Lavender is a beautiful plant that can make a great decoration for your home or garden. Find out how to dry lavender and what you can use dried lavender flowers for!
Lavender is a perennial plant with beautiful, ornamental flowers and an intense aroma. The oil extracted from it has remarkable health-promoting properties! The mere presence of this plant at home or in a garden is also extremely beneficial (among other things, it repels mosquitoes and attracts beneficial insects)! It is also worth using dried flowers (they will give a pleasant fragrance to home textiles and protect them from moths). We suggest how to prepare dried lavender yourself.
Purple organza pouches with lavender for spreading at the wedding
When to harvest lavender?
Lavender for drying is harvested in July or August. Just before the flowers are fully bloomed, when most of them are still in their buds and you can already see the colour of the inflorescences. This is when most of the essential oils are found in lavender.
Lavender should be harvested before it fully blooms
Interestingly, the time of harvesting is also of some importance. It is best done at midday – at this time the concentration of oils is higher than in the evening, and the plant has already had time to dry from the morning dew (which could contribute to the appearance of mould during drying). The plant is best cut with sharp secateurs.
Harvesting lavender for drying
How to dry lavender?
Be patient while you are drying the plant. Trying to speed up the process will work against you! We strongly advise you not to dry lavender in the oven or in the sun. Only slow drying at temperatures below 40 degrees allows you to preserve the valuable, volatile components. If you dry it in the sun, the plant will also lose its beautiful colour. How should lavender be dried? The best way is to let it dry naturally, the difference in the quality of the dried lavender will be enormous.
The cut lavender should be divided into bouquets/bundles
After cutting, divide the lavender into small bundles. A rubber band is better than a string or a ribbon for tying them together, as the dried stems shrink and may slip out over time. The bouquets are then hung with the flower heads downwards. They should be dried in a ventilated, shady place that is not too warm.
Drying lavender bouquets
Only completely dried lavender flowers are suitable for use. If they still retain some moisture inside, mould will appear on them very quickly. To be sure that the plant is already well dried, check that the flower can be easily separated from the stem. Under favourable conditions, drying takes about a week.
After the flowers have dried completely, they can now be separated from the stems
How do you dry lavender in pouches? – storing dried flowers
Dry lavender can be kept sealed in a tightly capped jar until use (avoid plastic and metal packaging). It can also be immediately poured into fabric pouches with a decorative lavender motif.
Dried lavender flowers should ideally be packed in fabric bags
For fragrance sachets, it is best to choose pouches made of material characterised by high odour permeability. Organza pouches and classic linen pouches for example, will work perfectly here.
Organza, jute and linen bags with printed lavender and filled with its dried flowers.
What to use dried lavender for?
Flowers not separated from the stems can be used for decorative bouquets. Lavender is successfully used in the cosmetic industry, for example to prepare natural soaps and bath salts.
Lavender cosmetics for the home spa
It can also be used in the kitchen to prepare original desserts, e.g. cakes, ice cream.
You can also prepare an infusion from dried lavender. For this purpose, narrow-leaved lavender, also known as medicinal lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), is used.
Aromatic lavender infusion
The most popular, however, are undoubtedly the fragrance sachets (fragrance pouches with dried ingredients). You already know how to dry lavender into pouches! What can you use such natural fragrance sachets for? They can be used in small rooms, in a car.
Organza bags for dried lavender flowers
However, it is particularly popular to place them in wardrobes, chests of drawers and dressing rooms, as it gives textiles a lovely natural fragrance and provides effective protection against clothes moths. Bags of lavender are also often hung in children’s rooms, as its aroma soothes toddlers and helps to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.
An organza bag with dried lavender will provide your textiles with a beautiful fragrance and protection against moths!
What kind of bags for lavender?
A small pouch that fits in the palm of your hand can become a source of delightful fragrance! In addition to good quality dried lavender, you need high-quality fabric pouches. Do you know which lavender pouches to choose? Here are some suggestions!
When creating a fragrance sachet, you need to choose a pouch made of the right material. Bags made of breathable fabric will work best – a slightly air-permeable material will ensure that the dried flowers gradually releases the wonderful aroma of lavender…. The right choice of material protects the lavender from weathering too quickly! When your pouches hold the scent for a long time, you can enjoy the lavender aroma in your home without having to change the dried product frequently.
Linen pouches and cotton drawstring bags are very popular. The natural fabrics preserve the aroma of lavender for a longer period of time! These eco pouches are environmentally friendly and look great. They are perfect as home decoration, but can also be used as a small gift.
Lavender flowers in a linen pouch
Our hit are the organza lavender pouches. Organza is distinguished by its transparency and characteristic mesh structure – in these bags you can display your dried lavender and enjoy its fragrance for a long time. It is organza that is most often used to sew fragrance pouches for drawers and wardrobes. It is worth knowing that scented sachets made of this fabric will also work well in the car!
Scented organza bags – ideal for dried lavender
Where to buy pouches for dried lavender?
Want to create lavender scented pouches? Check out the collection of lavender and dried flower fragrance sachets by Saketos. You can choose from a variety of ready-made pouches or create your own packaging. Are you interested in personalised print, such as with your company logo? Or do you need a customised size for your packaging? Do you want a colour outside the basic range? No problem for us! Contact us, together we will create unique bags for dried lavender fragrances.
The healing properties of lavender infusion
Lavender dried herb is used, among other things, to prepare an infusion that possesses healing properties. It should be especially considered by individuals dealing with digestive issues. Lavender infusion improves intestinal peristalsis and also alleviates abdominal pain and bloating. Importantly, consuming lavender infusion stimulates the appetite – this is significant information for those with poor appetite!
These are not all the benefits of drinking lavender infusion. It’s worth knowing that it’s also an ally for patients dealing with urinary system issues. The beverage helps combat infections and, at the same time, exhibits diuretic properties.
It’s also worthwhile to consume lavender infusion during periods of colds and flu. The oils present in the plant have antiseptic and bactericidal properties, thus supporting the body in combating seasonal ailments of the throat, bronchi, lungs, and sinuses. There’s nothing preventing you from drinking lavender infusion preventively – this habit significantly contributes to enhancing the body’s natural immunity.
Regular consumption of lavender infusion also has a beneficial effect on the nervous system – it is recommended for individuals leading a stressful lifestyle. It should also be consumed by those who experience sleeping problems and… migraine sufferers! It has been proven that drinking lavender infusion reduces the frequency of headaches.
How to prepare lavender infusion?
Preparing lavender infusion is incredibly easy. Just add a heaping teaspoon of dried herb into a cup, then pour boiling water over it. Let the infusion steep for about 5-10 minutes. The beverage is ready to drink after it cools slightly, but there’s no objection to consuming it cold once it has cooled completely.
Many people enhance the drink with a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice – these ingredients not only add more healing properties to the infusion but also enrich its flavor (honey can be used in place of sugar just for taste). Lemon juice also beautifully accentuates the purple color of the beverage, making ‘lavender tea’ a great idea for a pleasant surprise for guests.
