This classic Lavender Tonic has a clean, fresh fragrance of lavender buds. Lavender is a favorite among gardeners and herbalists alike. It's gentle astringent, antiseptic, calming, and healing qualities relieve skin irritations and sunburn. It's suitable for all skin types. You can use this spray as a facial or body toner or as an aromatic spray on your pillows, sheets, and blankets. Lavender Tonic is not challenging to make. You will need thirty minutes to complete this project from start to finish.
How to Make Lavender Tonic
- First, make lavender tea by boiling and pouring it over the flowers. Allow lavender to brew -- you’ll want it to steep for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Next, make the tonic -- put witch hazel, vodka, or 70% isopropyl alcohol into your jar or bottle and add the essential oil. Then, when the lavender tea is cool, strain it into the container.
- Combine a lavender tea with lavender-infused witch hazel or vodka. Place the cap on and shake well to blend the ingredients.
- Allow cooling completely before use. It is especially lovely chilled if you use this on your face or body. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to six months.
- Remember to shake well before each use, and enjoy!
If you care to experiment, consider adding rose or citrus essential oil into the tonic, the fragrance compliments the lavender and appeals to the senses.
At Chesterhaven Beach Farm, we’ve planted well over a thousand lavender plants over the last five years.
Growing lavender can be tricky; some plantings have been more successful than others, but lavender plants are always beautiful. When there is an abundance of lavender, we experiment with different infusions for our food and body products. At harvest, we cut the lavender stems at the base -- it’s the best way to cut lavender.
Then we hang the clippings in a dark, air-conditioned room, allowing them to dry. Once the lavender is dry, we remove the bud from the stem by hand, package it in an airtight freezer bag, and freeze it for future use.
Our harvests are so large that we must invent new ways to use lavender. We love adding them to as many of our products as possible but also have found refreshing ways to use lavender around the house and in the kitchen.
You will need the following equipment/materials:
- Nonreactive pot (glass is best)
- Strainer (cheesecloth and sieve or tea strainer)
- 16 oz. jar or bottle with a sprayer (preferably PET plastic or glass)
Yields 16 ounces
