Lavender oil is arguably the most popular and widely used essential oil, and for good reason! It has many beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, soothing and healing qualities, and a lovely floral scent that can actually help you feel calmer. In fact, I would argue that if you’re only going to have one essential oil at home, it should be lavender oil, hands down! :-)
I could probably list a hundred uses for lavender oil, but I thought it might be more useful to share a more curated list of uses. (I don’t know about you, but I tend to get overwhelmed when I’m given that much information at once!) So today I’ll be sharing 20 of the most practical things you can do with lavender oil–a “best of the best” list, so to speak. :-) I hope this list gives you a better idea of just how useful that little bottle of lavender oil can be!
For a printable version of this list, and to learn about ways to use my other favorite oils, visit the link below.
Related: This Is The One Printable Essential Oils Guide You Need On Hand
20 Ways To Use Lavender Essential Oil
1. Deodorize Pet Stains
Sometimes pet stains still smell even after the stain is gone. You can deodorize the spot with a mixture of a handful of baking soda and a few drops of lavender oil. Just sprinkle the mixture onto the smelly spot, let it sit for a half hour or so, then vacuum it up!
2. Scented Dryer Cloth
Place a few drops on a cloth and toss it in the dryer with your just-washed clothes. The lavender oil on the cloth will naturally deodorize and leave behind a fresh scent!
3. Restful Sleep
Place a drop or two of lavender oil on pillows to lull restless children (and adults!) into a restful sleep.
4. Treat Insect Bites
Put a drop of lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching and reduce swelling.
5. Linen Spray
Lavender oil is one of the main ingredients in my super simple fabric refreshing spray. Spray down your musty linens, and they’ll smell wonderfully fresh and clean! Get the full recipe and instructions for my fabric refreshing spray at the link below.
Related: How To Make An-All Natural Fabric Refreshing Spray
6. Ironing Aid
Apply 1-2 drops of lavender oil to the water in your iron to infuse freshness back into your clothes.
7. Steam Treatment For Cold & Flu
Add 4-6 drops of lavender oil to a bowl or jar of hot water. Place a towel over your head, and inhale the vapor deeply for several minutes. This process helps to clear out congestion and open up your airways. Get more details at the link below.
Related: How To Make A Steam Inhaler Jar To Beat Congestion
8. Headache Relief
Rub a drop of lavender oil on your temples to help alleviate a headache.
9. Natural Deodorant
Rub 2 drops of lavender essential oil over the armpit area to act as a deodorant. You can also use lavender oil to make my easy homemade spray deodorant, which you can learn all about at the link below!
Related: Make This Spray Deodorant And Say Goodbye To Armpit Stains!
10. Sunburn Relief
Add 10 drops of lavender oil to 3 ounces of cool, distilled water. Pour into a small spray bottle and spray on sunburned areas for instant cooling relief!
11. Mattress Refresher
Put a few drops of lavender oil on your mattress when you change your sheets and inhale the sweet, fresh smell. Or you can combine lavender oil and baking soda to make an easy deodorizing powder for your mattress. (Find out more at the link below.)
Related: How To Clean A Mattress Quickly And Easily
12. Remove Splinters
Add a few drops of lavender oil to the affected area. Let the splinter swell for a minute or too, then wait for it to slip out (or carefully remove it with a clean set of tweezers).
13. Soothing Soak
Add Epsom salt & a few drops of lavender oil to a hot bath, then soak for at least 20 minutes. You can almost feel the soreness, tension, and stress just melting away! :-)
Related: The 10 Most Useful Things You Can Do With Epsom Salt
14. Closet Helper
Place a few drops of lavender oil on a cotton ball and place it wherever you store linens or clothing. It will help repel moths and insects, while also making your stuff smell nice. :-)
15. Vacuum Helper
Place a couple of cotton balls soaked in lemon and lavender oil inside of your vacuum bag or dust cup. Then as you vacuum, you’ll leave behind a fresh, clean scent!
