Lore:
Since the ancient Phoenicians and Egyptians who first utilized its oils, lavender has been central to medicine and hygiene of many cultures. The lavenders have been grown in Europe for centuries dating back to the Romans. It is from the Latin verb lavo that the genus was named, for this plant was commonly used in the famous Roman baths. It has remained in soaps and cosmetics ever since. This French lavender is not native to France but to drier Spain, Greece and North Africa; due to its widespread cultivation in the region of Provence, however, it has become decidedly French.