Lavandin (Lavandula hybrida) is a hybrid species of lavender, resulting from the cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia. Native to the Mediterranean region, Lavandin is prized for its fragrant, aromatic flowers and its use in essential oils, perfumes, and various therapeutic applications. It is a robust plant that thrives in a range of climates and soils.

Botanical Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Lamiales
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Genus: Lavandula
• Species: L. hybrida

Plant Characteristics

Lavandula hybrida typically grows to about 60-90 cm (24-36 inches) in height and width. It features narrow, silver-gray leaves and spikes of small, violet or blue flowers. The plant has a strong, pleasant fragrance and is known for its dense, bushy growth. Lavandin is often used in landscaping and as a decorative plant in gardens.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The essential oil extracted from Lavandula hybrida contains several key compounds, including:

• Linalool: Provides a floral, lavender-like scent and has calming and relaxing properties.
• Linalyl Acetate: Contributes to the lavender aroma and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Camphor: Imparts a woody, camphor-like note and has expectorant and antiseptic properties.
• 1,8-Cineole: Offers a fresh, eucalyptus-like aroma and has respiratory benefits.

Cultivation

Lavandula hybrida thrives in well-drained, sandy or loamy soils and prefers full sun exposure. It is highly drought-resistant and can tolerate poor soil conditions. The plant is typically propagated from cuttings or by division and benefits from regular pruning to maintain its shape and encourage new growth. It should be protected from excessive moisture to prevent root rot.

Uses and Benefits

• Aromatic: The essential oil of Lavandula hybrida is used in perfumes, air fresheners, and aromatherapy for its pleasant fragrance and relaxing effects.

• Medicinal: Traditionally used to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep quality. The oil is also used in topical applications to relieve minor skin irritations and muscle aches.

• Cosmetic: Lavandin oil is included in skincare products for its soothing, antiseptic, and aromatic properties. It is used in lotions, creams, and shampoos.

Applications

• Aromatic: Used in the creation of perfumes, air fresheners, and for therapeutic purposes in aromatherapy.

• Medicinal: Incorporated into products aimed at relaxation and stress relief, as well as treatments for minor skin conditions.

• Cosmetic: Added to skincare and haircare products for its soothing, antiseptic, and fragrant qualities.

INCI Functions:

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

CAS  91722-69-9

EC number  294-470-6

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Lavandula hybrida is generally safe for use in cosmetics and aromatherapy. However, essential oil should be used with caution to avoid potential skin irritation or allergic reactions. It is important to use pure, high-quality oil and follow recommended dilution guidelines.

References__________________________________________________________________________

D'Addabbo T, Laquale S, Argentieri MP, Bellardi MG, Avato P. Nematicidal Activity of Essential Oil from Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) as Related to Chemical Profile. Molecules. 2021 Oct 26;26(21):6448. doi: 10.3390/molecules26216448. PMID: 34770856; PMCID: PMC8587996.

Abstract.  Essential oils (EOs) from lavandin are known for a large spectrum of biological properties but poorly and contrastingly documented for their activity against phytoparasitic nematodes. This study investigated the toxicity of EOs from three different lavandin cultivars, Abrialis, Rinaldi Cerioni, and Sumiens, either to juveniles (J2) and eggs of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and to infective stages of the lesion nematode Pratylenchus vulnus. The suppressive activity of treatments with EOs from the three lavandin cultivars in soil infested by M. incognita was also investigated in a greenhouse experiment on potted tomato. The compositional profiles of tested EOs were also analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Linalool was the major component of all the three EOs, as accounting for about 66%, 48%, and 40% of total EO from cv Rinaldi Cerioni, Sumiens, and Abrialis, respectively. Linalool acetate was the second most abundant compound in the EOs from cv Abrialis (18.3%) and Sumiens (14.9%), while significant amounts of camphor (11.5%) and 1,8-cineole (12.1%) were detected in cv Rinaldi Cerioni and Sumiens EOs, respectively. The mortality of M. incognita J2 peaked 82.0%, 95.8%, and 89.8% after a 24 h treatment with 100 mg·mL-1 solutions of cv Abrialis, Rinaldi Cerioni, and Sumiens EOs, respectively. Infective specimens of P. vulnus were largely more sensitive than M. incognita J2, as there were peak mortality rates of 65.5%, 67.7%, and 75.7% after 4 h of exposure to Abrialis, Rinaldi Cerioni, and Sumiens EO, respectively. All three lavandin EOs significantly affected also M. incognita egg hatchability, which reduced to 43.6% after a 48 h egg mass exposure to a 100 µg·mL-1 solution of cv Rinaldi Cerioni EO. Soil treatments with the three lavandin EOs strongly reduced, according to a dose-effect relationship, density of M. incognita eggs, and J2 both on tomato roots and in soil, as well as significantly reduced gall formation on tomato roots. Finally, almost all soil treatments with the lavandin EOs also resulted in a positive impact on tomato plant growth.

Donadu MG, Ferrari M, Behzadi P, Trong Le N, Usai D, Fiamma M, Battah B, Barac A, Bellardi MG, Hoai TN, Mazzarello V, Rubino S, Cappuccinelli P, Zanetti S. Multifactorial action of lavender and lavandin oils against filamentous fungi. Nat Prod Res. 2024 Jan 31:1-9. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2301741. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38293715.

