Linlool is a favourite of mine and I had the absolute pleasure of visiting a small lavender farm nestled near a tiny town in southern Ontario a few years ago. The sun was shining, high in the sky, and the smell of lavender wafted through the warm summer air. Rows and rows of delicately landscaped gardens brimming with lavender welcomed me, and as I wandered the grounds, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of ease wash over me.
For centuries lavender has been used in cooking, aromatics, essential oils, and healing tinctures. In aromatherapy, this incredible herb has assisted in bringing about a sense of calm and relaxation. Found in everything from skincare to bath salts, perfume to candles, and infused salts and syrups. What gives lavender its signature and sought-after scent? A terpene called linalool.
Linalool produces a sweet, floral scent and is in over 200 different plant species, including cannabis, mint, birch bark, and rosewood. Linalool is a minor terpene meaning it does not show up in extremely high quantities like Myrcene, yet it still packs quite a punch. Studies show linalool affects the brain in a few different ways creating its well-known muscle relaxing and pain-relieving effects.