Lavender Spa Salt Bar

     As the summer days soon come to an end, I try to capture some of the garden scents and enjoy them in a number of ways throughout the year.  One that comes to mind is Lavender.
     Lavender derived from the Latin word lavare meaning to wash.  Romans enjoyed using it to scent their bathwater and to refresh the air in a room (as we would use potpourri).   For centuries, Lavender has been used for their calming properties, helping to relieve headaches, depression and a number of other healing purposes.  Because of the calming effect and antiseptic qualities it has, children in rural villages in France were regularly given lavender baths to keep them in good health.  A bottle of lavender essence can be used as a remedy against insect bites, cuts bruises.  In the language of Herbs and Flowers, Lavender symbolizes Devotion.

     We, at Bayberry Meadow, enjoy making some of our products with lavender, mixing them with a few other essential oils to come up with a wonderful scent for our soap.  We have a Patchouli Lavender, Lavender Amber, Rosemary Lavender, Eucalyptus Lavender and just plain Lavender soaps. 
     Our newest soap creation we made this past Spring, is our Lavender Spa Salt Bar which contains 2 different types of Hawaiian Sea salts.  The Hiwa Kai Black Lava sea salt is solar evaporated Pacific sea salt that is combined with activated charcoal (Alaea clay).  This is a sea salt that can be used as a table salt, has a natural saline flavor and has numerous detoxifying health benefits.  The second salt  is Alaea, which is a traditional Hawaiian table salt.  Its an all natural salt, rich in trace minerals found in sea water.  Its also enriched with the iron-oxide that is harvested from the red "Alae" clay.  With these salts we combined a number of moisturizing  oils and unrefined shea butter, lavender essential oil to create this wonderful soap. 
     Looking for something different to make with Lavender?  Lavender cookies were popular with a nice cup of tea during the Victorian era.  Here's one you may want to try out, the next time you invite someone over for tea.

Lavender Drop Cookies

1/4 cup of butter or margarine                             
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lavender buds, crushed fine
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely chopped mint

Preheat oven to 375*F.  Cream together the butter or margarine and the sugar.  Add the egg and the lavender buds, mix well.  Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Add the dried ingredients to the creamed mixture, and mix well.  Fold in the lemon zest and mint.
Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes.  Watch carefully so cookies don't over-brown.

     Other great projects are lavender sachets, using cotton draw-string bags or recycle fabric to make your own pouches or small lavender pillows.  They can be placed in linen drawers, closets or in your dryer for a fresh lavender scent.

Enjoy!