16. Allergy Relief
Lavender can help you get relief from allergy symptoms like stuffy noses, itchy eyes, and puffy skin. Apply a drop or two of lavender oil to the back of your neck, on your chest, and between your eyes.
17. Minimize Scarring
Minimize the appearance of scar tissue by massaging a small amount of lavender oil on or around the affected area. (photo from scar salve)
Related: Home Remedies To Heal Scars Naturally
18. Smooth & Scented Skin
Rather than using plain old soap and water at bath time, add a few drops of lavender oil to your normal washing routine. Your skin will feel and smell wonderful.
19. First-Aid Addition
The supplies in a standard first-aid kits are usually geared toward minor scrapes, rashes, and cuts. Since lavender can be helpful for all of them, a small bottle of lavender oil makes the perfect natural addition to your home first-aid kit!
20. Treat Cold Sores
Mix 1 drop of lavender essential oil into 10-15 drops of fractionated coconut oil. Apply the diluted oil mixture directly to the cold sore to help soothe and treat.
Lavender oil is the one oil that every household needs to have. It has so many uses and it can never harm you, there are no precautions for its use. (don’t know about the cats mentioned in the previous comments though :))
Great article! I didn’t know about some of the uses like for example cleaning the sink.
That steam treatment sounds perfect for me right now, as I have been struggling with an annoying cold that I have tried everything to get rid of. Can’t wait to give this a go… fingers crossed it works!
Holly from The Art of Being Holly xo
You so rock. I don’t know how you come up with these helpful tips and ideas, but I love them all you are so sweet to share. Have a great weekend.
when we had pets I had learned that a drop or two of lavender oil at the base of the head/neck of said animal would keep them from getting fleas and ticks. It sure helped!
https://www.snopes.com/are-essential-oils-poisonous-to-cats/#.Wlb-ea92wqc.facebook
This is from snopes.com. Only a Vet approved online site can say which oils are and are NOT safe for your pets.
Lavender oil is one of the most toxic. I just found this out recently and have been spraying lavender and eucalyptus oils on my pillows for years! :(
I would love to be able to post your article to my self help group on G+ but cant see a way to do this!
Just copy and paste the URL :-)
Once you had wrappings around your little fingers and said you had surgery to correct a condition that was often found in people with Scandinavian heritage.
I am having a similar problem and would appreciate it greatly if you would tell me the name of this condition as I am having similar problems. I have learned so much from your blog! Really like the essential oils information too.
It’s called Duputyren’s Disease :-) Good luck!
Just an FYI, lavender oil is toxic to cats. A lot of essential oils are. So please be careful.
I love lavender.Like so many other oils , it works even better when combined with other oils. I had a massive headache I couldn’t get rid of with the flu I couldn’t get rid of. I was using peppermint oil and it was doing much, but I combined with lavender and was finally able to get rid of it.
Can lavender oil be added to the water of a Shark floor steamer?
Yes! Just a few drops should do the trick!
I’ve recently read on Facebook that essential oils are toxic to pets, especially cats, and that even diffusing essential oils can kill your cat. I would like very much to know if there is truth to this or if it’s just another Facebook rumor. I love my essential oils, but I can’t take the chance on hurting or killing my cats.
I have an 18 year old cat and she has grown up with peppermint and lavender oils. I use them in the water when I clean the floors. Obviously, it’s not more than maybe 10 drops in a bucket of water and vinegar, but I don’t rinse the floors afterward, and she walks on them and licks her feet. She’s fine!
According to this article, lavender is not one of the oils that are toxic to cats. :-) http://jillee.co/2Dcaa95
I was told this by my vet…no diffusing, no to using most oils near my cats.
It is true, some oils attack the oragans of both cats and dogs. Here you go.
https://www.snopes.com/are-essential-oils-poisonous-to-cats/#.Wlb-ea92wqc.facebook