The abundance of freshly cut lavender after a harvest presents a delightful opportunity to extend its vibrant color and calming fragrance beyond the garden. This versatile herb, a member of the mint family, is not only prized for its scent but also for its subtle culinary and therapeutic properties. Moving beyond simple decoration, cut lavender can be transformed into a variety of practical and long-lasting applications for the home and kitchen.
Proper Harvesting and Curing Techniques
The optimal moment to cut lavender is in the early morning, just after the dew has evaporated but before the intense heat of the day begins to draw out the fragrant compounds. Look for stems where approximately half to two-thirds of the individual flower buds have opened, while the remaining ones are still tightly closed.
To ensure the plant remains healthy and to encourage a potential second bloom, cut the stems about two inches above the woody base of the plant. Gather the stems into small bundles, roughly the size of a quarter, and secure them tightly at the base with a rubber band or twine. Curing is best achieved by hanging these bundles upside down in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated space.
Keeping the bundles out of direct sunlight helps the flowers retain their color. Drying typically takes between one and four weeks, depending on humidity. The lavender is ready for processing when the stems snap easily and the buds readily fall away when gently rubbed between the fingers.
Creating Household Scent Applications
Once the lavender is fully cured, the dried buds can be stripped from the stems and used for a variety of applications. A simple and effective use is creating fabric sachets to place in linen closets or dresser drawers. This historically has been used to deter moths and other fabric pests.
The buds can be incorporated into homemade potpourri. Mixing the dried lavender with other aromatic botanicals, such as dried citrus peel, cinnamon sticks, or pine cones, creates a complex and layered scent profile. To extend the life of the fragrance, you can add a carrier like orris root powder or a few drops of pure lavender essential oil.
The full, dried bundles themselves serve a decorative and fragrant purpose, especially when used in seasonal arrangements. The dried flower heads and stems hold their shape well, offering a rustic aesthetic and continually releasing a calming aroma. These whole bundles are particularly effective when placed near a pillow or bedside table to promote a relaxing atmosphere.
Culinary Uses for Fresh and Dried Lavender
Using lavender in cooking requires careful selection. The preferred choice is Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender), which contains low levels of camphor. Higher-camphor varieties, such as French or hybrid lavandin types, can impart an unpleasant, medicinal, or soapy flavor.
Use only the dried or fresh buds, as the stems and leaves contain higher concentrations of less desirable aromatic compounds. The flavor is potent, so restraint is key; a small amount can add a delicate floral note, while too much can easily overwhelm a dish. Lavender pairs exceptionally well with bright flavors like lemon and honey.
The dried buds can be infused directly into hot water for a soothing herbal tea or baked into shortbread cookies and scones. For a versatile kitchen staple, mix dried buds with granulated sugar or coarse salt, allowing the mixture to infuse for several weeks. This lavender sugar is perfect for rimming cocktail glasses or flavoring whipped cream, while the salt can be used sparingly on roasted vegetables or savory meat rubs.
Making Long-Term Extracts and Infusions
Cut lavender can be processed into concentrated intermediate products for later use. One common method is creating lavender-infused oil, used as a base for topical applications like salves, body scrubs, or homemade soaps. The dried buds are steeped in a carrier oil, such as olive or almond oil, for several weeks to allow the fat-soluble compounds to be extracted.
Another simple extract is simple syrup, made by heating equal parts sugar and water until dissolved, then steeping fresh or dried buds in the mixture as it cools. This concentrated syrup can be refrigerated for weeks and is excellent for flavoring cocktails, lemonades, or coffee-based drinks. The intense sweetness helps to balance the floral notes of the lavender.
Lavender vinegar makes a highly effective and fragrant natural household cleaner. Dried lavender buds are submerged in white distilled vinegar for two to four weeks, extracting the herb’s scent and mild antibacterial properties. The finished, strained vinegar is then diluted with water for use as an all-purpose spray, which gently cleans surfaces.