Lavender Gifts of Love

Lavender is an ideal herb to use when making sachets, bath salts, and sugar scrubs gifts for your Valentine or anytime. These simple products can be given separately or put together in a box or basket with a handmade card full of love.  When it comes to gift-giving there are a few simple rules:

• Give what you would love to receive.
• Personalize your present.
• Be creative.

Today the herb lavender is a key ingredient in almost every type of body-care product on the market, from facial toners to bath products.  Lavender is one of the most fragrant and versatile herbs. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why there are over one hundred uses for lavender. It has a number of health benefits from reducing anxiety and helping your sleep to healing the skin.

Gathering your own lavender:

If you have lavender growing in your garden it is simple to dry and save your flower buds in the summer or fall.  Just cut a few bunches, and let dry in a warm, dark, dry spot with good airflow.  You may also purchase dried lavender to use in your home.  Visit a local lavender farm or natural food shop where lavender flowers and buds are often sold in bulk for crafting, cooking, and creating body care products.   Make sure to inquire how the lavender was grown since you do not want to use plant materials that have been sprayed with floral preservatives or other chemicals.  If you can eat it, it is safe to use in creating body care products.

Lavender sachets are a classic gift that can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Sew up a few heart-shaped ones for valentines or fill small bags with dried lavender buds.  You may also add other favorite herbs such as mint, rose, or thyme to the mix.  These small scented pillows can be tucked under a pillow for sweet dreams.  The scent will help you sleep.  They can also be placed inside linen drawers to protect against fabric destroying pests or tucked inside suitcases and shoes to keep them smelling fresh.

Ingredients:

• 1 /4 to 1 /2 cup dried lavender buds
• cotton fabric
• needle and thread or sewing machine

Directions:

• Cut out two shapes from your fabric and stitch the right sides together, leaving a small opening.
• Turn inside out and press with an iron.
• Fill with dried lavender and stitch opening closed by hand.
• You may decorate with beads, patches, or buttons.

Bath salts are one of the easiest and most popular body care products to create at home.  They are fun to create and give.  If you are not a bath lover, they can be used in foot soaks or body scrubs.  Epsom salts are a rich source of magnesium, sea salt will boost your circulation, and baking soda is well-known for detoxifying the body.  Adding dried lavender to the mix creates a soothing, cleansing, and relaxing bath soak.  For gift-giving fill pretty jars with these salts and tie them with a big bow.  (You can use a lavender sachet as a bow for added scent.)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Epsom salts
• 1 /2 cup sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
• 1 /2 cup baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons dried lavender buds
• 4 to 5 drops essential oil of lavender (optional)

Directions:

• In a large bowl mix together all ingredients.
• Stir well and spoon into a clean container.

To use:

• Add 1 /2 cup to 1 cup to your bath as you fill the tub.
• Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 16 ounces

The three most important things you can do for healthy skin is to keep it clean, full of moisture, and protected from the sun.  Using an all-natural skin scrub every other week will keep your skin fresh and healthy and able to absorb more moisture.  Lavender herb has cleansing and antibacterial properties that also soothe and cleanse your skin.  You can adjust the scrubbing power of this product by the type of sugar you use.  Raw or coarse sugar has larger crystals while granulated sugar is fine enough to use on your face.

Ingredients:

• 1 /4 dried lavender buds and leaves
• 1 cup granulated sugar or fine grain raw sugar
• Valentine sugar hearts for fun

Directions:

• In a clean, dry glass jar, alternate layers of sugar and dried lavender.
• Cover with a tight-fitting lid or beeswax wrap, and place in a dry spot for a few weeks.
• For gift-giving, spoon into a decorated jar and place a few sugar hearts on top.

To use:

• Pour a small amount of the scrub into the palm of your hand, and mix with water or your favorite cleanser.
• Massage into damp skin in a circular motion
• Rinse well with warm water.

Yield: 8 ounces

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