Lavender is derived from the Latin word lavare, which means "to wash." Roman bathing customs included using water infused with lavender smell.
Lavender was collected throughout the Mediterranean in antiquity, but it is now grown in vast areas. For example, the south of France yields over five thousand tons of lavender blooms annually. Former Yugoslavian nations rose to prominence as lavender growers in the past.
Lavender oil is derived from a lavender plant and is a crucial component in perfume compositions, particularly those that feature the Fougere and Chypre families. Following harvest, lavender is dried, bundled, and steam-distilled to create an oil and water mixture. The water is then extracted from the mixture, leaving just pure lavender oil. Every tone of processed lavender plants yields 8 to 10 kg (17.5-22 lb) of essential oil.