Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is the volatile oil distilled from the flowering tops of lavender. Two distinct articles trade under the name: true lavender, from Lavandula angustifolia, prized in fine fragrance, aromatherapy and pharmacy for its linalool and linalyl acetate balance, and lavandin, from the sterile hybrid Lavandula x intermedia, a higher yielding and more camphoraceous oil used in soap, detergent, air care and industrial perfumery. It also appears in flavour work, in topical preparations and as a raw material for isolating linalool and linalyl acetate.
Listed lavender oil markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Lavender is traded on botanical identity first, then on the ester and alcohol pair. True lavender and lavandin are separate articles at separate prices, and a contract that does not name the species has not been written.
Botanical source and extraction route
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Lavandula angustifolia, true lavenderFlowering tops, steam distilled, the population or the clone named | The fine fragrance and pharmacopoeial article. Population lavender and named clones such as Maillette and Matheronne are contracted separately. |
| Lavandula x intermedia, lavandinFlowering tops, steam distilled, the clone named | Grosso, Abrialis and Super are the traded clones. Higher yield, higher camphor, a different price. |
| Lavandula latifolia, spike lavenderFlowering tops, steam distilled | A cineole and camphor oil. A separate article again. |
| Altitude and terroir declarationStated where the contract prices it | High altitude true lavender carries a higher ester content and the market pays for it. |
| Steam distilledDistilled in steam from the named plant part, with the charge and the run time declared | The default route for most essential oils. The cut taken off the still is a contract term, because a first cut and a full run are not the same oil. |
| AbsoluteSolvent extracted to a concrete, then washed with ethanol and the ethanol removed | Sold on its own specification, with the residual solvent limit stated. |
| ConcreteSolvent extracted, waxes retained | An intermediate article, priced on absolute yield. |
| Supercritical carbon dioxide extractExtracted with carbon dioxide at a stated pressure and temperature | A separate article with its own profile. It is not interchangeable with the distilled oil. |
| Rectified or redistilledFractionated after the first distillation to a stated marker content | Named on the contract, because rectification is what most specification oils are made of. |
| OrganicCertified under the destination market scheme, distilled and stored on dedicated equipment | Named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Appellation or geographic indicationNamed with the registration where claimed | Claimed only where a registration exists and the certificate travels with the lot. |
| Batch and distillation dateDeclared, with the still and the campaign identified | Essential oils change in the drum. A batch without a date cannot be assessed. |
Physicochemical identity
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Relative density at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 279 | The first identity check, and the fastest way to catch a carrier oil. |
| Refractive index at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 280 | Read on a refractometer at a stated temperature. |
| Optical rotation at 20 degrees CelsiusRange in degrees, by ISO 592 | The term that separates a natural oil from a synthetic reconstruction, because most synthetics are optically inactive. |
| Miscibility in ethanolVolumes of ethanol at a stated strength to give a clear solution, by ISO 875 | Measured, not judged. |
| Acid valueMaximum, by ISO 1242 | Rises with age and with poor storage. It is the ageing indicator the trade reads first. |
| Ester valueRange, by ISO 709 | Sets the sweet fraction in oils where esters carry the odour. |
| Appearance and colourAgainst a sealed reference sample, or an instrumental scale | Recorded on the certificate for each batch. |
| Flash pointDegrees Celsius, closed cup | A transport classification term as well as a quality one. It travels on the dangerous goods declaration. |
Chromatographic profile
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| LinaloolPercentage of total peak area, range | With linalyl acetate, the pair that defines the oil. |
| Linalyl acetatePercentage of total peak area, range | The ester that carries the sweet fresh top. A high figure is what true lavender is bought for. |
| CamphorPercentage of total peak area, maximum | The single most useful discriminator between true lavender and lavandin. True lavender carries very little. |
| 1,8-cineolePercentage of total peak area, maximum | Rises with lavandin and with spike lavender. |
| Terpinen-4-olPercentage of total peak area, range | Named in the ISO product standard and reported on every certificate. |
| Lavandulol and lavandulyl acetatePercentage of total peak area, minimum | Present in genuine oil and routinely missing from reconstructions. The trade reads this pair as an authenticity marker. |
| beta-ocimene, cis and transPercentage of total peak area, range | Varies by clone and by altitude. |
| 3-octanonePercentage of total peak area, range | A natural minor constituent, reported. |
| Full profile against the reference batchEvery peak accounted for | The trace is the specification. |
Authenticity and adulteration
