A flower of beauty, alluring fragrance and steeped in spiritual value, used by Egyptians and Arabians around 600 BC, to Romans in 720 BC, lavender's properties have been at the very essence of ritual for over two thousand years. When the Roman Empire conquered southern Britain, they introduced the beautifully coloured herb to England as an aromatic addition to bathing ritual - scenting and disinfecting their water due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties.
In 1910, French chemist and scholar René-Maurice Gattefosse discovered the virtues of the essential oil of lavender. Gattefosse burned his hand whilst working on an experiment at the laboratory of his family-run cosmetics firm, he plunged his hand into the nearest source of liquid, which just so happened to be lavender essential oil. He was astonished at how quickly his burn healed, and how little it scarred, which borne his fascination with essential oils and transformed his career trajectory to the 'Father of Aromatherapy'.
René-Maurice Gattefosse
Since this discovery, the uses of lavender have advanced in treating anxiety, fungal infections, hair loss, acne, inflammation and insomnia to name a few. Some studies suggest it can aid in digestion issues, nausea and vomiting. A derivative of the Latin verb Lavare (to wash), today, lavender scents your hair, clothes, bedsheets, adds depth to culinary dishes and is ingested as a medicinal herbal tonic. It is grown in Northern Africa, the Mediterranean mountains and widely cultivated across Europe.
At MÂ-RI, we consider Lavender a majestic scent for bathing rituals. It’s soothing, calming aroma, encourages the mind to forget all about the hustle and bustle of the day, and aids the body’s muscles and skeletal system to relax, allowing the soul freedom to expand, float and dream about the boundless enjoyment and new experiences the future holds.
Lavender is a staple essential oil for the home, a firm favourite in aromatherapy and, expertly enhanced with a blend of Patchouli, a MÂ-RI best seller. We recommend the all encompassing bar of soap especially before resting.
MÂ-RI uses a high grade of Lavender essential oil. We source our essential oils from authentic suppliers, who’s distillation process is renowned for producing the highest quality of oils, harnessing the blessed healing properties.
