QUALITY ASSURANCE TECHNICAL BULLETIN
LAVENDER FLOWER PURITY -- 4/05/04
The Quality Assurance Department has prepared the following report to inform Frontier staff and customers of the industry-wide problem of adulterated/mislabeled lavender flowers and the purity testing we use to detect them.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller), also known as common or English lavender, has been valued over the centuries not just for its beauty and fragrance, but also as a culinary herb and for its medicinal properties. True lavender is used today in high quality perfumes and aromatherapy. The names L. officinalis and L. vera are also used for true lavender (L. angustifolia).
Lavandin (L. x intermedia), also sometimes known as Dutch lavender, is a sterile hybrid of L. angustifolia and L . latifolia (spike lavender). Lavandin flowers and essential oil are used in aromatherapy, crafting, perfumery and in scenting toiletries & household products.
Spike lavender (L. latifolia), cultivated primarily for its essential oil, is used mainly in cleaning products and insect repellents.
Why does Frontier sell only true lavender as lavender?
We feel we would be misleading our customers if we sold a lower value product, lavandin, as lavender. In fact, the FDA considers selling lavandin or a lavender/lavandin mix as true lavender to constitute adulteration and mislabeling.
How can you identify adulterated or mislabeled lavender flowers?
1. Pure lavandin, or lavender adulterated with a high percentage of lavandin, has a camphor-like note, which can be detected in the crushed flowers.
2. Low price may be an indicator. Lavandin flowers are of lower quality than true lavender, and therefore are lower-priced, so lavandin flowers are used to adulterate true lavender flowers.
3. For lower levels of adulteration, the essential oil must be extracted from the flowers and then analyzed for its chemical components. (See printouts below.) The percentages of camphor and 1,8-cineole in the oils can clearly distinguish lavender from lavandin.
| True Lavender Flowers L. angustifolia, officinalis, vera |
Lavandin Flowers L. x intermedia |
Spike Lavender Flowers L. latifolia |
|
| Aroma | Sweet, floral, herbaceous, slightly woody, refreshing |
Floral, lavender-like with a slight camphor note |
Pungent, camphoraceous |
| Use | Tinctures, potpourri, herb pillows, teas, vinegars, food flavorings, salves |
Herb pillows, potpourri, flavoring in foods |
Flowers not used |
| Oil Profile | Maximum 1.5% camphor |
3% or higher camphor |
8% or higher camphor |
Frontier is the only lavender supplier using gas chromatography (GC) to test lavender flowers in order to conclusively determine whether they are authentic or adulterated with lavandin.
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