Lavender Angustifolia is an evergreen, perennial plant which belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is native in the Mediterranean area. In fact, we can find it in the wild in countries such as Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Portugal. Thus it loves the sun but it can also stand cold temperatures as well and it requires little care. The Angustifolia variety is characterized by its thick appearance and the presence of long and narrow leaves.
There are numerous historical references over the years.
In Egypt some bottles of Lavender were found, for example, in the tomb of Tutankhamun and drops of this essence seem to have been sprinkled on the bandages during the mummification process.
It was brought to Europe by the Ancient Romans who also used Lavender-flavored water for the famous thermal waters hence presumably the birth of its name from the Latin "Lavendus" (gerund of the verb to wash), "which must be washed".
The plant of Lavender, famous for its essence
It was mainly in the Middle Ages that the essence of Lavender became known. In the "dark period", the only ones who use it were the monks and nuns who perpetuated their herbal knowledge in their gardens.
Subsequently, the monasteries closed, the Lavender plants were transferred to the domestic gardens. The ladies of the time used it to freshen the air, perfume the sheets and, mixed with beeswax, to polish furniture.
Curiosity
For mothers, Lavender essential oil is a great help in case of lice, in fact it is sufficient to pour a maximum of 2-3 drops on the scalp and on the comb to prevent the annoying small animals from reappearing.
When planted in the garden, Lavender will keep mosquitoes away and will attract butterflies.