Ingredient Spotlight: Tasmanian Lavender

Bridestowe Estate

Can you imagine, a lavender estate, a, whole estate full of contoured rows of French lavender? The atmosphere must smell amazing. Tasmania grows the most delightful and expensive lavender. It contains less camphor giving it a sweeter lavender aroma. This unique quality was achieved after many years of careful plant selection and being in the perfect climate.

Bridestowe Lavender Estate was founded in 1922 by London Perfumer CK Denny. He came to Tasmania with the seed of the true French perfumery Lavandula angustofolia. It grows in high altitudes in a small area of the Southern French Alps. The location of Bridestowe was chosen due to the similarity in climate, red soil and altitude of the Alps. If you have never tried high altitude lavender,treat yourself, you won’t be disappointed. You will however, need to be prepared to experience the full medicinal effect of lavender...sweet dreams.

A lavender plant can take up to 4 years to reach its optimum oil production and can be productive for up to 20 years. In a distillery steam is passed through the flowers causing the oil to vaporize. The vapor then flows to the condenser tubes where it reverts to a liquid state. It enters the separator and the oil is stored in stainless steel drums where it will continue to improve for many years.

Bridestow Estate

And then, there is Bridestowe's “Bobbie” the heat pack bear. I feel like I have to have that bear. It’s the cutest thing. I didn’t even know it existed before today but I want one and I don’t even know why. Maybe it is because I can’t get one.  Apparently so many people want it; they can’t even keep up with the bear production.  The releases are random and you just have to keep checking. Now I'm just beary unhappy.