Lavender essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the flowering tops of the botanical species Lavándula angustifolia L. also classified as Lavándula Vera, of the Labiaceae family, which grows spontaneously in the Mediterranean basin, especially in Southeastern French, which is where its industrial use began and developed. Although at present the wild plant that in France they call “Authentic Lavender” is hardly harvested, obtaining the oil from important plantations that are cultivated in various countries of the world.
The oil is contained in the flowering tops, so the harvesting, currently mechanized, is carried out trying to harvest the least possible amount of stem and leaves, since these only increase the unproductive volume to be handled.
This botanical species is a shrub between 30 and 60 cm. Tall, with narrow, pointed leaves and violet flowers, less intense blue than Lavandín, grouped at the top of the spike, which is where it contains its oil.
Lavender essential oil distillation occurs in August.