Lavandin

Lavandin is the name for a variety of lavender that comes from a cross of English and spike lavender. Commonly grown in France ,it dates from the 1820’s. A specific cultivar of lavadin known as ‘Abrialii’ or ‘Abrial’ or ‘Abrialis’ formed the basis of the French lavender industry from 1935 to the 1970’s. However this variety was susceptible to disease from a pathogenic microorganism. The disease cut the plant life from around eight to ten years to three or four. In 1972 ‘Abrialii’ was replaced by ‘Grosso’ and since 1975 ‘Grosso’ has been the dominant cultivar. Also in use today is the variety ‘Super’ discovered in the foothills of the Alps.

In the 1920’s the lavender grown in France was about 90% self sown seed and the crop was small -a mere 1 to 2 tons of oil. Today France grows lavadin in large amounts- 28,000 acres yielding 936 to 1,102. Most of this oil is used to scent detergents and soaps. A perfumist would describe lavandin in general as fruity, fatty, harsh, turpentinelike, eucalyptus fresh, camphoraceous, sweet, aromatic, and possessing a warm wood smell. The plants make great landscaping and produce high quality oil. All lavandins are much less susceptible to the fungus that can ravage the English lavenders. Here in the U. S. ‘Grosso’ has become the favored aroma for soaps, room fresheners, candles, and culinary use. It has a harsh, terpenic note and is more pungent than another popular lavandin known as ‘Provence’.

(The Lavender Garden, Robert Kourik)