Lavender 40/42 is a natural essential oil, not a synthetic aromachemical, typically distilled from Lavandula angustifolia or a lavender/lavandin cross grown in regions such as France or Bulgaria. Raw lavender oil varies considerably from harvest to harvest depending on rainfall, altitude, and cultivar, so suppliers rectify or blend lots to a standardized specification — the "40/42" designation refers to the oil being adjusted to a target range of roughly 40 to 42 percent linalyl acetate (its principal ester), often alongside a matching linalool level, so that every batch delivers a consistent, reproducible lavender character rather than the natural crop-to-crop drift. In the blotter, this grade reads fresh, herbaceous, and floral, with a soft fruity-sweet warmth from the ester balanced against a drier, slightly camphoraceous undertone contributed by minor constituents like camphor and 1,8-cineole. It is a workhorse top-to-heart note, commonly dosed anywhere from under one percent up to several percent depending on the brief, and is inseparable from the fougère family, where it pairs with coumarin, oakmoss, and geranium; it also anchors classic aromatic colognes and men's fresh compositions. Because natural lavender oil inherently contains linalool and linalyl acetate, both recognized as cosmetic allergens under EU fragrance-allergen labeling rules, formulators should account for their contribution when calculating allergen declarations and oxidation stability in the finished product. — researched, 2026-09-02.
Composition, IFRA restriction figures, allergen concentrations and where this material is bought are part of Perfume Foundry’s curated library and need an account. Create one or sign in.