12 ways to use lavender: decorations, bouquets, and seasoning

Ways of using lavender: how to make the most of this fragrant herb?

1. Preserve lavender for winter

Lavender’s easily recognizable scent is strongest during prolonged dry, sunny periods. A dry, sunny morning or evening is the best time to harvest this fragrant herb for winter storage.

Dried lavender lasts best when harvested while slightly in bud. For scenting purposes, harvest lavender only when the flowers are fully open, as that’s when the aromatic oils are most developed. Cut the stems with sharp scissors or herb shears and immediately bring the plants into the shade away from the heat.

2. Hang lavender to dry in bunches

Drying lavender is rewarding because its scent and color are well preserved. The scent lasts for at least eight months before it gradually fades. Tie lavender into small bunches immediately after harvesting. Secure each bunch tightly, for example with a rubber band, as the stems will shrink as they dry. Hang the bunches loosely upside down to dry.

Drying loose lavender is even easier. Spread the stems loosely on a tray, for example. Once the stems are completely dry, separate the flowers from the stems by gently rubbing.

3. Craft lavender scent sticks

In the Victorian era, young noblewomen would weave fragrant lavender sticks to scent their lingerie drawers.

Start making the scent sticks by tying the lavender into a tight bunch just below the blossoms. Turn the bunch upside down and gently bend the stems down one at a time, so that eventually all the flowers are enclosed within the stems. Thread a ribbon through the top part of the bundle and weave it between the lavender stems. Tie the ribbon into a beautiful bow near the base of the stems.

4. Make lavender sugar

Lavender-flavored sugar can be used to season baked goods, desserts, and sweet drinks. To make lavender sugar, mix about a tablespoon of dried lavender flowers with a kilogram of sugar. Store the mixture in an airtight container for at least a month. Shake the jar from time to time. Sift out the lavender before use.

5. Plant lavender cuttings

Lavender summer cuttings root in about six weeks. Plant 5–10 centimeter cuttings taken from non-flowering lateral shoots in light, sandy soil. Water the soil well. Cover the cuttings loosely with a plastic bag or even a glass cloche.

6. Make a lavender mobile

Create a ring by bending wire, sticks, or even a piece of metal strapping. Thread partly open rosebuds onto thin wire by pushing the wire through their green calyxes. Hang the rose garlands from the ring. When lavender blooms, gather its flower stems into small bundles and hang them among the roses. As the roses dry, their scent quickly diminishes, unlike lavender’s.

7. Tie a festive centerpiece

For this arrangement, you’ll need plenty of long-stemmed lavenders. Divide them into small bunches of ten stems each. The arrangement in the picture uses 15 small bunches, but fewer will suffice for a smaller decoration. Tie the small bunches together in a spiral shape and secure them with raffia. Finally, trim the stems of the bunches to an even length so that the arrangement stands upright without support.

8. Assemble small lavender bouquets

Arrange the lovely, downy leaves of lamb’s ear around your lavender bouquet. Use decorative raffia to tie it. The bouquet makes a perfect summer gift or a fragrant decoration for your linen closet.

9. Craft floral letters

Make your own initials from lavender flowers! Make the letters from thick wire and attach lavender flowers to them with thin wire. It’s easier to tie the flower clusters if you leave a small length of stem on each flower.

10. Flavor vinegar

Give your salads a delicate aroma with lavender vinegar. It’s incredibly easy to make yourself. Just add 5–7 lavender blossoms to vinegar and leave it for a few weeks. Remove the flowers once they have clearly added flavor to the vinegar.

11. Make lavender lemonade

A refreshing herbal drink is perfect for hot summer days.

You’ll need: 1.5 liters of water; 3 deciliters of sugar; 10 lavender flower heads with stems; 2 lemons.

Boil half of the water with the sugar. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the flower heads, and cover. Let it cool. Squeeze the juice from the lemons. Add the remaining water and lemon juice to the cooled mixture. Stir and strain. The drink keeps in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

12. Try English lavender

English lavender is the hardiest lavender species in Finland, and is also available in white and pale pink varieties. The showy Spanish lavender may need to be overwintered indoors in a pot.

Source: Evelegh, Tessa, Lavender: Practical Inspirations for Natural Gifts, Country Crafts and Decorative Displays (1996).