvesting methods

as it has a more robust and uniform growth habit.

 

Currently, the three main clones (in order of their development) of

lavandin in France are:

 

1. Abril- richest in 1,8 cineole and camphor (the original clone

named after professor Abrial) Greatly affected by deperissement in

the 1950's.

2. Super- closest in chemistry to Lavandula angustifolia. Replaced

the Abrial clone but also subject to deperissement.

3. Grosso- highest yield due to its bushy habit (named after Mr.

Grosso from the Vaucluse). The most commonly cultivated clone since

1975, but more harsh and terpenic in odour. More robust and

productive than the other clones (due to its bushy habit rather than

actual yield/kilo), it is also more resistant to disease. In

comparison it is considered to be inferior in terms of odour

quality.

 

Currently, a fourth clone, 'Sumian' is produced in small quantities.

It has a similar chemistry to the Abrial clone and is starting to

regain interest.

 

In terms of current production of lavandin:

7-10% comes from the Abrial clone

5-7% comes from the Super clone

70-80% comes from the Grosso clone

7-10% comes from the Sumian clone

 

Comment with regard to relative chemistry and potential therapeutic

uses. With the exception of maritime Lavender, all oils are currently

listed in the French Pharmacopoeia.

 

Maritime lavender- L. stoechas

This oil is utilised in France for its activity principally as a

mucolytic and antimicrobial agent. This effect is likely to occur as

a result of the high ketone content of the oil. Stimulating in

action, this oil is used in small quantities in situations where

there is marked accumulation mucus with superimposed infection. It

is rarely used with children. The oil is not utilised long term due

to concerns about possible accumulative toxicity.

 

Spike lavender- L. latifolia

Spike lavender with its predominance of camphor, 1,8-cineole and

linalol offers the potential of a penetrating pain reliever when

applied externally combined with antimicrobial activity. The degree

of linalol is thought to temper potential skin irritation from the

other components; normally spike lavender is well tolerated on the

skin in high concentration. Additionally, for respiratory problems,

the oil helps expectoration and gives the sensation of easier

breathing. As opposed to lavender, this oil is not calming in action.

 

True lavender- L. angustifolia

True lavender needs little introduction as to its uses. In general,

the predominant effects are seen with the oil's sedative action. In

France, true lavender is often reserved for use with

emotional/stress related problems with spike lavender or lavandin

being the oils of choice for physical disorders. True population

lavender is a precious and relatively costly oil. For general

vaporisation purposes, a cheaper alternative is the Super clone of

lavandin.

 

Lavandin- L. x intermedia

When comparing spike lavender, true lavender and lavandin, it can be

seen that the hybrid possesses a chemistry that reflects

both 'parents'. Thus this oil makes an ideal addition to the

aromatherapy first aid kit for every day minor physical problems.

Depending on the clone, the oil is either closer to spike lavender

in its application (e.g. Abrial) or to true lavender (e.g. Super).

The Grosso clone is rarely used in aromatherapy as the majority is

produced intensively (with shortened distillations and using the

vert broye method) for the fragrance industry. All clones are well

tolerated by the skin. "

 

-------

 

Fourth, from essentiallyoils.com april 98 newsletter:

 

It does seem that when the French language is introduced into the

equation we all become even more confused! Never more, it would

appear, than when we visit France for a little personal Lavender Oil

shopping. I must admit that I find it very difficult to sort my

petite lavande from my grande lavande.

 

Therefore, when asked to do exactly this last week, I deferred to the

eminent Dr. Guenther.

 

Once into it, I realised that this was a good opportunity to endeavour

to sort out that oft-repeated question Which lavender is which?

According to the older literature the correct botanical designation

for Lavender is Lavandula officinalis Chaix. and yet today it is more

often botanically referred to as Lavandula angustifolia Mill., which

can also be called Lavandula vera D.C. To further complicate matters,

there are several subspecies or varieties of Lavandula officinalis

(for, being old-fashioned, that is what I shall call it!), exhibiting

extreme forms of variation according to position, soil and altitude.

 

Much is talked of altitude. True French lavender grows in the Haute

Provence at an altitude of 600-1500 metres. The plants are grown from

seeds of the wild lavender, rather confusingly called population

lavender. The oil has a typical composition of (%): cis-ocimene (5-9),

trans-ocimene (3-5), cineole (n1), camphor (n0.4), linalool (30-35),

linalyl acetate (30-40), 1-terpinen-4-ol (3-4), and lavandulyl acetate

(3-4).

