Have you ever wondered what to do with the leftover lavender leaves after harvesting the fragrant flowers? Don’t toss them away! These often-overlooked leaves are packed with potential, offering a surprising array of uses beyond just smelling good.
Here are 15 creative and practical ways to put your lavender leaves to good use, from DIY beauty products to culinary delights and everything in between.
1. Make Lavender Leaf Sachets
Dry lavender leaves thoroughly and fill small fabric bags or sachets with them. Place these sachets in drawers, closets, or near your bed for a calming aroma and to deter moths.
2. Infuse Vinegar
Combine dried lavender leaves with white vinegar in a jar and let it steep for a few weeks. Strain the mixture and use the infused vinegar as a natural cleaning solution or hair rinse.
3. Use in Tea
Steep dried lavender leaves in hot water for a few minutes to create a soothing and relaxing tea. You can combine lavender with other herbs like chamomile or mint for added flavor and benefits.
4. Create a Lavender Leaf Poultice
Crush fresh lavender leaves and apply them directly to minor skin irritations or insect bites. The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe and heal the skin.
5. Use in a Foot Soak
Add dried or fresh lavender leaves to a basin of warm water and soak your feet for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The lavender can help soothe tired feet and relieve muscle tension.
6. Add to Desserts & Savory Dishes
Fresh or dried lavender leaves can be finely chopped and added to baked goods like cookies or scones for a floral note. They can also be used to flavor savory dishes like roast chicken or grilled vegetables.
7. Infuse Oil
Combine dried lavender leaves with a carrier oil like olive or almond oil and let it steep for several weeks. Strain the oil and use it for massages, aromatherapy, or as a base for homemade skincare products.
8. Make Herbal Salts or Sugars
Mix dried lavender leaves with coarse sea salt or granulated sugar to create flavorful additions for your cooking. Use the lavender salt to season meats or vegetables, or the lavender sugar to sweeten beverages or baked goods.
9. Make Potpourri
Combine dried lavender leaves with other dried flowers, herbs, and spices to create a fragrant potpourri mix. Place the potpourri in a bowl or sachet to scent your home naturally.
10. Add to Homemade Soap
Incorporate dried lavender leaves into your soap-making process to create bars with a calming scent and potential skin-soothing benefits.
11. Add to Homemade Candles
Add dried lavender leaves to your candle-making process to infuse them with a relaxing aroma. The leaves can be added to the melted wax or used as decoration on the outside of the candles.
12. Use in Homemade Bath Salts
Combine dried lavender leaves with Epsom salts, sea salt, and baking soda to create a relaxing bath soak. The lavender will provide aromatherapy benefits while the salts soothe sore muscles.
13. Make a Room Spray
Create a natural room spray by combining distilled water with lavender essential oil or a strong infusion of lavender leaves. Use the spray to freshen up your home and enjoy the calming scent of lavender.
14. Include in a Sleep Pillow
Fill a small pillowcase with dried lavender leaves and place it near your bed or under your pillow. The scent of lavender can promote relaxation and help you drift off to sleep more easily.
15. Make a Lavender Leaf Tincture
Combine dried lavender leaves with high-proof alcohol and let it steep for several weeks. Strain the mixture to create a concentrated tincture that can be taken in small doses for potential calming and relaxation benefits.
So, next time you’re harvesting lavender, be sure to save those leaves and give these 15 uses a try. You might be surprised at how much you love including this fragrant herb into your routine.
Don’t Miss These:
Say Goodbye to Leaf Scorch with These 10 Plant Care Tips
17 Plants That Add Beauty & Amazing Scents to Your Yard
Why 1950s Front Yards Became Symbols of the American Dream
10 Strategies for Building a Water-Saving Drought-Proof Garden
$140K on 1.5 Acres: 10 Strategies for Small Farm Success
12 Plants to Complement Sage Green and Boost Wellness
The Lotus Craze Is Real: How to Grow Them Without a Pond
13 Rare Plants That Could Disappear From Gardens Worldwide
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.