Lovely lavender?

Not many people seem to love the smell of lavender. It’s got nan-associations. Or sleep-aid associations, as apparently the scent can help you feel relaxed. It’s also often used dried – which doesn’t help its gran vibe.

But at Thursday, we don’t think it’s old and sleepy; it’s fresh, herbaceous and a vibrant smell of summer. If we can just lose those old associations, we can see/smell it for what it really is.

Ready yourself for some lavender facts:

• There are over 400 different types of lavender, and they all smell slightly different
• It’s part of the mint family – once you know that, you can kind of smell it
• It’s edible and can be used as a herb in food or tea
• The word lavender comes from a Roman word that means ‘to wash’ (it does smell very clean) as they used to bathe with lavender in the water
• It’s thought that it originally started growing in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and India over 2500 years ago

When you think about it, it’s actually pretty amazing just how long this flower has been used to perfume things. The Ancient Egyptians and Greeks were using it, the Victorians loved it (they even carried it around with them) and it’s still being used today, and no, not just for elderly-lady perfumes.  Did you know it’s a prominent note in:

R.E.M by Ariana Grande

Mon Guerlain by Guerlain

Phantom by Paco Rabanne

Coffee break and At the Barber’s by Maison Margiela

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

Libre by Yves Saint Laurent

Sausage Sauvage by Dior

Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

See? It’s a really important natural ingredient to this day. Even if you think you don’t like lavender, it really depends on what it’s blended with.

We have some lavender in About Thyme. It blends well with the thyme and bergamot, giving it a really fresh, outdoorsy and summery feeling. There is also a touch of lavender in Magic + Science, which might be harder to distinguish. It brings a spicy depth to the composition.