Lavender is a perennial shrubby plant in the mint family easily recognized by its tall spikes of blue-purple aromatic flowers. It is one of the most popular herbs in the world, especially when it comes to cosmetics and spa products. In fact, because it was a favorite bath and perfume herb to the ancient Romans, they named it after the Latin word lavare, which means “to wash.”

French lavender got its name from the country where it was developed and grown intensively for perfume. In France, a common name for it is "butterfly lavender" because the tips of the flowers look like butterflies. Their flowers are stouter that those of common lavender, and like its cousin, both types of French lavender have been grown for thousands of years. Traditional uses were for bathing, its scent, and medicinal properties.