Lavender oil

“ In southern France and in England considerable areas are devoted to lavender for the perfumery business. The flower stems are cut in August, covered at once with bast matting to protect them from the sun and taken to the stills to obtain the thin, pale yellow, fragrant oil. Four-year-old plants yield the greatest amount of oil, but the product is greater from a two-year plantation than from an older one, the plants then being most vigorous. Two grades of oil are made, the best being used for lavender water, the poorer for soap making. ”

“ A tea brewed from the flowers is an excellent remedy for headache from fatigue, or weakness. But Lavender oil is, in too large a dose, a narcotic poison, and causes death by convulsions. The tincture of red Lavender is a popular medicinal cordial; and is composed of the oils of Lavender and rosemary, with cinnamon bark, nutmeg, and red sandal wood, macerated in spirit of wine for seven days ”

“ In England lavender is cultivated chiefly for the distillation of its essential oil, of which it yields on an average 11/2% when freed from the stalks, but in the south of Europe the flowers form an object of trade, being exported to the Barbary states, Turkey and America. ”

“ Light contributes powerfully to this action, during which the oil disengages a little carbonic acid, but much less than the oxygen absorbed; no water is formed. The oil turns gradually thicker, loses its smell, and is transformed into a resin, which becomes eventually hard. De Saussure found that oil of lavender, recently distilled, had absorbed in four winter months, and at a temperature below 54° F., 52 times its volume of oxygen, and had disengaged twice its volume of carbonic acid gases ”

“ Cheap resin pomade.—Best tallow 81⁄2 lbs., pale resin and pale ceresin each 13 ozs. Perfume: Bergamot oil 31⁄2 ozs., cassia oil 91⁄2 drachms, thyme oil 5 drachms; or, Portugal oil 23⁄4 ozs., cassia oil 1 oz., lavender oil 51⁄2 drachms.
Hair Oils.—Like pomades, hair oils are perfumed either with volatile oils or by treatment with larger quantities of fresh flowers. The oils obtained in the latter manner are known as Huiles antiques, and are the finest and most expensive. Vaseline oil, which is cheap and does not become rancid, is also at present much used as hair oil. ”

“ The oil of spike lavender, it may be noticed, is an essential oil prepared from Lavandula spica.
Professor Church has suggested improvement in the composition of the medium by eliminating the “doubtful constituents” elemi resin and bees’-wax and substituting paraffin wax, one of the safest of materials, dissolved in non-resinifiable oil of turpentine. This is mixed as before with copal varnish and used in the same way and with the same or better results as Mr Gambier Parry’s medium. ”

“ We should then have otto of lavender instead of essential oil of lavender, &c. &c. In this work it will be seen that the writer has generally used the word otto in place of "essential oil," in accordance with his views. Where there exists a solution of an essential oil in a fat oil, the necessity of some such significant distinction is rendered obvious, for commercially such articles are still called "oils"—oil of jasmine, oil of roses, &c. It cannot be expected that the public will use the words "fat" oil and "essential" oil, to distinguish these differences of composition. ”

“ The tops of these plants are generally distilled in situ, under contract with the Grasse manufacturer, by the villagers in the immediate vicinity. The higher the altitude at which these grow, the more esteemed the oil. The finest oil of lavender is produced by distilling the flowers only. About 100 tons of lavender, 25 of spike, 40 of thyme, and 20 of rosemary are sent out from Grasse every year. ”

“ All the plants here enumerated belong to the labiate family; which, though unfashionable even in Shenstone's days, have still their products favorably received in the very best society. [Pg 80] The rosemary, whose banishment from the gardens of the great he specially records, enters largely in the composition of eau de Cologne. Of the lavenders, one species (Lavendula vera) yields the well known lavender oil, and another (L. latifolio) the spike oil. ”

“ Oil of turpentine (warm) , 5 parts; lavender oil bottoms (genuine) , 3 parts; agitate well together, and in a fortnight decant the clear away. Used by artists and enamellers.
Oils, Stamford’s. Syn. Lord Stamford’s mixed oils. Prep. Dissolve camphor, 1 oz., in rectified spirit of wine, 1⁄4 pint; add oil of origanum, 2 oz.; oil of turpentine, 1⁄2 pint; green elder oil, 2 lbs.; and agitate until mixed. The rectified spirit is now generally omitted, the camphor being dissolved in the green oil by aid of heat before adding the other ingredients. Stimulant. ”