 

Considered to produce the highest quality oil is the small form of

Lavandula officinalis Chaix var. delphinensis Jord. (in France, called

petite or fine lavande) which grows wild at the highest altitudes. The

slightly larger form, Lavandula officinalis Chaix var. fragrans Jord.

(moyenne lavande) also grows wild, but at somewhat lower altitudes

(from 500 metres upwards); the oil is considered of slightly lower

quality.

 

Cloned varieties of lavender (e.g. mailette and matherone) can be

grown at lower altitudes, but they produce a poorer quality oil.

 

Lavandin (grosse lavande), a hybrid between true lavender and spike

lavender, botanically designated Lavandula officinalis Chaix X

Lavandula latifolia Medik. (but more often simply called Lavandula

hybrida Reverchon) grows wild at medium levels. Lavandin plants are

sterile and can be propagated only by using cuttings. The oils from

the most important varieties, Abrialis and Grosso, contain linalool

and linalyl acetate as major constituents as well as 5% cineole and

more than 7% camphor. Grosso produces the most oil, but has fewer

esters, and Abrialis contains high linalool. A third variety, Super,

because its oil contains a high concentration of linalyl acetate, most

resembles true lavender. Reydovan, another strain of lavandin,

contains fewer esters but more camphor.

 

Lavandula latifolia Medik., Spike or spike lavender, called grande

lavande, grows wild at low altitudes. The oil is of still lower

quality than lavandin; it possesses a somewhat harsh, camphoraceous

odour, lacking the sweetness of true lavender.

 

From this classification, it appears that the highest altitudes

produce plants yielding the best oil, while plants from low

elevations yield oils of the lowest quality, with a whole range of

intermediary grades between the two extremes. The quality of lavender

is now evaluated mainly by its ester content: provided it is properly

distilled, lavender var. delphinensis yields oils containing 50 to 55%

of esters, while L. latifolia gives oils containing as little as 2 to

3% of esters.

 

This, however, apparently applies only to wild growing plants. It has

been proved that true lavender with an oil of high ester content can

be planted successfully also at low altitudes, even at sea level, if

due consideration is given to factors of climate, soil, cultivation,

and the dangers of hybridization.

 

The so-called Lavender 40/42 refers to a combination of natural

lavender oils (and/or synthetic chemicals - linalool and linalyl

acetate) to produce an oil with linalool and linalyl acetate that

approaches the 40/42% of esters standard. There is no difference in

chemical composition to the natural.

 

Most commercially traded lavender is from various growing regions,

sub-varieties and clones. It is often mixed or blended and so

considerable chemical variations occur. For example, linalyl acetate

alone can vary between 10 and 55%.

 

In view of this, it is most important to submit lavender oil not only

to chemical analysis and to compare the ratio between the physical

properties, but also to " sniff " it most carefully. It is said that a

real expert, familiar with the scent of true lavender, will usually

have no difficulty in distinguishing a genuine oil from an adulterated

one!

 

Bulgarian lavender oil is considered to be of similar composition to

that obtained from French population lavender, but of poorer quality.

Certainly, based upon my own review of several different samples, I

would agree about the composition but am less sure about the poorer

quality. The ocimenes, linalool, and linalyl acetate are consistent

with those of samples of French lavender. Perhaps, if anything, it is

the somewhat higher 1,8 cineole content of Bulgarian lavender which

detracts from its quality.

 

The English type of lavender differs considerably from that produced

in Southern France, containing a much lower percentage of esters

(chiefly linalyl acetate) and somewhat resembling lavandin oil.

Lacking the sweetness of the French oil, it does represent that

typical lavender scent to which many English have become accustomed.

 

My own GC/MS analysis of Dalmatian lavender reveals an oil that

contains (%): linalool (40.241), d-limonene (0.732), 1,8 cineole

(7.369), camphor (1.952), terpinen-4-ol (7.084) and linalyl acetate

(6.281), amongst others. In some ways, a little like English lavender.

 

Comparatively small quantities of lavender oil are produced in

Northern Tasmania, from plantings started in 1922 from imported

French seed. The southern latitude of this sector is approximately

the same as that of Southern France in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tasmanian lavender oil, I think, is of the highest quality with a high

ester content. The oil closely resembles the French type of oil.

 

I hope that this answers a few questions. If nothing else, put it in

your handbag ready for that next trip to Provence!

 

-----------------------------

 

Phew.

http://anyamccoy.com