Scents & Sensibility Newsletter - Volume
II - Issue 8- February 15, 2001
Lavandere - Linen Water - Eau Frâiche
- Freshening your linens and homes
"While there are still clothes to wash,
we can do without men!" sang the Provençal
washerwomen by the riverside. These women
were called lavandieres, because lavender
derives its name from the latin lavare, meaning to wash. Lavender was a favorite
ingredient in bath water and was used for
washing clothes. Large Provençal wardrobes
house piles of beautifully pressed and folded
linens exuding the floral and woody undertones
of lavender and no one can remember when
it wasn't this way.
Linen water, eau frâiche (fresh water),
splash or eau de toilette are all terms to
describe scented waters. These waters can
be used to scent sheets, clothes, as a pick
me up sprayed on the face or to freshen a
room. While the original ingredient was lavender
many other scents can be used to the same
purpose. Below follows a simple recipe if
you would like to make your own or click
here for a few ready made varieties.
Most of these scented or fresh waters are
suitable to pour directly into a steam iron
as the oils are diluted throughout the water
and will not damage either the iron or the
clothes. We prefer to spray them on just
dried sheets and linens, warm out of the
drier and even spray them on pillow cases
just before bed. Towels sprayed with scented
waters can also emanate a subtle, clean scent
in busy bathrooms.
Ingredients:
As always we recommend using only pure essential oils to assure the highest quality and the most
enduring scents.
100 drops (5 ml) lavender oil
1 1/2 fluid oz. (45 ml) 100 proof vodka
20 oz. distilled or still spring water
Find a large lidded, glass container and
sterilize before use. Mix the vodka and the
water then add your essential oil to the
mixture and shake vigorously to disperse
thoroughly. Should the linen water appear
cloudy, don't be alarmed, it is normal and
won't stain linen or clothing. If you can
find a fine mist sprayer, this will make
dispensing your concoction much easier. Always
shake well before you use it.
You may substitute other scents for lavender
or add a 5 or 6 drops of peppermint oil or
sandalwood. Cinnamon bark oil eau frâiche is spectacular during the holiday season