Lavandin oil
None of the restricted materials in IFRA's annex limits this oil in rinse-off soap.
IFRA maximum for soap
no IFRA limit in soap
Restricted constituents, at the typical levels IFRA's annex gives:
- 1-Octen-3-yl acetate
- 0.3 %
- Geraniol
- 0.2 %
- alpha-Bisabolol
- 0.03 %
- 7-Methoxycoumarin
- 0.01 %
Worked out from typical levels. A supplier's certificate for your lot comes first, and its figure is the one to follow.
Check a blend against its IFRA limits and list its allergens in the fragrance and allergen calculator.
How essential oils behave in soap, and how much to use: Scenting soap.
Identity and labelling
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
- Botanical name
- Lavandula × intermedia
- CAS
- 8022-15-9, 91722-69-9
- EC
- 294-470-6
The EU names this oil itself as a fragrance allergen (Regulation (EU) 2023/1545, Annex III entry 360): it goes on the label by name above 0.01 % in a rinse-off product.
What it is and how it behaves in soap
Lavandin oil is steam-distilled from the flowering tops of lavandin, Lavandula × intermedia, a cross between true lavender and spike lavender. The ISO standard covers the Grosso clone, grown mainly in the south of France, and since 2025 a Spanish type as well (ISO 8902). Its camphor makes it sharper and more herbal than true lavender.
Our books do not name it, but in soap it behaves like lavender, holding up in the pot (Faiola) and blending with almost everything (Fisher). It suits bars where true lavender would be lost among strong partners such as rosemary, eucalyptus or peppermint. Rates follow lavender's, about 1.2 to 4 % of the oils in Cable's and Faiola's recipes, and the IFRA figure on this page is the ceiling.
Lavandin costs less than lavender and is a common stretcher for it (Capetti and colleagues). Its linalool and linalyl acetate oxidise into skin sensitisers (SCCS), so keep it cool and closed.
Recipes that use it
Sources
- CosIng, the cosmetic ingredient database: LAVANDULA HYBRIDA OIL, European Commission
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products, European Commission. Annex, entry 360
- ISO 8902:2025, Essential oil of lavandin Grosso (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel. "grosso"), International Organization for Standardization (2025). Steam distillation of the recently cut flowering tops of the Grosso clone; French and Spanish types; the 2009 edition gives it as cultivated mainly in the south of France
- Anne-Marie Faiola, Soap Crafting, Storey Publishing (2013). Lavender among the essential oils that are typically wonderful in cold process soap
- David Fisher, The Complete Photo Guide to Soap Making, Creative Publishing International (2018). Lavender is versatile and blends well with practically everything
- Kelly Cable, The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners, Althea Press (2017). Lavender at 1.2 to 3.1 % of the oils
- Anne-Marie Faiola, Pure Soapmaking, Storey Publishing (2016). Lavender at 1.5 to 4.1 % of the oils
- Capetti and colleagues, Adulteration of essential oils: a multitask issue for quality control. Three case studies: Lavandula angustifolia, Citrus limon and Melaleuca alternifolia, Molecules 26, MDPI (2021). Lavandin added to lavender is a typical adulteration
- Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (SCCS/1459/11), Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, European Commission (2012). Linalool and linalyl acetate autoxidise on air exposure to potent sensitisers