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Enantiomeric ratio of linalool and linalyl acetateRatio stated | Natural lavender is strongly weighted to one isomer. A racemic result means synthetic addition. This is the definitive test on lavender and it is contracted routinely. |
| Lavandin in true lavenderNil, declared | The most common adulteration in the trade. Read on camphor, on cineole and on the full profile together. |
| Full chromatogram against a reference profileEvery peak accounted for, with the reference batch named | The whole trace is the specification, not the two or three headline markers. Adulteration hides in the peaks nobody contracted. |
| Enantiomeric ratio, chiral gas chromatographyRatio of the optical isomers of the named marker compounds | The definitive test for synthetic addition. A nature identical molecule is still the wrong molecule at the isomer level. |
| Stable isotope ratio analysisCarbon and hydrogen isotope ratios, by mass spectrometry | Detects synthetic and non plant carbon sources. Contracted where the value of the oil justifies it. |
| Added carrier and diluentNil, declared | Vegetable oil, dipropylene glycol, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate and ethanol. Tested for, because the density alone will not catch a small addition. |
| Cross species and cross grade blendingNil, declared | Cheaper related species blended into a premium oil. Detected on the full profile. |
| ReconstitutionNil, declared | Oil rebuilt from isolates to hit a marker specification. It will pass a marker test and fail a full profile. |
Contaminants, safety and regulatory
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peroxide valueMaximum | Oxidation is the main quality loss in transit and in store. It is also what turns a benign oil into a sensitiser. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram, against the destination market limits | Distillation concentrates lipophilic residues, so the limit is applied to the oil and not to the crop. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram | Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. |
| Phthalates and plasticisersMilligrams per kilogram | Picked up from drums, liners and hoses rather than from the plant. |
| Residual solventMilligrams per kilogram, where the article is an extract or an absolute | Nil for distilled oils, and a stated limit for extracts. |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsMicrograms per kilogram | Comes from direct fire stills and from smoke contact at origin. |
| Allergen declarationPercentage of each declarable fragrance allergen present | Required for cosmetic use in most destination markets. It is calculated from the chromatogram and it travels with the batch. |
| Safety data sheet and transport classificationIssued for the batch, with the UN number and packing group | A shipping document and a compliance document at once. |
Certification, documentation and packing
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| OrganicCertificate under the destination market scheme | EU, NOP, JAS or an equivalence arrangement, named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Fair trade or community benefit schemeCertificate and transaction certificate | Named scheme, with the transaction certificate issued against the specific batch. |
| Kosher and HalalCertificate from the named authority | Travels with the batch. |
| Cosmetic and food grade documentationSpecification, safety data sheet, allergen statement and IFRA conformity certificate | The document set is part of the goods. An oil delivered without it is not deliverable. |
| Non GMO and vegan declarationsDeclaration | Issued where the destination market or the customer requires it. |
| PackingDeclared: aluminium, epoxy phenolic lined steel or high density polyethylene, with the drum size and the net weight | The container is a specification term. Bare steel and unlined plastic will both change the oil. |
| Headspace and inert blanketingDeclared, with the gas and the fill level | Nitrogen blanketing and a full drum are how an oil holds its acid value and its peroxide value across a voyage. |
| Storage and transit temperatureDeclared, with the range and the monitoring method | Cool and dark, evidenced. Where the contract is silent, an arrival dispute over oxidation cannot be settled. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| France | Provence, Drome, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence | Origin and destination |
| Bulgaria | Karlovo, Kazanlak, Dobrich | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Kherson, Crimea region | Origin and destination |
| Moldova | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| China | Xinjiang, Yili valley | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Piedmont, Liguria | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Isparta, Burdur | Origin and destination |
| United Kingdom | Norfolk, Kent | Origin and destination |
| United States | Washington, Oregon, Montana | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Tasmania, Victoria | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Canterbury, Otago | Origin and destination |
| Croatia | Hvar, Dalmatia | Origin and destination |
| North Macedonia | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| Hungary | Balaton uplands | Origin and destination |
| Romania | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| India | Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Kerman, Fars | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | Middle Atlas | Origin and destination |
| South Africa | Western Cape | Origin and destination |
