How to Use Lavender Oil

Co-authored by Diana Yerkes and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: May 25, 2021 References Approved

Whether you’re already familiar with essential oils or you’re just getting started, lavender oil is one of the most useful oils you can have in your kit. You can use it to treat bug bites, alleviate anxiety, treat dandruff, and even clean around the house! Just make sure you check the label to verify your essential oil was made from true lavender, or Lavandula angustifolia, and dilute the oil in a carrier oil before use.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Improving Health and Wellness

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Dilute pure lavender oil in your choice of carrier. Applying pure essential oil to your skin can potentially cause severe irritation.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Diana Yerkes
Skincare Professional
Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.} The most common dilution is a 2% preparation, or 12 drops of lavender oil per 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of your carrier oil, lotion, or other moisturizer.^{[2]
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- Popular carrier oils include coconut, olive, sweet almond, argan, and avocado oils.^{[3]
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- You can either dilute the lavender oil ahead of time and store it, or you can dilute a little each time you need it.
- Some people prefer to use lavender oil undiluted; however, this can cause you to become extremely sensitive to lavender over time.^{[4]
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  Diana Yerkes
  Skincare Professional
  Expert Interview. 16 April 2019.}
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Rub 2-3 drops of diluted lavender in your palms and inhale to ease anxiety. Lavender is probably best known for its soothing, relaxing, properties. By adding a little lavender oil to your palms, then cupping your hands around your face and breathing deeply, you can help ease the symptoms of anxiety and stress.^{[5]
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- Lavender oil can also help ease insomnia due to stress.
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Add 2-3 drops of lavender oil to your skin cream to treat acne. Lavender won’t clog your pores, and it has antibacterial properties, which may be the reason it’s so helpful at clearing up acne. Since you're mixing the lavender oil into your skin cream, there's no need to dilute it with oil first.^{[6]
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- You can also add a dab of diluted lavender oil directly onto a blemish to help soothe your skin and reduce redness.
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Diffuse lavender oil during a massage to help with pain relief. The soothing scent of lavender may help you feel more relaxed as you get a massage, boosting the effects and helping ease the pain of sore muscles, sprains, or achy joints.^{[7]
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- To diffuse your essential oil, you can purchase a commercial diffuser, or you can place a few drops of the oil onto a tissue and place it near you during your massage.
- If you're using a diffuser, read the instructions to determine whether or not you need to dilute the lavender oil. You do not need to dilute it if you are placing the oil onto a tissue.
- You can also add 1-2 drops of lavender oil to 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of massage oil to promote relaxation and pain relief.
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Dab diluted lavender oil on your neck, chest, and back to ease breathing. The soothing scent of lavender is often used to treat breathing issues such as the cold, flu, and bronchitis. You will only need 1-2 drops of lavender oil, as too strong of a scent can worsen respiratory ailments.^{[8]
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- There is conflicting data on the use of lavender for patients with asthma; therefore, it should probably be avoided until more research is done.^{[9]
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Apply 2-3 drops of diluted lavender oil to soothe a minor burn. Burns can be extremely painful, but a few drops of lavender oil may help take out some of the sting and ease the redness in the area.^{[10]
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- Lavender oil can also relieve a minor sunburn.
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Use a drop of diluted lavender oil to ease bug bites. Lavender oil can take the itching and swelling out of bug bites and stings, including bee stings, ant bites, and flea bites. Just place one drop on top of the sting to help relieve your discomfort.^{[11]
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- The oil can also help reduce the temptation to scratch the bug bite, helping to avoid potentially dangerous and painful infections.
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Place a drop of diluted lavender oil on the end of your tongue to relieve nausea. Lavender is known to help ease the symptoms of nausea, including morning sickness and motion sickness. Be sure you’re using culinary-grade lavender if you ingest it.^{[12]
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- Lavender is also used on pressure points, such as behind the ears and around the navel, to ease nausea.
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Place a few drops of diluted lavender oil on a fungal infection once a day. Lavender has some antifungal properties, so a few drops of lavender oil once a day may help heal fungal infections such as ringworm or nail fungus.^{[13]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Lavender as a Beauty Treatment