Abstract.  Aims: In this study, five essential oils (EOs) from different species of Lavandula hybrida abrialis, for Lavandula hybrida R.C., Lavandula hybrida 'super A', Lavandula hybrida 'super Z' and Lavandula vera and its hybrids Lavender were evaluated against 26 dust-isolated fungal strains from North Africa. Methods and results: The composition of the different EOs was determined from volume to dry weight. The photochemical analyses were performed via gas chromatography (GC). The cytotoxic effect of five lavender EOs on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) cell line was done. A total of 26 strains of filamentous fungi including Aspergillus spp., Botrytis cinerea, Ceriporia spp., Fusarium spp. and Penicillium glabrum were isolated from sand dust samples via molecular diagnostic tool of PCR. Fungal strains with the lowest minimal lethal concentration (MLC) were Penicillium glabrum, Ceriporia spp. and a strain of Aspergillus spp. Conclusions: More studies are needed to verify the activity of this EO against more different fungal species, and determine the active ingredients.Significance and impact of study: MIC of the antifungal efficacy relating to EOs was evaluated. The EOs tests showed no cytotoxic effect at very low concentrations, ranging from 0.03% (IC50 0.9132 mg/mL) (L. hybrid Abrialis) to 0.001% (IC50 1.631 mg/mL) (L. hybrid R.C.).

Ballabeni V, Tognolini M, Chiavarini M, Impicciatore M, Bruni R, Bianchi A, Barocelli E. Novel antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of essential oil from Lavandula hybrida Reverchon "grosso". Phytomedicine. 2004 Nov;11(7-8):596-601. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2004.01.002. 

Abstract.  Lavender extracts are known to produce several mild effects at central and peripheral level. However, no studies are so far available about the potential effects of lavender essential oil on the hemostatic system. In this work, we demonstrated antiplatelet properties of lavender oil towards platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, U46619, collagen and ADP (IC50 = 51, 84, 191 and 640 microg/ml, respectively) on guinea-pig platelet rich plasma (PRP) and its ability to destabilize clot retraction (IC50 = 149 microg/ml) induced by thrombin on rat PRP. Furthermore, antithrombotic properties were studied in an in vivo model of pulmonary thromboembolism induced by intravenous injection of a collagen-epinephrine mixture in mice subacutely treated with lavender oil. In this model, lavender oil (100 mg/kg/day os for 5 days) significantly reduced thrombotic events without inducing prohemorrhagic complications at variance with acetylsalicylic acid used as reference drug. Finally, main components of the oil were studied in vitro in order to assess their antiplatelet effects, but none of them possessed an activity comparable to the oil itself. These results provide the first experimental evidence of lavender oil's antiplatelet/antithrombotic properties which could be due to a synergistic effect of its components.

Barocelli E, Calcina F, Chiavarini M, Impicciatore M, Bruni R, Bianchi A, Ballabeni V. Antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of inhaled and orally administered Lavandula hybrida Reverchon "Grosso" essential oil. Life Sci. 2004 Nov 26;76(2):213-23. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2004.08.008. PMID: 15519366.

Abstract.  In this study the antinociceptive and the gastroprotective effects of orally administered or inhaled Lavandula hybrida Reverchon "Grosso" essential oil, and its principal constituents linalool and linalyl acetate were evaluated in rodents. Either when orally administered (100 mg/kg) or inhaled for 60 min lavender essential oil significantly reduced the acetic acid-writhing response in a naloxone-sensitive manner. In the hot plate test, analgesic activity observed after oil inhalation was inhibited by naloxone, atropine, mecamylamine pretreatment suggesting the involvement of opioidergic as well as cholinergic pathways. Regardless of the administration route and the experimental model used both linalool and linalyl acetate did not produce significant analgesic response. Oral or inhalatory treatment with analgesic doses of essential oil did not affect mice spontaneous locomotor activity. Concerning the gastric effects, lavender oil, linalool and linalyl acetate oral administration protected against acute ethanol-induced gastric ulcers but did not prevent indomethacin-induced lesions indicating no interference with arachidonic acid metabolic cascade. In conclusion, besides this gastroprotection, lavender oil reveals an interesting analgesic activity mainly relevant after inhalation, at doses devoid of sedative side effect, suggesting the interest for potential application of this oil in aromatherapy.

Jerković I, Marijanović Z. Screening of volatile composition of Lavandula hybrida Reverchon II honey using headspace solid-phase microextraction and ultrasonic solvent extraction. Chem Biodivers. 2009 Mar;6(3):421-30. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200800074. 

Abstract. The volatiles of unifloral Lavandula hybrida Reverchon II honey were isolated by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE) and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC, GC/MS). A total of 23 compounds were identified in the headspace with hexan-1-ol, hexanal, acetic acid, hotrienol, and 2-phenylacetaldehyde as the principal components. Three solvents of different polarity were used for USE, and a total of 53 compounds were identified. The extracts with pentane/Et(2)O 1 : 2 (v/v) were the most representative for USE method containing the majority of the honey floral origin compounds and potential biomarkers (hexanol, acetic acid, butane-1,3-diol, butane-2,3-diol, benzoic acid, coumarin, and 2-phenylacetic acid). The total number of identified compounds (USE and HS-SPME) was 59. In general, the comparison with volatiles of other lavandin honeys of different geographic origins indicated several similarities, while acetic and formic acids were identified with high percentages in L. hybrida Reverchon II honey.