Take a deep breath through your nose. What scents are you picking up right now? How are those smells affecting you? As I write this, I inhale the scent of my coffee sitting next to me, and sweet orange from the diffuser across the room. These smells combine to make me feel cozy, happy, and safe. Our nose and brain are very closely connected, as evidenced by specific smells that evoke particular memories. The smell of basil immediately transports me into my grandmother’s kitchen and the memory of chopping away at the bright green leaves as I helped to make her incredible pesto. Just like basil, there is an endless list of plants whose essences can be extracted into fragrant, healing oils.

One of the most iconic and most often requested essential oils in our massage therapy sessions is Lavender (lavandula angustifolia).  It is obtained through steam-distillation of the flowers of the Lavender plant.  Clients who are in need of relaxation often request it as their go-to oil for massage sessions.  Certainly, Lavender is best-known for its relaxing properties, but there are many other uses for this classic oil.  Here are seven of the myriad of benefits of Lavender oil: