Description
The Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO is an essential oil of lavender obtained from the flowers of Lavandula Angustifolia P. Miller, of seed-bed cultivation.
Production Area
The production area of Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO covers 248 municipal areas in the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Haute-Alpes, Drôme and Vaucluse, in the Provence-Alpes-Azur and Rhone-Alps regions.
Production Method
The gathering period begins in July and takes place in the very hot summer period, precisely to favour the rising of the essence to the cells and the secretor glands of the flowers. The plants have to be located at a minimum altitude of 800 metres and their maximum output is of 25 kg per hectare.
Appearance and Flavour
The main components of the Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO are linalyle (30-40%) and lavandulyl acetates, linalol (35%), terpenes and trans-ocimenes. A fresh and pleasant scent characterises it.
History
Lavender first appeared in the Provence approximately two thousand years ago, with the arrival of the Romans, where it continued growing on hills and plateaus. In the 19th century, the gathering of wild lavender, lavandula angustifolia, developed further to the Provencal inland, in order to supply the perfume industry. The production of Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO developed strongly in the 1920s and now plays an important role within the economy of this French region.
Gastronomy
The Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO is a noble raw material used in 90% of men's fragrances. These essential oils are also widely used in pharmaceutics and in aromatherapy, given the antiseptic, lenitive and cicatrising properties of lavender. In cosmetics, numerous brands develop beauty product ranges based on lavender, precisely because of its fresh and pleasant scent and its characterising virtues.
Marketing
The product is sold as Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO. It is sold in glass bottles of various sizes.
Distinctive Features
The Mediterranean climate in the Provence and the secular cultivation tradition of lavender have favoured the production development of Huile Essentielle de Lavande de Haute-Provence PDO, also appreciated for its great pharmaceutical and therapeutic properties.