| Chile | Central valley | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | Mendoza | Origin and destination |
| Canada | British Columbia, Ontario | Origin and destination |
| Japan | Hokkaido | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Nationwide | Destination |
| Switzerland | Nationwide | Destination |
| Netherlands | Nationwide | Destination |
| Belgium | Nationwide | Destination |
| South Korea | Nationwide | Destination |
| Singapore | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Destination |
| Brazil | Sao Paulo | Destination |
| Mexico | Nationwide | Destination |
| Poland | Nationwide | Destination |
| Indonesia | Nationwide | Destination |
| Thailand | Nationwide | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the plant material is cut at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is distillation, settling, batch testing and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to NovA single tight summer harvest and distillation campaign. The new crop sets the reference for the year. | ||||||
| Bulgaria | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Jul, arrival Aug to OctA short June and July campaign. Bulgaria and France together move the world price. | |||||||
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Jul, arrival Aug to NovXinjiang cuts in the same weeks as Europe, and the oil moves out through the eastern ports. | ||||||
| Ukraine | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctSummer campaign. | |||||||
| Moldova | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctSummer campaign, distilled locally. | |||||||
| Spain | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jul to Aug, arrival Sep to NovLater than Provence on the high plateau, with spike lavender cut into September. | |||||||
| Turkiye | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jul to Aug, arrival Sep to OctIsparta cuts in high summer. | ||||||||
| Australia | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Feb, arrival Feb to MayTasmania cuts in the southern summer, six months out of phase with Europe. | ||||||
| United States | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctPacific Northwest summer cut, largely for the domestic market. | |||||||
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Sep to NovHimalayan cut, a single campaign at altitude. | ||||||
| Croatia | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Jul, arrival Aug to SepIsland and coastal cut, small volume and highly sought. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for lavender oil. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading3301.29 Essential oils, other, including lavender oil
- PackingEpoxy lined steel drums of 180 kg to 190 kg, aluminium drums or bottles for reactive oils, IBCs for volume grades. Full headspace nitrogen blanket, out of direct sun, away from heat.
- Container loading20ft: 80 drums at roughly 14 t to 15 t. Segregation applies where the oil is classified flammable.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on specification and retained sample with a GC-MS profile and an IFRA conformity certificate. EFEO and IFEAT trade customs. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsIFRA Standards for restricted materials, EU REACH registration above one tonne per year, CLP classification and labelling given that most oils are flammable and many are sensitisers, allergen declaration under the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009, CITES for sandalwood, agarwood and rosewood oils, and IMDG class 3 shipping for flammable oils.
Common questions
What grades of lavender oil does SIP Global trade?
We quote 53 published grades of lavender oil, including Lavandula angustifolia, true lavender - Flowering tops, steam distilled, the population or the clone named, Lavandula x intermedia, lavandin - Flowering tops, steam distilled, the clone named, Lavandula latifolia, spike lavender - Flowering tops, steam distilled, Altitude and terroir declaration - Stated where the contract prices it, Steam distilled - Distilled in steam from the named plant part, with the charge and the run time declared and Absolute - Solvent extracted to a concrete, then washed with ethanol and the ethanol removed. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is lavender oil graded?
Lavender is traded on botanical identity first, then on the ester and alcohol pair. True lavender and lavandin are separate articles at separate prices, and a contract that does not name the species has not been written. Grading runs on 6 systems: Botanical source and extraction route, Physicochemical identity, Chromatographic profile, Authenticity and adulteration, Contaminants, safety and regulatory and Certification, documentation and packing.
Where does SIP Global trade lavender oil?
We trade lavender oil in France, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, China, Spain, Italy and Turkiye and 28 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is lavender oil harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are France: harvest jun to aug, arrival aug to nov; Bulgaria: harvest jun to jul, arrival aug to oct; China: harvest jun to jul, arrival aug to nov; Ukraine: harvest jun to aug, arrival aug to oct; Moldova: harvest jun to aug, arrival aug to oct. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for lavender oil?
Lavender oil is normally classified under HS 3301.29 (essential oils, other, including lavender oil). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for lavender oil?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed lavender oil market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.