Lavender creative
Whether fresh from the field or your own garden, in dried bundles, in soap form, or for your palate – the indulgent aroma of lavender is inescapable. Its scent alone transports us to Aix-en-Provence, where locals and tourists regularly gather at the lavender stalls at the market in the morning.

The blue gold
Large, blue-violet labial flowers in long-stemmed false spikes – this is how Provençal farmers love their fragrant lavender, which is cultivated in rows in France for commercial fragrance oil production. Hybrids of Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia are called Lavandula intermedia. They boast a higher oil yield and are easier to harvest due to their long stems. Furthermore, they are incredibly aromatic, fast-growing, and productive. Connoisseurs refer to them as "Lavandin" lavenders. This includes the famous Provence lavender 'Grosso,' discovered in 1972 and named after the great lavender breeder Pierre Grosso. This variety was spared from a widespread fungal disease in the 1980s.
Bundles of fragrance pleasure
Who wouldn't want them at home – those fragrant, decorative dried bouquets! In France, they're called "bouquets secs" and are a top export to Germany. If you can't bring yourself to raid the lavender bushes in your own garden, keep an eye out for the bunches on your next vacation to France. Depending on your preference, choose the long-stemmed, standard blue varieties or the short-stemmed varieties, which are more intensely colored, usually darker, and are called "superbleu" in France.

Bath day with lavender
The scent fills the air when you use lavender soap. The name of this most popular aromatic plant comes from the Latin word "lavare," meaning "to wash." Its beneficial effects have been known since time immemorial. Even the ancient Romans appreciated the precious essential oils. In their highly developed bathing culture, no bath was complete without the calming, fragrant effect, which also penetrates the skin in the form of bath salts.
Preserved Summer
Lavender is known for its ability to retain its fragrance even after years. This is why lavender pillows are a popular source of fragrance, often hidden in the linen closet. There, lavender's second talent drives away pesky moths. This protects your clothes from these voracious insects; a somewhat old-fashioned option, but still preferable to any synthetic alternative. No less old-fashioned, but just as valuable, is keeping a diary, a wonderful way to record your vacation in Provence, even in the age of Facebook and the like.
French specialties
Where blooming lavender, as far as the eye can see, covers the landscape with blue ribbons, bees are never far away. They feast on the sun-drenched blossoms and bring copious amounts of nectar home to the hive, where it fills the honeycombs with liquid gold. A full-bodied aroma and a soft consistency characterize good Provençal honey. This honey pairs perfectly with baked goat cheese, making it a delight on fresh baguette. Vive la France!
TEXT: Martina Raabe