I cut this small lavender bouquet from my front yard today. Lavender’s color and scent are lovely, and it’s incredibly versatile. Here are 11 simple, practical DIY projects you can make with lavender, each easy to adapt to the amount you have on hand.
1. Bath Salts — Infuse Epsom salts with dried lavender and a few drops of essential oil for a calming soak that soothes sore muscles and relaxes the mind.
2. Linen Spray — Make a light, natural linen spray by steeping lavender in hot water, adding a little vodka or witch hazel to preserve it, and misting sheets, curtains, or pillows to freshen fabrics.
3. Face Scrub — Combine finely ground oats or sugar with dried lavender, a carrier oil (like sweet almond or jojoba), and a touch of honey for a gentle exfoliating scrub that smells wonderful.
4. Soap — Add lavender buds and essential oil to melt-and-pour or cold-process soap bases for homemade bars that cleanse and provide a subtle fragrance.
5. Wreath — Create a decorative lavender wreath by bundling small stems and attaching them to a ring form. It makes a fragrant door accent and dries beautifully for long-lasting décor.
6. Dryer Bags — Sew small fabric bags and fill them with dried lavender to toss into the dryer. They gently scent laundry and help keep linens fresh between washes.
7. Lavender Water — Make a simple floral water (hydrosol) by steeping lavender in distilled water. Use it as a light facial mist, room spray, or linen refresher.
8. Lavender Sugar — Combine dried lavender with sugar and let them infuse in a sealed jar. The lavender sugar is great for baking, sweetening tea, or sprinkling over fruit.
9. Sachets — Fill small cloth pouches with dried lavender to tuck into drawers, closets, or suitcases. Sachets keep linens smelling fresh and can also help deter moths.
10. Extract — Make a simple lavender extract by macerating dried lavender in vodka for several weeks. Use sparingly in recipes that call for floral flavoring, like desserts or cocktails.
11. Cookies — Bake lavender cookies by using culinary lavender sparingly in cookie dough. The floral notes pair nicely with lemon, honey, or white chocolate.