“ Ess-bouquet.—Coriander oil 1 drachm, oil of cloves 7, nutmeg oil 3.5, lavender oil 10, sandal-wood oil 3.5, bergamot oil 30, rose oil and rose-geranium oil each 2, neroli oil 0.6.
Lavender odor.—Lavender oil 50 drachms, bergamot oil 25, cinnamon oil 0.3, geranium oil 2.5, neroli oil 0.5.
Eau de Cologne.—Bergamot oil and lime oil each 30 drachms, lemon oil and neroli oil each 15, rosemary oil 5, rose geranium oil 0.6.
Smelling Salts. Smelling salts are ammoniacal perfumes in a solid form, Preston salt (sel de Preston) being one of the most popular. ”

“ Very large quantities are also grown in France, but the fine odor of the British produce realizes in the market four times the price of that of Continental growth. Burnett says that the oil of Lavandula spica is more pleasant than that derived from the other species, but this statement must not mislead the purchaser to buy the French spike lavender, as it is not worth a tenth of that derived from the Lavandulæ veræ. Half-a-hundred weight of good lavender flowers yield, by distillation, from 14 to 16 oz. ”

“ Gerard had lavender in his garden and so did Parkinson, who says:
"It is called of some Nardus Italica and Lavendula, the greater is called Fœmina and the lesser Mas. We do call them generally Lavender, or Lavender Spike, and the Lesser Spike. Lavender is little used in physic but outwardly: the oil for cold and benumbed parts and is almost wholly spent with us for to perfume linen, apparrell, gloves, leather, etc., and the dried flowers to comfort and dry up the moisture of a cold brain. ”

“ It is very popular, its action upon the skin and nerves being refreshing and stimulating.
Eau de vie de Lavande double ambrée.—Alcohol of the best quality 5.18 quarts, best quality of lavender oil 3.52 ozs., French rose geranium oil 0.7, oils of cassia, bergamot, lemon, and French petit grain each 0.88, Peru balsam 5.29, orris-root tincture 2.11 quarts, ambergris tincture 5.29 ozs., musk tincture 0.28, storax tincture 8.81, tolu-balsam tincture 5.29, benzoin tincture 10.58. No water should be added. ”

“ The numerous formulas show that oils of lemon, bergamot, and orange form normal constituents of every Cologne water; the finer grades always contain, in addition, oils of rosemary and neroli. It is advisable to dissolve the aromatics in very strong alcohol and then to effect the dilution required with orange-flower or rose water. This dilution is also to be employed when a cheaper product is desired.
Lavender Perfumes.
English (Mitcham) oil of lavender should always be used when it is desired to produce perfumes of first quality. ”

“ Take croton oil, twelve drops (minims) ; oil of almonds, four troy grains. Mix. A little is to be well rubbed on the scalp twice a day. Soft down, we are assured, appears in three weeks.
For Improving the Hair.—Palma Christi oil for thickening the hair: Take one ounce of Palma Christi oil, add oil of lavender or bergamot to scent it. Let it be well brushed into the hair for two or three months, particularly applying it to those parts where it may be most desirable to render the hair luxuriant. This is a simple and valuable oil, and not in the hands of any monopolist. ”

“ They are viscid and of a pale yellow color, lighter than water, and therefore float upon it, and are very combustible. Oils are used for a multiplicity of purposes: for burning in lamps, for making paints and varnishes, preventing the friction of machinery, in making soap, and numerous other processes. Oils are generally divided into fixed and volatile oils; as an example of the first, linseed oil may be selected; of the last, oil of lavender.
Some of the fixed oils are called drying oils, and it is this kind that are used for varnish making ”

“ An oil, prepared by infusing the crushed lavender flowers in olive oil, is recommended for anointing palsied limbs, and at one time a spirit was prepared from lavender flowers which was known as "palsy drops." ”

“ Melt over a sand bath 30 parts of rosin, add 10 parts of uranic nitrate, and, while constantly stirring, incorporate with the liquid 35 to 40 parts of oil of lavender. After the mixture has become entirely homogeneous, remove the source of heat, and add 30 to 40 parts more of oil of lavender. Intimately mix the mass thus obtained with a like quantity of bismuth glass prepared by fusing together equal parts of oxide of bismuth and crystallized boric acid. The paint is to be burned in in the usual manner. ”