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Add undiluted lavender oil to your body lotion for a pleasing scent. There’s no need to pay extra for scented body lotions. Instead, choose an unscented lotion, then add 3-4 drops of undiluted lavender oil to the bottle.^{[14]
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- If you don’t want the whole bottle of lotion to smell like lavender, dispense a little lotion into your hands, add 1 drop of lavender oil, and rub your hands together to mix it thoroughly.
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Make a sugar scrub with sugar, undiluted lavender, and oil. Mix 1.5 cups (350 mL) of granulated sugar, 0.25 cups (59 mL) of your favorite carrier oil, and 5-8 drops of lavender oil to create a sugar scrub that will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.^{[15]
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- If you like, you can add 3 drops of purple food coloring, but this is optional.
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Rub diluted lavender oil into your scalp to treat dandruff. Having a flaky scalp is no fun, but dandruff can be stubborn and hard to treat. Luckily, you can help relieve the flakes by massaging diluted lavender oil into your scalp once a week until the symptoms are relieved. Leave the oil on your scalp for about an hour, then shampoo out.^{[16]
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- To dilute the lavender oil, add 12 drops of oil to 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of a carrier oil like argan, coconut, or olive oil.
- Try parting your hair and applying the lavender oil to the affected areas with a dropper so it doesn’t end up in your hair instead of on your scalp.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning around the House

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Diffuse lavender oil to help repel insects. Lavender is known to be an insect repellent, especially for nuisances like mosquitoes and moths. Place your lavender oil in a diffuser, or add a few drops to tissues or cloths placed around your home to help discourage insects from hanging around.^{[17]
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- You can also apply diluted lavender oil to your skin to act as an insect repellent when you go outside. Add 12 drops of lavender oil to 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of a carrier oil, such as argan or coconut oil, to dilute it.
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Add lavender oil to scrubbing powder to disinfect as you clean. Since lavender is a natural antibacterial agent, it’s a great way to kill germs without using harsh chemicals. Just add 3-5 drops of the undiluted oil to your preferred scrubbing powder, then clean the surfaces in your home as usual.^{[18]
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- Although lavender is effective against a wide range of bacteria, it may not kill all germs, so if you have concerns about food-borne pathogens or other serious contaminants, you may want to use a commercially-prepared disinfectant.
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Add 3-4 drops of lavender and water to a spray bottle to freshen laundry. Spray your laundry with the lavender mixture before you put your clothes in the dryer to leave them with a fresh, natural scent.^{[19]
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- You can also spritz a little of the mixture on your bedding to help you have a more restful night’s sleep.
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Add lavender to some of your recipes to add a subtle flavor. If you have culinary-grade lavender, you can add 1-2 drops to your cooking to impart a subtle floral flavor. Keep in mind that too much lavender will take over the dish, but a little is a pleasant surprise in foods like bread, cookies, and brownies.^{[20]
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- You can also add lavender to your water, tea, or even a homemade salad dressing!
- Lavender can help cut the sharpness of citrus, so try adding a little to a lemon pie.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Is lavender oil good for your skin?

Diana Yerkes
Skincare Professional
Diana Yerkes is a Skincare Professional and the Lead Esthetician at Rescue Spa in New York City, New York. With over 15 years of experience, Diana helps others with their skin care needs by incorporating natural and high-performing products and treatments into their routines while providing nutrition insights and educating clients on better skin care habits. Diana is a member of the Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) and holds certifications from the Wellness for Cancer and Look Good Feel Better programs. She received her esthetics education from the Aveda Institute, the International Dermal Institute, and the Biologique Research Academy.

Diana Yerkes

Skincare Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

I prefer it as an aromatherapy treatment versus something you use on your skin. Essential oils can cause a lot of reactive conditions in your skin. Try using it on warm towels to create a relaxing atmosphere and calm your senses instead.

Warnings

Some people may be allergic to lavender oil, so test the area on a small area of your skin first.

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Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender oil.^{[22]
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