I like to think about the scent of lavender oil as elven, because in English the plant is sometimes known as ‘elf leaf’. Perhaps this is why it grew on me – and lucky that it did, because it has great qualities, is versatile, and can lift the mood on darker days.

Essential oils are the most common active substances found in plants. They are obtained from different parts: leaves, buds, flowers, stems or bark. They’re not all created equal, and they are rather complex – some consist of several dozen compounds. Lavender oil contains, among others, linalyl acetate, linalool, limonene and camphor. It has accompanied mankind for a long time.