Essential Oil Quantity and Composition from 10 Cultivars of Organically Grown Lavender and Lavandin

This study compared agronomic traits and essential oil quantity and quality of 10 cultivars of certified organically-grown lavender (Lavandula spp). Results reported are based on the second year of production and is the first report of organically certified lavender oils. Lavandin cultivars (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) produced significantly higher oil yield (7.1–9.9% dry inflorescences) compared to six lavender cultivars (2.8–5.0% dry inflorescences), with cultivars ‘Grosso,’ ‘Abriallii’ and ‘Super’ yielding the highest (9.9%, 9.0%, and 8.7%, respectively). Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) ‘Grey Lady’ produced the highest oil yield (5.0%), and ‘Lady’ the least (2.8%). All lavandins produced acceptable flowers for the dried market except ‘Provence’ whose flower color was pale purple. Lavender flowers from ‘Hidcote,’ ‘Munstead’ and ‘English’ were acceptable for the dried floral market. By year two, lavender cultivars reached full bloom and could be harvested for oil prior to the lavandins. Lavandin ‘Grosso’ oil possessed the highest camphor (8.1 as relative % of total oil). Enantiomeric distribution of (R)-(-) and (S)-(+) forms of linalool and linalyl acetate were found to be useful indicators of the purity of lavender oils.