- True lavender and lavandin
- How we grow and harvest lavender
- The actives and what they do
- Benefits for acne-prone skin
- Benefits for the scalp and hair
- Oil, hydrolat or dried flowers
- Our products with lavender
- How to use it every day
- Benefits and precautions: who should take care
- Frequently asked questions
True lavender and lavandin: the difference that changes everything
Two different things are sold under the name lavender. The first is Lavandula angustifolia, true or narrow-leaved lavender, a plant of higher altitudes with a low camphor content.
The second is lavandin, Lavandula × intermedia, a hybrid between true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and spike lavender (Lavandula spica, synonym Lavandula latifolia). Lavandin is larger, more abundant and considerably cheaper to produce, but its oil contains noticeably more camphor and smells sharper.
Bulgaria is among the largest producers of lavender oil in the world, and most of the land is planted precisely with true lavender. Our fields are part of that tradition.
How we grow and harvest lavender
Lavender loves exactly what other crops cannot stand: poor limestone soil, plenty of sun and little water. Our fields are certified under the rules of organic farming, and one row lives and yields for over ten years.
The harvest is in July and the window is narrow. We cut when about half of the flowers on the spike are open: earlier the oil has not yet built up, later it starts to be lost.
The actives in lavender and what they do
The scent and the action of lavender are due mainly to two compounds. Linalool is a terpene alcohol, and linalyl acetate is its ester. The ratio between the two decides whether the oil will be soft and sweet or sharp.
This is exactly where the difference from lavandin lies. In true lavender there is very little camphor, under 1% of the oil. In lavandin it is usually between 5 and 10%, that is, several times more. That is why its scent is sharper and the skin tolerates it less well.
The benefits of lavender for acne-prone skin
The benefits of lavender for the skin are sought most often for skin prone to acne, enlarged pores and a shiny T-zone. The hydrolat balances the feeling of oiliness without drying, and that is exactly its difference from aggressive alcohol toners.
The practical significance is great. Over-dried skin answers with even more sebum, which sends the routine into a circle. The balancing approach works more slowly, but it does not enter that cycle.
The benefits of lavender for the scalp and hair
The second use is on the scalp, in care for dandruff and a sensitive scalp, where the task is the same as on the face: balance without over-drying.
If the problem is mainly dandruff and itching, it is worth looking at clary sage too, which works in the same direction and combines well with lavender.
Oil, hydrolat or dried flowers: which and when
Three different products come out of the same field, and confusion between them is common.
Our products with lavender
Lavender is the herb with the most forms in our range: hydrolat, essential oil, shampoo, hand cream, soap, bath salts, dried flowers and honey.
In Hydrobiotic Lavender & Mint the two hydrolats are combined with a postbiotic complex from fermented myrtle and mastic tree extract.
See the whole range
Over 60 products from 11 plants, grown and distilled by us. Creams, shampoos, soaps, salts, essential oils and hydrolats.
See all productsAcne careHow to use lavender every day
Benefits and precautions: who should take care
Herbal cosmetics are care, not treatment. With severe or cystic acne, consult a dermatologist.
Frequently asked questions
- the guide to the 11 Bulgarian herbs we grow
- lavender water for acne
- teenage acne and care with lavender
- peppermint for oily and combination skin
InaEssentials is a Bulgarian family brand for natural and organic cosmetics. The family has over 25 years of experience in growing essential-oil crops on its own fields, and its products combine centuries-old tradition with the modern and the innovative. A closed production cycle is used - the family controls the whole process, from planting to production and bottling, to ensure the highest quality.
You can find more about the family's journey and the farm on the About us page.
Important information and sources
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products, monograph on Lavandula angustifolia.
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament on cosmetic products, annex on fragrance allergens to be declared.
- Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products.
- Ingredients and prices are as shown on the InaEssentials product pages as of September 2026.
This article was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the InaEssentials team.
The information in this article is educational and does not constitute medical advice. InaEssentials products are cosmetics, not medicines, and are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. For a skin or any other health complaint, consult a doctor. During pregnancy, breastfeeding and for children, consult a specialist before introducing a new cosmetic product.