“ The fixed oils used in painting are linseed, walnut, and poppy, purified and rendered drying by the addition of litharge. They should be pale in colour, limpid, and transparent, and should dry quickly: nut oil in a few hours, linseed in a day, and poppy oil in thirty-six to forty hours. The essential oils used in painting are turpentine, for diluting the pigments ground in oil, and spike, or lavender, for wax and enamel painting. ”

“ Lav′ender-wa′ter, a perfume composed of spirits of wine, essential oil of lavender, and ambergris.—Lay in lavender, to lay by carefully, as clothes, with sprigs of lavender in them; Oil of lavender, an aromatic oil distilled from lavender flowers and stems, used as a stimulant and tonic. ”

“ A turbid yellow-brownish liquid, consisting of a weak extract of lavender flowers in diluted spirit, in which some oil of lavender has also been dissolved. (Opwyrda.)
Eye Water, Dr Graefe’s (L. Roth, Berlin) . Sulphate of zinc, 1·5 grms.; fennel water, 100 grms., slightly coloured with fennel seed tincture. (Schädler.)
Eye Water (J. P. H. Hette) . A solution of ethereal oils of lavender, bergamot, rosemary, and tincture of opium in spirits of wine, 50 per cent. (Wittstein.)
Eye Water (Bernhard Kraft, Calbe) for acute inflammation of the eyes and for strengthening the sight. ”

“ The stems and branches of lavender being ligneous and strong are able to resist the force of the wind, and the plant thrives best in a perfectly open locality, where the air circulates freely; the oil and resin which it contains in abundance enable it to resist the parching action of the wind and sun. ”

“ Wooden vessels and cans are to be avoided, as the best [185] parts of the oil, and of the spirits, will be absorbed by them and consequently lost.
When the distillation is over, draw out, or quench the fire, and let the remaining spirits and flowers continue in the still until the next day.
When the above quantity of 25 or 26 gallons has stood for 4 or 5 days, put it to ten ounces of true English oil of lavender. Mix the whole well in the jar, by drawing out one or two gallons, and then returning them. ”

“ Oil of lavender two drachms, oil of rosemary one drachm and a half, orange, lemon and bergamot, one drachm each of the oil; also two drachms of the essence of musk, attar of rose ten drops, and a pint of proof spirit. Shake all together thoroughly three times a day for a week. ”

“ Héliotrope sachet powder.—Ground lavender flowers 50 drachms, ground orris root and ground rose leaves each 25, ground benzoin 10, pulverized starch 50, bergamot oil 10, rose geranium oil 21⁄2, oil of cloves and musk tincture each 11⁄2, vanilla tincture 121⁄2, extrait héliotrope 25, oil of bitter almonds 2 drops. ”

“ Lavender Dye (for WOOL) . Boil 51⁄2 lbs. of logwood with 2 lbs. of alum. Then add 10 oz. of extract of indigo. When cold put in the goods, and gradually raise to the boiling point. For 50 lbs.
Lavender, Red. See Tincture.
Lavender, Smith’s British. Prep. From English oil of lavender, 2 oz.; essence of ambergris, 1 oz.; eau de Cologne, 1 pint; rectified spirit, 1 quart. Very fragrant. See Water (Lavender) .
Lavender, to Dye Silk. (Mustpratt.) Into a vessel with warm water, as hot as the hand can bear, dissolve a little white soap, enough to raise a lather ”

“ This mass is left standing for 10 or 12 days, after which a solution of potash permanganate is added, which decolorises it and prevents putrefaction. Finally the mixture is stirred up, diluted with more water to give it the consistence of very thin size, filtered, a few drops of oil of lavender are added, and the preparation is preserved in closed vessels. It is said to keep a long time without change. A single coat of this liquid will suffice to prepare wood or paper, as well as lime or hard plaster walls, for painting with oil colours. ”

“ Stomachic Mixture.—Camphor julep, one ounce; sweet spirit of nitre, half an ounce; compound tincture of cardamoms, spirit of anise-seed, of each five drachms; oil of caraway, twelve drops; syrup of ginger, two drachms; peppermint-water, two drachms. Mix. A table-spoonful occasionally in flatulency and dyspepsia.
386. Red lavender drops for Nervous Attacks.—Fill a quart bottle with the blossoms of lavender, and pour on it as much brandy as it will contain ”