Suzanne Askham

Wellbeing notes: This is the plant for relaxation

In June, lavender starts blooming, and gardens are fragranced with its sweet, herbal aroma. The word ‘lavender’ comes from the Latin, ‘lavare’, meaning ‘to wash’. I can’t begin to say how much I value this soothing flower. My favourite garden memories of childhood are lavender-scented. And my least favourite memories of adulthood – the many days and nights spent by my son’s bedside in hospitals – are also fragranced with lavender. The scent, which I scattered liberally in the form of essential oil, made those experiences more bearable.

There are many ways to bring lavender into the home, where its calming and antibacterial properties may be much appreciated. Here are a couple of my favourites. 

Fragrant sachets

Place a handful of fresh lavender heads in a pocket-sized, unbleached cotton bag, and hang up in your bathroom where it will dry quietly away. Then, for a fragrant bath, suspend under the running tap. You may like to squeeze the bag once or twice to release more aroma. When the bath is run, use the bag as a loofah over your skin. Discard the lavender after the bath. 

Embroidered little bags of dried lavender are, of course, lovely to place in drawers and storage boxes.

Lavender milk

This soothing bedtime drink encourages a good night’s sleep. You can use any kind of milk – we prefer oat. Pour a cupful of milk into a saucepan. Add a teaspoon of dried lavender flowers, bring to the boil, then remove from heat and leave to infuse for ten minutes. Stir in a teaspoon of honey, strain into cup and drink.

Finally, I do believe that every household needs a small bottle of lavender essential oil. Apply neat on minor burns and insect bites; place drops in a diffuser or just on a tissue to scent a room and bring wellbeing.