Simple ways to enjoy one of the garden’s most beautiful herbs
There is something about lavender that makes me slow down.
Maybe it is the beautiful purple flowers. Maybe it is the fragrance that seems to say, “Take a breath. You don’t have to hurry.”
Whatever it is, lavender has earned a permanent place in my garden and in my home.
I especially love English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, because it is beautiful in the garden and the dried flowers can be used in teas, sachets and other simple homemade projects.
🌿 A Little Purple Flower With So Many Uses 🌿
Lavender is a member of the Lamiaceae family—the mint family. It is related to herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme.
But for me, lavender is more than just another pretty flower.
I can grow it in my garden, dry the flowers, make a cup of tea, fill a little sachet for the closet and enjoy its fragrance in the evening.
And that is exactly the kind of simple living I love.
☕ Lavender Tea for a Quiet Evening
Lavender tea has a delicate floral fragrance, but there is a little secret to using it in tea:
A little lavender goes a long way!
If you have ever brewed a cup of straight lavender tea and thought, “Well, that’s a little bitter,” you are not alone.
I find lavender much more enjoyable when blended with chamomile.
🌿 Nana Anne’s Favorite Lavender Tea
For my evening tea, I put 1/2 tablesepoon lavender buds and about 1 tablespoon of chamomile into my tea infuser.
Pour hot water over the herbs and let it steep.
💜 For a relaxing cup: steep about 5 minutes.
💜 For my bedtime routine: I let mine steep for about 15 minutes.
That longer steep is simply my personal preference. It is not a medically established “sleep dose.” Though most herbs need a longer steeping of 15 to 20 miniutes to reap the medicinal benefits.
What I enjoy most is the entire ritual, the warm cup in my hands, the fragrance of lavender and chamomile and those few quiet minutes at the end of the day.
😴 Can Lavender Help With Sleep?
This is where lavender gets particularly interesting.
Research into lavender preparations has produced some encouraging findings, particularly with aromatherapy and lavender oil, but research specifically on ordinary lavender tea and sleep is limited.
So I don’t think of my lavender tea as a sleeping medication.
I think of it as a calming bedtime ritual.
And sometimes, creating a quiet routine before bed is exactly what we need.
💜 The warm tea. The floral aroma. The quiet of the evening.
Sometimes simple is enough.
💤 Lavender Oil Near Your Pillow
Another simple way I enjoy lavender is through its fragrance at bedtime.
If you use lavender essential oil, don’t put undiluted essential oil directly on your pillow or skin.
Instead, put a drop or two on a cotton ball, small piece of fabric or reusable sachet and place it near—not directly under—your pillow.
You want to enjoy the fragrance without soaking your bedding in essential oil.
💜 Nana Anne’s Tip:
A little lavender goes a long way. Start with a very small amount and see how you like it.
👗 Lavender in the Closet
This is one of my favorite old-fashioned lavender uses.
Fill a small reusable cloth bag with dried lavender buds and tuck it into a:
🌿 Closet
🌿 Dresser drawer
🌿 Linen cupboard
🌿 Storage container
🌿 Inside boots to keep all manner of pests out
Lavender has traditionally been used to help deter clothes moths, and research has found repellent activity from lavender and other essential oils against some moth species.
I have found it useful in deterring spiders and mice in my closets. However, I would consider lavender sachets an extra layer of protection, not a replacement for all pest control.
For stored clothing, especially wool and other animal-based fibers, proper cleaning and storage are important.
🪻 Make Your Own Reusable Lavender Sachets
This is one of those Nana Anne projects that is almost too easy.
You need:
🌿 A small cotton or muslin bag
🌿 Dried lavender buds
🌿 Ribbon or cotton string
Fill the bag with dried lavender, tie it closed and place it wherever you want a little natural fragrance.
When the scent begins to fade, gently squeeze the sachet to release more fragrance or replace the lavender.
I especially like these in closets because they smell so much nicer than artificial fragrances.
💜 A Little Garden-to-Home Goodness
One of the things I love about growing herbs is being able to take something from my garden and use it throughout my home.
Garden → Harvest → Dry → Enjoy
That is my kind of gardening.
💜 A Little Nana Anne Confession
I am still growing my own lavender, but I haven’t quite reached the point where I have enough dried lavender to keep me supplied all year.
So, when I run out of what I have grown and dried myself, I purchase a little more. I always look for organic, natural lavender that is specifically grown and prepared for culinary use so I can feel good about what I’m putting into my tea.
One day, I hope my garden gives me enough to keep my own lavender jar full year-round—but until then, I supplement what I grow with a trusted organic source. 🌿💜🌸
🌿 A Few Things to Remember About Lavender Tea & Oil
Lavender is natural, but natural does not automatically mean risk-free.
For tea, use food-grade culinary lavender intended for consumption.
And please don’t put lavender essential oil into your tea simply because it is “lavender.” Essential oils are highly concentrated and are not interchangeable with culinary lavender buds.
If you are using lavender oil:
💜 Dilute it before applying it to your skin.
🌿 Patch test first.
💜 Keep it away from your eyes.
🌿 Use it in a well-ventilated area.
💜 Keep essential oils away from children and pets.
🌿 Talk with your healthcare professional if you take medications, particularly sedatives.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your healthcare professional before using lavender products because safety information is limited.
🌸 My Favorite Thing About Lavender
I think what I love most about lavender is that it doesn’t have to be complicated.
I can grow it in my garden.
I can dry the flowers.
I can make a cup of tea.
I can fill a little sachet for the closet.
And in the evening, I can add a little lavender and chamomile to my tea infuser and take five—or fifteen—quiet minutes for myself.
Sometimes healthy living isn’t about finding the newest product.
Sometimes it’s about going back to the simple things that have been growing in gardens for generations.
And lavender is one of my favorites.
🌱 Want to grow your own lavender? Learn how Nana Anne finally got those stubborn little seeds to grow with her guide, 🌿How to Grow Lavender From Seed: The Secret I Wish Someone Had Told Me!🌿💜
💜 🌿 💜 🌿 💜
🌿 Nana Anne’s Simple Reminder
As always, be safe: use culinary lavender for tea, patch test diluted oils, and talk with your doctor if you have questions.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any medical condition.
🌿 Natural Living from the Heart 🌿
With love,
Nana Anne 💚
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