Cooking
Lavender essential oil can be used in recipes for food or for body care use. It can be added to almost any food recipe so don’t be afraid to experiment a little. Just remember to only add one to two drops, as the oil is very strong is taste. A little will go a long way. Feel free to mix in other essential oils when making homemade body care products to achieve your desired scent and essential oil results.
Lavender Cookies
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 2/3 cup confectioners sugar
- zest of 2 lemons, divided
- 7 drops lemon essential oil
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons raw sugar
Combine confectioners sugar, butter, salt, vanilla, zest of one lemon and essential oils until vlended well. Add flour and combine until dough sticks together. Form into a disk and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, usually about thirty minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the zest of the second lemon with the raw sugar in a small bowl. Roll out dough until it is ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and sugar mixture. Cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are set. Remove and cool.
An unique way to add lavender flavor to drinks is to flavor sugar with the flowers. Add fresh lavender flowers to a bowl of sugar and leave it covered for about a week. The flowers will flavor the sugar which can then be added to teas or water.
To flavor custards or puddings, soak lavender flowers in the milk for the recipes for a couple hours. Remove the flowers and use the milk as directed by the recipe.
Make a sweet lavender syrup by combing sugar, water, sweet dessert wine and orange juice in desired amounts to taste. Boil the ingredients together and then add some lavender flowers. Allow the mixture to sit for a couple of hours. Remove the flowers and store the mixture in a glass bottle in the refrigerator. It pairs nicely with berries.
In any recipe that calls for rosemary, substitute lavender. Use twice the amount of lavender than rosemary that the recipe calls for.
Try this marinade with pork, fish or lamb. Combine lemon juice, olive oil and chopped lavender. Allow the solution to marinade the meat for at least two hours before cooking as normal.
Cleaning
Lavender essential oil is a great natural cleaner for the home. Not only does it leave a pleasant scent, it kills bacteria and disinfects surfaces safely. It is great for homes with children and pets since there is no leftover chemical residue like with store bought cleaners. The solutions still need to be stored safely though and should avoid contact with the eyes. They should never be consumed.
Lavender Cleaning Solution
- 16 ounces white vinegar
- 2 cups distilled water
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 32 ounce glass bottle with a spray nozzle
Add all ingredients to the glass bottle and shake well to mix. Use on kitchen and bathroom counter tops and around the house to disinfect surfaces. Store in a dark place to keep the oil active.
Add some lavender oil to a spray bottle with water. Add a teaspoon of vodka and use as a room freshener. Be sure to test it on any fabric before spraying the entire piece of furniture. It can also be used as a bug repellent. Spray window sills and doorways. It will not eliminate any bugs but should discourage them from entering a home.
Make your own dish soap by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil. It will increase the soap’s disinfecting strength and provide a fresh scent.
Store satchels of dried lavender in drawers or linen closets to keep them smelling fresh.
Add lavender oil directly to the washing machine or to a dryer sheet for the dryer. It will help to disinfect clothing and leave it smelling fresher longer. It can also be used to refresh clothes that may have been left in a washer and are starting to acquire a foul odor.
Body Care
Lavender oil is a great oil for skin care and also restoring health and shine to hair. The oil can penetrate to deeper layers of the skin and therefore provide better and long-lasting results.
Lavender Eye Cream and Makeup Remover
- ½ cup extra virgin coconut oil
- vitamin E capsules
- Lavender essential oil
Microwave the coconut oil in a small bowl for 15 seconds. Place the oil in a glass container, like a mason jar. Add 4-5 capsules worth of vitamin E to the oil. You can do this by poking the capsule with a small and sterile pin to release the liquid. Drop in 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil. Allow the mixture to cool until it turns into a solid. It may be placed in the refrigerator to speed up the process. Once it is solid, it is ready to use. You can use it in the evening to remove eye make-up and the antioxidants in the lavender oil will help to smooth out wrinkles and improve the skin around the eyes, giving you a more youthful appearance.
Lavender Face Moisturizer
- ½ cup Shea butter
- 1 teaspoon liquid vitamin E
- 7 drops lavender essential oil
- 3 drops rosemary oil extract
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a hand mixer until it has reached a light and fluffy consistency. Apply as needed.
Add lavender oil to Shea butter and apply to the lips to heal dry and cracked skin.
Apply lavender oil directly to the scalp to fight dandruff, dry scalp and itchiness.. This can also stop hair loss and promote healthy hair growth.
Lavender oil can help smooth out wrinkles. Apply the oil directly to the problem areas with a cotton ball or small brush.
