In the grace of lavender

By Gordana Lakic, Jun 12, 2020

The scent of lavender. The herb takes me back to my grandmother’s house, one containing fresh linens, old wooden furniture and my schoolbooks. It was suggesting the end of summer and me wanting to go home.

There is more power in this opulent purple plant than just a scent, its various uses dating back as far as 2500 years ago. The name lavender originates from the Latin word “lavare” which means “to wash”. Back in Elizabethan times when baths weren’t common practice, lavender was used to perfume clothes and bed linen. The ancient Egyptians used lavender in the mummification process, and ancient Greeks used it to treat insomnia and ease back pain. Charles VI of France demanded lavender filled pillows wherever he went, and Louis XIV loved taking baths in lavender scented water.

Today, lavender oil is frequently used to soothe aching muscles and joints, reduce anxiety and stress, and induce sleep. It is also used as an antiseptic to treat bacteria, fungus, and microbial activity in the gums.  The plant’s endless uses even extend to its utility as a bug repellent and pest deterrent.

The essence of Pragma, the ancient Greek term for longstanding love, is captured in lavender’s deep scent. Cleopatra famously used this purple flower to seduce Julius Caesar, and the Queen of Sheba used it along with frankincense and myrrh to vamp King Salomon.

When it comes to plant symbolism lavender represents devotion, serenity, and purity.

And with it in mind, Acqua di Parma Colognia comes as the perfect transitional scent from our blooming spring to our vibrant summer. This old school citrus scent combines Bulgarian rose, jasmine, rosemary, amber, and, of course, lavender into a heavenly blend, and universally loved perfume. It has a refined opening of Sicilian citrus, its notes of amber and light musk inch the perfume’s scent closer and closer to a masculine finish, but its lush floral and herbal overtones balance the fragrance with femininity. Mystical combination of dominance and seduction, overpowering the senses, and leaving a memory of that strong, everlasting love.

Acqua di Parma Colognia brings back thoughts of those crisp summer mornings, and of course, makes me reminisce about those summer vacations at my grandmother’s house in the grace of lavender.